950 women prisoners are confined in 37 jails : Malik Ahmad Yar Hanjra

Lahore : As many as 950 women prisoners are confined in 37 jails situated in different districts of the province. The prison department has taken elaborate arrangements for their safety, security and wellbeing in the jails where different technical and vocational courses are also taught to them besides provision of balanced diet.

Provincial Minister Prisons Malik Ahmad Yar Hanjra said this in a departmental meeting at his office on Tuesday. Different high officials of prisons department attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed in detail the arrangements taken for the wellbeing of the women prisoners in jails.

The Minister expressed the satisfaction that elaborate arrangements have been made to teach different courses to women prisoners so that they could  earn their livelihood after release from jails. Similarly, environment of protection and security is provided to them in the jails.

He said that the courses being taught to the women prisoner included makeup, interior designing, housekeeping, fine arts, sewing,  cooking ,I T training. TEVTA is collaborating with the prisons department in different teaching programs which have been launched in 13 selected jails in the Punjab. He said that free education is also provided to the juvenile offenders as well as minor children of women prisoners so that their future could remain fully secure.

He said that the prisons department has also arranged a diet menu of balance food for the women inmates and their infant children. We have made our jails as centers of reformation where inmates are educated how they become useful citizens of the society.

Provincial Minister Prisons Malik Ahmad Yar Hanjra further said that a women only jail has been established in Multan while women barracks in other jails are fully secure, protected and secluded. These barracks are managed by women staff.  The Minister commended the fact that indoor games and recreational facilities have also been arranged to involve women inmates in healthy activities.

The meeting also reviews different proposals for bringing further improvement in the jails system. The participants also express the satisfaction that the process of holistic reforms has been benefiting the prisoner in many ways.