ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsman, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, on Friday said prison reforms process was continuing according to the directions of the Supreme Court (SC).
Under this program, 14 Prisons of the Sindh Province had been provided with biometric system, said a press release.
Appreciating the online meeting of jail inmates with their relatives, the ombudsman said the facility would enable the relatives to meet the prisoners when not in a position to travel at time, through computers and mobile phones at home.
He informed that up till now fifteen implementation reports on jail reforms had been submitted to the apex court and the 16th report would be presented soon.
The ombudsman also directed IG Prison Sindh that work on providing biometric system in all prisons in Sindh and construction work on Thatta jail would be expedited.
Referring to the medical facilities for the prisoners,he asked the Jail and Health Authorities to ensure provision of doctors in all prisons.
He said keeping in view the recommendati
ons of the Reforms Committee, steps should be taken to connect biometric system with Nadra Police, Prosecution and other relevant agencies.
The ombudsman chairing a high level meeting along with the Additional Chief Secretary Home during his visit to Karachi which was attended by I.G. Secretary Health, Senior officers of other relevant departments and Head of Wafaqi Mohtasib Regional Office Karachi.
Earlier in a briefing, Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman) was informed that with the cooperation of legal aid offices, NGOs and philanthropists the needy and destitute prisoners were being provided with free legal aid and financial assistance to settle their fines.
The basic facilities of clean drinking water, wash rooms, sports places, education, health and waiting areas were also being ensured in the prisons, whereas the drug addicts, mentally deranged and those suffering from T.B, Hepatitis and other critical diseases are being kept in separate barracks and are duly attended by doctors.
Women, juveniles an
d transgender prisoners were being kept in separate sections.
The arrangements of technical education have also been made in the prisons and free education system from class one to matric has been introduced in all prisons and arrangements are also in hand to conduct their exams in the premises of the respective jails.
Furthermore books and reading material on religious and social themes was being provided in the libraries for character building.
The ombudsman lauded these steps and some new initiatives by the provincial government and hoped that these would lead to better environment for prisoners.
He said the conditions of prisons located in the interior of Sindh also needed to be reviewed to provide compatible facilities of legal aid, medical facilities, skill training and educational facilities as in the Karachi jails.