CM Naqvi reviews video call pilot project in Punjab prisons
Caretaker govt to provide video call facility to inmates in all province’s jails
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The Punjab caretaker government has decided to provide video call facility to inmates in Punjab jails and a video call pilot project will be launched in Lahore jail within seven days, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
A meeting presided over by Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Lahore on Friday also reviewed the video link trial for prisoners and other prison-related reforms.
The CM also sought report on video trial pilot project.
Model waiting and meeting areas will be built in five model jails. The meeting decided that 10 more jails will offer TEVTA courses to inmates.
A principled decision to allow prisoners to offer Fajr and Maghrib prayers in congregation was also taken in the meeting.
As many as 71 prisoners will be released before Eidul Fitr by paying Diyat (compensation payable to the victims or their legal heirs) and fines etc. Philanthropists and the Punjab government will pay diyat and fines of the indigent prisoners, the meeting observed.
The CM was informed during the meeting that the installation of CCTV cameras in 28 jails across the province had been completed. Additionally, 15 more prisons will have CCTV cameras installed.
In the briefing, it was stated that a control room would be activated in the IG office for 24/7 monitoring, and that with the video link trial in the jail, there will be no need to transport prisoners to the court.
Open air gyms have been set up in nine prisons and the project will be expanded in further prisons as well.
Furthermore, medical equipment worth Rs40 billion will be purchased for prison hospitals.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Home, Secretary Finance, IG Jails, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board and other relevant officials.
Alternate plots for Sahafi Colony journalists
In yet another noteworthy and journalist-friendly move, the caretaker government has decided to give alternate plots in the place of disputed plots to journalists in Sahafi Colony of Lahore
Punjab Minister Amir Mir said that the affected journalists would be allocated plots on an additional 77 kanals of land in Sahafi Colony.
Instructions have been issued to Director General of LDA to develop 77-kanal land as soon as possible, he said, adding LDA will complete development work on 77 kanals of land in next few weeks.
Hassan Ali also contributed to the story.