PESHAWAR, May 6: Senior NWFP Minister Sirajul Haq has called upon philanthropists to help rebuild character of hapless prisoners.

Speaking at a ceremony at the offices of the Inspector-General of Prisons here on Tuesday, he underlined the need for making prisons a livable place. He said it was the duty of every healthy society to help those who had gone astray for one reason or the other. The jail staff, too, deserved to be looked after for their service to inmates, he added.

The ceremony was arranged for handing over dowry for two daughters of a jail warden. Warden Saleh Bibi, posted at Dagar Jail, had sought IGP’s help to collect dowry.

Col Abdur Rauf, the IGP, collected dowry from philanthropists. Saleh Bibi told Dawn that her husband was blind and himself was a burden on the family.

Briefing the minister, the IGP said they had opened shops in four district jails, run by prisoners, which catered to needs of prisoners. Earlier, he added, prisoners had to buy petty things on exorbitant prices.