HARIPUR: National Academy of Prison Administration director general Waqar Ali Khan has said the prison staff should make efforts for the reformation of inmates to prevent their recidivism and help them readjust in society and become self-dependent economically.

He was speaking to jail officers and members of the oversight committee on jail reforms during a visit to the Haripur Central Prison on Thursday.

The Napa DG said there were some lacunas in the criminal justice system, especially regarding investigation, trial, payroll and reclamation departments, and they should be rectified to reduce jail population and help prisoners become self-dependent after release with reformed personality.

He called for the provision of better education, skill development and reformation facilities to prisoners and said the oversight committee should regularly visit the jail and recommend to the home department and his office some practical steps for turning prisons into the prisoner reformation and rehabilitation hubs.

“Napa will make recommendations to the relevant authorities of all four provinces to introduce jail reforms in line with internationally approved standards,” he said.

Earlier, jail superintendent Maqsood Khan Khatak briefed the Napa DG and oversight committee members about the jail, its capacity, prisoners’ welfare initiatives, and shortage of staff and resources.

The DG and oversight committee members also went to different sections of the jail, met officials and prisoners, including women, and appreciated the measures taken for the welfare of inmates.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2020