LAHORE:Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Kot Lakhpat Jail here on Saturday and inaugurated utility store, established in the jail to provide real relief to prisoners for the first time in history of Punjab.
The CM visited the store and inspected the edibles provided in the utility store for the prisoners. He ordered to shift the store within the jail premises at an appropriate place so that all prisoners could benefit from the facility and could purchase items according to their needs.
Mohsin Naqvi revealed that utility store would be established in all the prisons of Punjab, saying that the prisoners could purchase quality items at subsidized rates. He directed to establish utility stores in other prisons of Punjab within 30 days.
He apprised that a bakery would also be opened in the prisons and prisoners could purchase bakery item at reasonable rates. He also met with the relatives and dear ones coming to meet with the prisoners and inquired from the relatives of prisoner about their problems and issued directions on the spot for their resolution.
The CM directed to improve facilities for the visitors. He on the request of visitors coming from other provinces directed to return prisoners from other provinces completing their trail and punishment in the prisons of Punjab along with bringing back the prisoners belonging to Punjab on completing their trial and punishments in other provinces and issued necessary directions to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) in this regard.
Provincial Information Minister Amir Mir, ACS (Home), IG Prisons, MD Utility Stores Corporation, Commissioner Lahore Division, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Secretary Prisons and officials concerned were also present.
It is pertinent to mention here that today an agreement has been signed between the Punjab government and utility stores corporation at Kot Lakhpat Jail for the establishment of utility stores in other prisons of Punjab. The agreement was signed in the presence of CM Mohsin Naqvi in Kot Lakhpat Jail. IG Prisons Farooq Nazir and GM Operations Utility Stores Corporation Sardar Muhammad Khan signed the agreement.
Under the agreement, Utility Stores Corporation will establish utility stores in the prisons of the province in which prisoners will be provided quality items at subsidized rate. The prisoners will permanently get rid from the fleecing of jail canteen.