Directive to focus on education of imprisoned children

LAHORE: Punjab Home Secretary Noor ul Amin Mengal directed the officials concerned to pay special attention to the education and training of the children in the jail. Mengal also met the prisoners and their families in the meeting area and issued orders to improve the visiting area and provide facilities to the families of the prisoners.

Punjab Home Secretary issued these directions during his visit to Camp Jail on the first day of Eid-ul-Azha on Monday. In the jail, he spent time with the imprisoned children and ate with them.

IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir and Superintendent Jail were also accompanying the Home Secretary. Mengal directed that government orders issued for Eid-ul-Azha and Section 144 should be implemented.

Mengal remained in the field throughout Eid-ul-Azha, monitored security arrangements and spent time with prisoners, especially children, in Lahore and Faisalabad jails. On the morning of Eid, Mengal reached the DC office control room after performing the Eid prayers at the Badshahi Mosque, from where he reviewed the security and cleanliness arrangements at different places in the city. DC Lahore Rafia Haider briefed him about the arrangements across the city.

Later, the home secretary visited the Central Control Room set up in the Home Department and reviewed the special reports from across the province. He reviewed the reports on the peaceful conduct of Eid prayers across the province and took a briefing on other arrangements.

On the second day of Eid, Punjab Home Secretary visited Central Jail Faisalabad where he met the prisoners and reviewed the arrangements. On this occasion, he said that prisoners were given more facilities to meet their families on Eid. The Home Secretary met the prisoners and their families in the visiting area. In view of the heat, air conditioners were installed in the visiting areas in prisons across Punjab. The home secretary said that the prison reforms agenda of the Punjab government is being implemented in letter and spirit. Psychology and law students are going to get paid internships in prisons. Sessions with inmates during the internship programme will help to make them a positive part of the society.

Mengal congratulated the police and administration for ensuring better security and other arrangements throughout the Punjab during the three days of Eid. He said that the administration has remained active in the field for the protection of life and property of the people, cleanliness of the cities and the convenience of the people.