The inmates of the Karachi Central Jail have started enjoying the facility of video conferencing with their loved ones who either live outside the city or even abroad.
A total of 12 prisoners, including two foreigners, had an online chat with their relatives on Thursday at the two-computer call centre that was set up inside the jail.
Jails DIG Nusrat Manghan said that the government had not provided them any funds. “The jail administration has collected money for this facility,” he said.
Initially, an inmate would be given 20 minutes for a video conference session but the duration will be increased with the passage of time — depending on availability.
The inmates will be able to talk with their families, relatives and lawyers. It will be available for those prisoners whose relatives cannot visit because they are not either living in Pakistan or who are too ill to come in person. It could prove to be a boon for women if they can’t come to jail for certain reasons.
Manghan was the view that this technology would also reduce complaints of bribes. “This is why we have introduced a monitoring system,” he added.
Once the inmates apply, the jail will inform their relatives over the telephone for the time for the video conference. The relatives can also contact the jail on their own.
The DIG said that they planned to increase the number of computers as well, if the number of requests goes up. They also hope to set it up for Landhi and the juvenile jail in the city and across the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2012.
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