CM Punjab Maryam announces new initiative for prisoners

LAHOE: In a recent development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched a new policy permitting prisoners to spend time with their immediate family members within jail premises.

The first–of–its–kind initiative in Punjab enables eligible prisoners to stay temporarily with their spouses and young children in specially designated family rooms.

A Punjab Home Department official clarified that inmates who have five-year or longer prison sentences are eligible to apply to stay in these family rooms.

According to policy, up to three visits can be made in a year, with each visit not exceeding three consecutive days. During this period of stay, the inmates can be accompanied by their wives and children who are below six years of age, and free meals will be served.

To visit this facility, an application has to be made by the inmate or his spouse to the superintendent of the prison. The superintendent will then seek written permission from the appropriate Deputy Commissioner. When approved, the stay of the family will be arranged accordingly.

This change seeks to aid family ties and facilitate the welfare of inmates as well as their families during the period of incarceration.