CDA Faces Questions Over Islamabad Jail Delays
News Desk
Islamabad: A Senate committee has raised serious questions over the prolonged delay in the construction of Islamabad Model Jail, directing authorities to investigate the reasons behind the stalled project and ensure the inclusion of facilities for women inmates, infants and children.
The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, chaired by Senator Nasir Mehmood, inspected the under-construction facility in Sector H-16 on Tuesday and reviewed the project’s progress, design and future requirements.
During the briefing, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Building Asmat Sharif informed the committee that the jail project, spread over 90 acres, was originally launched on May 8, 2017. However, after years of delays, the project is now expected to be completed by July 31, with the estimated cost rising to Rs7.399 billion.
The committee expressed concern over the prolonged timeline and questioned the factors that caused construction delays. It directed the CDA to prepare a detailed inquiry report explaining why development work was halted in 2018 and identify those responsible for the disruption.
A key concern raised during the visit was the absence of dedicated facilities for women prisoners and their children in the original design. Senator Naseema Ehsan pointed out that the plans did not include separate women’s barracks, infant care facilities or educational arrangements for children of female inmates.
Officials informed the committee that such facilities had been deferred to a proposed second phase as they were not part of the initial project plan. However, senators rejected the approach, terming the exclusion of basic humanitarian facilities unacceptable.
The committee directed the CDA to incorporate women- and child-friendly facilities into the project without waiting for a separate phase, emphasising that prison infrastructure must meet human rights and welfare standards.
To ensure timely completion and avoid further setbacks, the committee also ordered CDA officials to submit weekly progress reports on ongoing construction activities.
