Punjab Minister for Prisons Malik Ahmed Yar Hanjra said on Wednesday that work on the construction of seven new jails across the province was in progress.
“The new jails will resolve the issue of over capacity of jail inmates,” he added.
Speaking with the APP at his office, he said that land for construction of the jails had already been acquired. “We are contemplating various options for land acquisition, including state land which can lower the cost of setting up the jails,” he said.
He said that a programme had already been launched for imparting technical training to inmates for their rehabilitation. The department has put measures in place to ensure surveillance of hardened criminals involved in terrorism and other crimes, he said.