KARACHI, May 6: The Sindh government is preparing several schemes under its Access to Justice Programme which also include the construction of a building to house two anti-terrorism courts at the Central Prison, Karachi.

The schemes are estimated to cost Rs400 million.

The construction of ATCs at the prison is estimated to cost about Rs100,000, The ATC buildings would help conduct proceedings of cases of sensitive nature, official sources said on Tuesday.

Vans are also being procured through special grant of Rs41.5 million to carry undertrial prisoners to courts.

Many undertrial prisoners have been languishing in jails for a number of years.

The provincial government has also planned to build houses for staff at district jails in Badin, Shikarpur and Dadu. These prisons having been built at a cost of Rs110.55 million. Each has the capacity for 250 prisoners. The construction of a new jail in Ghotki will begin soon.

At the Central Prison, Karachi a small complex comprising three barracks has been built with the help of the Barkati Foundation to ease the problem of overcrowding in the prison.

A barrack for 40 prisoners is under construction at District Jail, Mirpurkhas. It is expected to be completed soon.—PPI