Islamabad Model Jail faces delays
The Islamabad Model Jail project has been delayed indefinitely due to severe funding shortages, leading to a 30 per cent increase in construction costs.
Initially estimated at Rs3.9 billion in 2021, the cost escalated to Rs7.4 billion in 2022-23 and has now exceeded Rs8.35 billion due to ongoing delays.
The Islamabad jail complex, spanning 90 acres in Sector 16, was launched during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and was slated for completion by January 31, 2025.
However, due to a lack of funds Rs. 3.6 billion in pending allocationsconstruction has stalled once again.
The jail is designed to accommodate 2,000 inmates in the first phase and an additional 2,000 in the second phase, reaching a total capacity of 4,000 prisoners.
Facilities include a women's ward, children's ward, hospital, mosque, church, Imambargah, separate cells for different categories of inmates, a kitchen, a playground, and a library.
A 22-bed mini-hospital and a large visitor's area for up to 200 people are also part of the plan. Despite its completion, the new jail is not expected to significantly ease overcrowding in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, which currently houses over 7,000 inmatesnearly three times its official capacity of 2,700.
During the PTI's November 26 protests at D-Chowk, the number of detainees surged past 9,000, forcing authorities to transfer inmates to jails in Attock, Jhelum, and Chakwal. The transfer of 2,000 prisoners from Islamabad to the new facility will provide some relief to Adiala Jail authorities.
However, a complete resolution will only be possible once the second phase of the project is completed by December 31, 2025.
Sources suggest that the project is unlikely to resume for at least the next three months due to financial constraints.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
12 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Crypto mining, other sectors: IMF rejects Pakistan's subsidised power tariffs proposal
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rejected Pakistan's proposal to offer subsidised electricity tariffs to crypto mining and certain industrial sectors, warning that such moves would create new complications in the already strained power sector. Testifying before the Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, Secretary Power Dr Fakhray Alam Irfan stated that all major power sector initiatives must be cleared by the IMF. He noted that although Pakistan has surplus electricity, particularly in winter months, the IMF is cautious about any pricing mechanisms that could distort the market. In September 2024, the Power Division proposed a six-month incremental consumption package (October–March) at marginal cost (Rs 23/kWh), based on last year's usage. However, after two months of discussion, the IMF only approved a three-month version, citing potential market distortions. The curious case of Bitcoin mining in Pakistan In a subsequent plan shared in November 2024, the Power Division suggested a targeted marginal cost-based package (Rs 22–23/kWh) for energy-intensive industries such as copper and aluminium melting, data centers, and crypto mining, arguing it would boost consumption of surplus electricity and reduce capacity charges. Still, the IMF rejected the proposal, stating it resembled sector-specific tax holidays that have historically created imbalances. 'As of now, the IMF has not agreed,' Dr Irfan confirmed, adding that the plan is also under review by the World Bank and other development partners. He emphasised that the government has not withdrawn the proposal and remains engaged with international institutions to refine it. During the session, a heated debate also emerged on the government's recent agreement with scheduled banks to reduce the circular debt stock of Rs 1.275 trillion. Senator Shibli Faraz criticised the deal, stating that banks were 'forced at gunpoint' to offer the loans. 'If I were a banker, I would have refused,' he said, warning that the burden would fall on consumers through future levies. Secretary Power rebutted this claim, clarifying that no new levies have been imposed. He stated that the existing Debt Servicing Surcharge (DSS) of Rs 3.23/kWh will continue for the next five to six years to recover the amount. He also highlighted that circular debt inflows have been reduced through timely subsidy injections. On consumer facilitation, Dr Irfan reported that over 500,000 people have downloaded the 'Apna Meter Apni Reading' app, allowing users to upload photos of their meter readings to potentially reduce inflated billing. He said the app will soon be extended to K-Electric (KE) users. The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of the Federal Minister for Power, who was expected to answer questions on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and sectoral inefficiencies. Senator Mohsin Aziz said the establishment of certain IPPs was an injustice and questioned why excess profits have not been recovered. Senator Shibli Faraz alleged that inflated project costs were used to justify higher returns, adding that no real steps have been taken to curb the circular debt crisis. 