Work Resumes on Islamabad’s Model Jail After 14-Year Delay

News Desk 

Islamabad: Construction on Islamabad’s long-delayed Model Jail project has finally gained momentum, 14 years after its launch.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during a visit to the under-construction facility in Sector H-16, directed authorities to complete the first phase of the project within the current year.

Accompanied by Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, Naqvi reviewed ongoing development work and issued instructions for around-the-clock construction to ensure timely completion.

According to officials, two prisoner barracks have already been completed, while work on security check posts and the central watchtower is nearing completion. The jail, once operational in its first phase, will have the capacity to house 1,500 inmates. The interior minister also ordered the construction of two additional barracks within the next 90 days.

He further instructed officials to expedite the completion of key support infrastructure, including a 34-bed hospital and the main kitchen, emphasizing the need for fully functional facilities before operations begin. The DIG Islamabad Police has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive staffing plan for the new prison.

Launched in 2011, the Model Jail project had remained stalled for years due to administrative and logistical challenges.

Those present during the minister’s visit included the Federal Secretary for Interior, DIG Islamabad Police, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Additional Deputy Commissioner General, CDA representatives, contractors, and project consultants.

With renewed government focus, authorities hope to deliver a modern correctional facility that meets international standards and helps decongest overcrowded prisons in the capital.