The Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has expressed its serious concern over large scale corruption in Jails across the country and summoned the IGs and Secretaries Jails for a detailed briefing at the next meeting.
Meeting of the committee was held at the Parliament House on Monday under the chairmanship of Rehman Malik. During briefing jail officials said that the Central Staff Training Academy wanted to provide training to officers and staff on modern lines but the academy lacks resources. It was pointed out that only Rs 20.2 million funds were allocated in the budget for the academy against the demand of Rs 41.2 million. The officials said that the Jail staff is still using arms purchased in 1957. They said a very small quantity of G-3 rifles were purchased in 2003 and MG-3 guns in 2004.
The committee was annoyed that despite installation of jammers, mobile phones were still in use of the inmates. It was suggested that separate jails be established for females and female staff be posted there.
The Committee directed the NADRA officials to give a detailed briefing on security features of Smart Card. Officials said that they are introducing on-line system to facilitate the applicants. There would be separate NADRA centres for women and Friday would be reserved only for women. In addition to register orphans, orphanages are being registered.
The committee directed that data base of the orphans be prepared so that they could be identified through DNA.
It asked the FIA to investigate about the expenditure on the Safe City Project.
Secretary Interior was directed to arrange an in-camera briefing by the Intelligence Agencies about presence of foreign secret agents in Islamabad.
