Inspector General Prisons Punjab, Kokab Nadeem Warriach told APP here on Sunday that all out efforts were being made on war footings to complete the computerisation of record of all convicts and under trial prisoners housed in all the jails throughout the province.
He said a network of close circuit televisions had already been installed in important jails having direct link with Inspector General of prisons and superintendent of concerned jail. He said movement of all jail staff, convicts and prisoners are monitored through this network for better security in and around the jails.
IG said that on the special direction of the Chief Minister Punjab, the diet menu of all convicts and under trial prisoners have further been improved with excellent food which he claimed is much more better than homes of inmates.
Kokab said that on the special direction of the Home Secretary Punjab Nadeem Hassan Asif , the lists of all convicts eligible to be released on parole is being prepared for further submission to Additional Secretary Home (Jail) for order. He said recently 25 convicts out of a total of 27 convicts have been released on parole on merit and strictly in accordance with law.
IG said that Chief Minister also desired that working condition and service structure of jailers also be improved with better pay package. He said that Home Secretary had already sent the case to Chief Minister for approval for increase in the pay scale of warders.
He said that convicts who memorise the holy Quran by heart and qualify other exams from the public universities and boards are also being given special remission in their sentences.
IG claimed that all the jails of the province will be made the best reformatory centres as all convicts are being imparted training in different trades and skill during their confinement so that after their release they may become useful citizen in the society and earn livelihood for their families. Kokab Nadeem said that all convicts working in jail factories are also being paid share out of the total cash profit of the products, they manufactured. He said a proposal for allowing the facility of telephone to inmates once and twice in a week is also being contemplated seriously.