ISLAMABAD: After a prolonged delay of 13 years, the construction of the new prison in Islamabad’s Sector H is set to be completed within the next six months.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the expedited timeline during his visit to the site, where he inspected the ongoing construction activities.
Minister Naqvi has instructed the first phase of the jail’s construction to be completed within this new timeframe, expressing his dissatisfaction with the project’s long standing delays.
“Keeping this project hanging for 13 years is a clear display of incompetence,” Naqvi stated during his visit. He emphasised the need for round-the-clock work to meet the new deadline and assured that the necessary resources for completion would be provided.
During the site inspection, Naqvi directed Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and the IG Police to regularly review the progress of the construction activities to ensure that no further delays occur.
The briefing revealed that the initial plan for the prison, which began in 2011, was designed to accommodate 2,000 inmates, with the potential to expand capacity by an additional 2,000.
“The process of deploying the required staff should also begin immediately,” added Naqvi, highlighting the urgency of operational readiness once construction is complete.
Chief Commissioner Randhawa provided a detailed briefing about the project, indicating the reasons for past delays and outlining the measures taken to ensure the swift completion of the prison.
The briefing was attended by Federal Secretary of Interior Khurram Agha, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa, IG Police Islamabad Ali Nasir Rizvi, contractors, consultants, and other relevant officials, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to the project’s timely completion.
This renewed push to complete the prison’s construction reflects a significant step toward enhancing the capital’s infrastructure and addressing the need for modernised facilities to house detainees, in line with contemporary standards and human rights considerations.
