RAWALPINDI:The management of Adiala jail has failed to provide maximum facilities to inmates. Shortage of funds has created hurdles in the completion of new barracks as water, electricity, gas and sanitation issues have hit the capital hard.

This was highlighted during a briefing given to Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha during his visit to Adiala Jail on Friday morning. The divisional commissioner visited the jail to inspect the condition of the jail and inmates. He visited juvenile and women`s barracks and inquired about facilities being provided to them by the jail administration.

He inspected the jail hospital and expressed satisfaction over healthcare facilities being provided to prisoners.

Senior Superintendent of Jail Asad Javed Warraich gave a briefing to the commissioner and informed him about problems being faced by inmates.

He was told that eight new barracks are being constructed in the jail and four barracks would be completed by end of June while work has slowed down due to shortage of funds. The officials said that there were problems of water and natural gas in the jail and it made life difficult for inmates. There are three ambulances in the jail available to transport inmates to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in case of emergency.

A legal department has been established in the jail to provide free legal assistance to inmates.

He was also informed that inmates had been provided free education facilities. Vocational training programmes had been started and to provide them with better health, sports facilities were provided to prisoners.

The commissioner asked civic bodies and provincial departments to solve water, sanitation and gas problems in the jail with immediate effect. He said that it was the duty of departments to solve the problems in jails for people in prison. He said that the government wanted to provide better facilities to inmates and would provide education and vocational training to them so they would become useful citizens of society.

He said that new vocational training would enable prisoners to do their work and make a living after completing their sentences. He said that religious and ethical courses will also be introduced in the jail.