KARACHI, Feb 22: The privatization commission is working out modalities for disposal of Karachi Central Prison land in a manner that its sale could generate finances to meet the cost for construction of a new prison complex outside the city limits, and so that it could also contribute to the government exchequer.

Spread over an area of 59 acres, the central prison is located in the heart of the city and it runs along the University Road near the jail roundabout.

The total area of the new prison would be 135 acres, and it would be built near the Ghaghar Phattak, for which site has been selected, officials said.

The privatization commission is presently evaluating the market price of the land and working on a plan for construction of a new prison complex besides maintaining some of its barracks of historical importance where leaders of freedom movement, like Maulana Muhammad Ali Johar and Maulana Shaukat Ali, were also kept during their trial in Karachi. After the finalization of details, bids would be invited by the commission, they added.

The present building of the Karachi central prison, which used to be outside the city limits, was built in 1899 initially for 450 prisoners. With addition of new barracks in the premises, the capacity for inmates rose to 991 and later on to 1,500.

After the independence, the city population increased from three to 13 million, which necessitated the construction of a new prison with an increased capacity, as with the growth of population, the crime rate also increased, raising the number of inmates.

The prison, at present, can accommodate 1,500 inmates only, but over 4,000 prisoners have been lodged. The over-crowding at the prison not only discourages the fundamental objective of reforming the inmates and turning them into useful citizens during their stay, but over the years the over-crowding had also been causing indiscipline and law and order problem in the prison.

The idea of shifting of the prison to a new location outside the city limits was first mooted in 1993, followed by the constitution of various committees. However, a decision, in principle, was taken by the previous PPP government as the government had been expecting that the auction of the prison premises would generate billions of rupees.

Justice Kamal Mansoor Alam in his report also recommended for disposal of the city court and sessions court premises through auction. In the report, it was suggested that a judicial complex be built in the premises of the prison.

The idea was to avoid inordinate delays in producing the under-trail accused for want of security guards and vehicles.

However, without disposal of the court premises, a small judicial complex has already been added to the prison for trial of hardened criminals and high profile murder cases.

It is learnt that in the new prison complex, provision for judicial block would also be ensured. However, sources did not confirm whether the present city and sessions courts premises would also be offered for disposal along with the present complex of Karachi central prison?