PESHAWAR, Oct 10: The NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has underscored the need for “foolproof security arrangement in prisons throughout the province”. The jail authority must concentrate on “imparting training to the officials dealing with the prisoners,” he added.

He was addressing a briefing session concerning NWFP Prison Department held here on Wednesday morning. Provincial ministers and high-ranking government officials attended the briefing.

In the present age, latest methods are being applied in almost all fields, which give far-reaching results. Therefore, the officials of jail department must have the necessary expertise in their field, he said and directed for short-term training courses to be conducted for the officials so that there was no problem in discharge of their duties on scientific lines.

With regard to the problem of over-crowding in prisons, the governor agreed to a proposal that this dimension could be tackled through extension in the existing jails as well as constructing multi-storeyed buildings for expanding the capacity for the jail inmates.

We should not construct jails of ancient type. The multi-storeyed jail would be the most appropriate option, which could be constructed at a small chunk of land with capacity to accommodate maximum inmates and cover the security aspects as well, the governor observed.

However, where extension in the existing jails had been undertaken, should be completed while the new buildings should be multi-storeyed and at a distance from the congested areas. The existing lands of the jails vacated after their being shifted to new premises should be looked into for commercializing, the governor said. He also directed for the use of old jail premises in Kohat “in the best interest of the locals.”

The governor said that the jails factories producing various goods should be exploited on commercial line and the earning through this exercise should be spent on the improvement of the jails concerned. The governor directed for making amendment to the relevant laws empowering the department concerned to carry out this process.

The governor said the cost of production in the factories at various prisons was minimum, which could generate maximum earnings. The governor took strong exception to the irregularities and corruption in the prisons and directed the officials of the department to end such practices. The governor said that while shaping the next year budget, more allocation of financial resources would be looked into.

He underlined the need for establishing Special Courts to deal with the juvenile and petty nature cases. This would go a long way in mitigating the miseries of the jail inmates. It would overcome the overcrowding aspect as well.

The governor said that computers would be provided if needed. However, he sanctioned the provision of telephone connections to various prisons.

He agreed to raise uniform allowance for the officials. The governor said that the jail officials should arrange special training for the prisoners so that after the end of their jail term, they go out with some expertise in their hands.

The IG Prison briefed the meeting on the working of the department. He said there were 48 prisons and lock-ups across the province.