KARACHI - The food budget of each prisoner has been increased to Rs117 from Rs35, while computer training is also being imparted to the juveniles in prisons, Sindh Prison Minister Ayaz Soomro informed Sindh Assembly during question-hour on Friday.
He said that 3,000 computers have been installed in Karachi and other jails of the province. However, only juvenile offenders confined in industrial school Karachi are getting computer training through NGO Sanjon, he told the house.
Provincial minister appealed to the philanthropists to donate computers, so that prisoners could be given training. He also urged the lawmakers to allocate an amount from their funds for jails’ reforms. He invited the MPAs to pay surprise visit to jails, so they could check the quality of food and other facilities being provided to the prisoners.
The minister said that there is no difference in the facilities for the prisoners of A or B class and other prisoners. Same food provided to all the prisoners. He said that there is no any political prisoner present in the Sindh jail, so A and B class barracks are empty these days.
Replying to the queries of lawmakers, Soomro said that senior prisoners and other do not live together in the barracks. He said that computer training programme would be enhanced to all the jails of Sindh through STEVTA. The jails have been converted into real reform homes, he said.
The minister cited that a prisoner who got computer training availed 16-grade job on merit. He further said that a barrack, where President Asif Ali Zardari stayed as prisoner, has been converted into library in Landhi jail.
Replying to another question, provincial minister said that doctors for jails would be appointed through Sindh Public Service Commission soon. Presently, the jails department hired the services of doctors of Health Department. He further said that a committee is working for amendment in the jail manual, which will be tabled in the Sindh Assembly to make legislation in this regard.
PAC Chairman Jam Tamachi Unar suggested that reform in the jails are visible, advising the other department to follow the jail department, where officers have been posted on merit.