Shahbaz announces two-month remission in prisoners sentences; Directs for cut in electricity outages; Upgrades perks of jail staffers
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday visited Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore and announced a two-month remission in the sentences of prisoners across Pakistan.
On the occasion PM Shehbaz said that all possible patronage is included in the duties of the government in making the prisoners, who have completed their sentence, active citizens of the society.
He urged the Kot Lakhpat Jail authorities to make effective use of available resources for the convenience of the inmates. In this context, the Prime Minister called for further improvement in the food and health facilities of the prisoners.
The Prime Minister directed to make effective use of the available resources for the skill development of the prisoners, so that the prisoners can fully prepare themselves to play an active role in the society after the punishment.
Shehbaz Sharif also announced the formation of a committee headed by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, which will formulate a comprehensive strategy for the betterment of the prison system and the overall system.
The committee will include officers representing the four provinces.
Shehbaz Sharif while expressing anger over prolonged load-shedding ordered a significant reduction in load shedding by next month and instructed to take measures on an emergency basis. Shehbaz said that he would not sit idle nor let anyone rest till the resolution of the issue.
The prime minister said that neither fuel was purchased by the former government nor power units were repaired. Shehbaz added that Imran Khan’s government had closed the power units which were set up by their government to generate low-cost electricity.
Instead, the previous government had utilized those low power generation units which supplied expensive power and due to this injustice, the nation had to pay the heavy price in the shape of Rs100 billion every month, Shehbaz said.
The prime minister said an LNG carrying ship which cost Rs6 billion, now priced at Rs20 billion and the nation had to pay more than Rs500 billion this year due to such injustice done by Imran Khan’s government.
He said that all possible efforts should be made to save the citizens from the discomfort created by the criminal negligence of the former government and directed the authorities concerned to make temporary arrangements till the provision of oil and gas.
Nawaz Sharif’s government had generated the surplus power, but Imran’s government failed to add a new single unit, he added. With destruction of energy sector, he said, a conspiracy was hatched to deliver a fatal blow to the economy of Pakistan.
The prime minister mentioned different issues faced by the prisoners and said there were a number of prisoners who had completed their jail terms but could not be released as they had no financial resources to pay their fines.
Similarly, others had relatives living in far flung areas and they could not visit jail regularly to meet them. Moreover, there were prisoners who did not afford to hire lawyers, he added.
The prime minister, on the occasion, also announced upgradation of perks of staffers of the jails at par with the police force. He expressed the hope that jails reforms would be brought in accordance with the rules and laws.
PM Shehbaz also lauded Aleem Khan for donating a hospital for the treatment of jail inmates. Later, the prime minister also visited Ramazan Bazaar set upon in Johar Town and issued direction for ensuring the provision of edible items at low prices.
