The Pakistan Army will conduct a special three-month training of jail staff across the province on modern lines for better security and effective use of ultra modern weapons to cope with any untoward incident.
Punjab Inspector General of Prisons Mian Farooq Nazeer said on Sunday, “We are proud that jail staff is being trained by the Pakistan Army, the best force in the world.”
He said that two batches of 1,000 each including 25 assistant superintendents of prisons had already passed out while next two batches of same number will undergo compulsory training after Eidul Fitr.
He said in view of the best performance in training, a cash prize of Rs 2,000 to each trainee wardens, Rs 5,000 each to all assistant superintendents of prisons, Rs 4,000 each to all chief wardens, Rs 5,000 each to all officials who will take the training and Rs 10,000 each to four best prize winners of the training.
He said that wardens had already been provided modern weapons and ammunition and brand new double cabins for round the clock patrolling in and around all the sensitive prisons across the province. He said that newly trained staff has been deployed on patrolling duty.
Mian Farooq said that Superintendent of Prisons Ishtiaq Ahmad Gill was also playing key role in getting proper training to all trainee wardens through close liaison with the army.
85-year-old Camp Jail declared the best in Punjab
The historic, 85-year-old Camp Jail has been declared the best in the Punjab in terms of quality of food, proper security coupled with better environment besides adequate protection to inmates.
The Lahore district and sessions judges who visit prisons comprising 22 barracks at least once in a month regularly in their reports and remarks declared the cleanliness of the kitchen and the quality of food the best in the Punjab.
Prisons chief Mian Farooq Nazeer, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Lahore Range Mubashar Ahmad Khan and DIG HQ Mian Salik Jalal during their visits also appreciated the state of alertness, effective security measures besides provision of the best quality food to inmates in addition to slaughtering the chickens in jail premises in the presence of jail doctor and jail officer.
Superintendent Jail Shahram Tauqeer Khan has allowed desirous notable and elite of the town to come and see that healthy chicken was slaughtered in jail premises at 10 am and 5 pm daily six days in a week.
Nearly 2,886 inmates are housed in the prisons against sanctioned strength of 1,050 prisoners.
All the incoming under trial prisoners irrespective of their social status along with their belongings were scanned properly through metal detectors and screening machines.
Surprise search was also conducted at least twice a month under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent Mahmood Fakhri and assistant superintendent concerned in all barracks for the recovery of cell-phones and narcotics.
Cell-phones were recovered during last three weeks and guilty prisoners were shifted to “Chaki” as a punishment for a month.
It may be mentioned here that all inmates were being served the best quality filtered water from the donated water filtration plant installed in prison.
About the staff complaints, Shahram said that he daily attends the visitors and got installed an intercom at waiting room for direct contact with him.
