LAHORE: Amidst security concerns and loopholes at provincial jails due to non-availability of officials in case of an emergency, the departmental development subcommittee of the Punjab Prisons Department finally approved two major schemes worth Rs2.14 billion for the construction of 768 family quarters and 32 barracks for unmarried personnel during a high-level meeting on Monday.

The presence of officials -from warder to superintendent -in the jailpremises even after duty was mandatory as per prisons rules. But 32 jails of Punjab were not following the rules reportedly due to severe shortage of accommodation, officials said.

Absence of a number of jail personnel from duty during the Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu jailbreaks reportedly pushed authorities in Punjab a year ago to convince the government to construct residences on priority to ensure officials remained present in the premises.

Sources privy to the meeting told Dawn the chief minister had a few months ago approved the two projects after yearlong efforts of the pro-vincial home secretary and Punjab Prisons IG. They said as soon as the provincial Planning and Development Department gave final approval of the schemes, the provincial government would allocate Rs7.5 billion in the 2014-15 fiscal year in the first phase of the project.

Sources said the government got the schemes approved over three major concerns hardly 40 to 50 quarters and a few barracks accommodating up to 30 officials in a few jails of the province created problems when jailers needed their force during emergencies.

They said most jail officials usedto live in rented properties outside the premises against jail rules.

The sources further said the construction of 24 quarters and barracks housing 128 unmarried officials in each jail would accommodate over 70pc officials in the next two years or so. They also said the officials` reluctance to serve in districts other than home, life threats during their living in rented residences and non-availability in emergencies are three major concerns.

Official record says six incidents have taken place in two years in which jail officials were injured in attacks by accomplices of prisoners.