'The public is bearing the burden of government inefficiencies,' he said. Senators raised concerns about forced load shedding, especially in areas like Tharparkar, Matiari, and Umerkot, where daily outages last up to 14 hours, despite consumers paying their bills. Senator Poojo Bheel accused local officials of corruption, claiming they take bribes for illegal connections and restore disconnected supplies for a 'fee'. He emphasised that even paying customers are facing denial of their rights due to systemic failure. In response, Dr Irfan explained that revenue-based load shedding occurs in areas with losses exceeding 20%, citing a tragic case where a SEPCO employee was fatally stabbed during a disconnection drive. KE's Chief Distribution Officer Sadia Dada said that out of 2,100 feeders, about 30% face load shedding due to high electricity theft, often through Kundas (illegal hooks) in informal settlements. She said consumer bills are now offered in instalments to ease payment difficulties. Dr Irfan stated that 58% of consumers fall under the 'protected' category, paying Rs 10 per unit. With the approval of international partners, the government will allocate Rs 250 billion in subsidies, while also rolling out more tech-based solutions for theft control. So far, 500,000 people have downloaded the meter reading app, with 250,000 registered users. Senator Haji Hidayatullah raised an over-billing case involving a Rs 2.3 million charge on a property in Peshawar that had already been cleared by PESCO. He claimed PESCO officials offered to settle the bill for Rs 300,000, calling it blatant corruption. The Secretary Power assured that the matter will be investigated. The CEO of HAZECO also briefed the committee on issues in Sub-Division Lora Chowk, including estimated billing, feeder faults, and pending ELR work under release numbers 46241, 51911, and 51910. Following extensive deliberations, the committee expressed displeasure at the Power Division's repeated deflection of questions and directed the department to submit comprehensive answers at the next meeting. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PML-N emerges biggest beneficiary of CB ruling
Listen to article The National Assembly regained its full strength on Wednesday as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) distributed reserved seats among the parliamentary parties in the house, in line with the decision of the Constitutional Bench (CB) of the Supreme Court last week. In a 7-3 majority ruling in the reserved seats review case, the CB on Friday overturned the Supreme Court's July 12, 2024 judgment, effectively taking away the reserved seats from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and handing them to their rival parties in the national and provincial legislatures. The CB restored the March 25, 2024, order of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which had deprived the Sunni Ittehad Council – the party joined by PTI-backed independents after the Feb 8, 2024 elections – of reserved seats. The decision effectively meant that the PTI was no longer a parliamentary party. Therefore, the 77 reserved seats of the national and provincial assemblies were allocated among the parliamentary parties present in the respective assemblies, since they could not be kept vacant. As expected the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PKL-N) was the major beneficiary. In the light of the CB decision, the ECP distributed 19 reserved seats in the National Assembly, out of which, according to an ECP statement, 13 went to the PML-N, four for the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) and two to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI). After the allocation of the reserved seats, the ruling coalition, comprising PML-N, PPPP, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and other parties, surged above the two-thirds majority of 224 in the 336-strong house. Acting on the court's verdict, the ECP issued an order on Wednesday, withdrawing its notifications of July 24 and 29, 2024 that had declared some independent candidates, winning on the general seats of the national and provincial assemblies as PTI lawmakers. In another order, the ECP notified the names of the returned candidates under various categories of the reserved seats with immediate effect. The National Assembly Secretariat later detailed the house composition, reflecting the actual party position after the court verdict and ECP's distribution. The data released by the Secretariat's Legislation Branch showed that the strength of the treasury benches swelled to 235 seats, with 98 of the opposition, in the house currently comprised 333 lawmakerswith one member being suspended and two reserved seats remaining vacant. The ECP also distributed the reserved seats in the provincial assemblies. In the K-P Assembly, 10 seats were given to the JUI-F, seven to the PML-N, six to the PPPP and one each to the PTI-Parliamentarians and Awami National Party (ANP). The PML-N was given 23 seats in the Punjab Assembly – two to the PPPP and one each to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP). In the Sindh Assembly, two seats were given to the PPPP and one to the MQM-P.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PM lauds KSA's role in truce with India
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday appreciated the efforts by Saudi Arabia for peace in the Middle East as well as its significant role in the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India. The prime minister said this in a meeting with Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad Nawaf bin Saeed Al Malkiy, while fondly recalling his warm and cordial telephone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince on June 24 to discuss the regional situation. He conveyed his respectful regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The prime minister told the ambassador that as Pakistan had assumed the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July, it would count on Saudi Arabia's support to ensure that its tenure was conducted smoothly and successfully. The Saudi ambassador thanked the prime minister for Pakistan's role in peace and stability in the region. FBR Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday applauded the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving a historic 42% increase in federal tax revenues during the fiscal year 2024-25 - the highest surge in the past decade. The prime minister chaired a high-level weekly review meeting on the digitization and reform agenda of the FBR, whereas during the briefing, it was revealed that reforms and enforcement of new tax laws enabled the government to collect an additional Rs 865 billion in revenues compared to the previous year, an eightfold increase.
