The long-awaited Model Jail in Islamabad is set to begin transferring prisoners in July, as 85 per cent of its construction work has been completed.
The Islamabad High Court Justice Committee (ICT) on Thursday reviewed the progress of the Model Jail Islamabad during a meeting, where it was informed that 85 per cent of the construction work has been completed.
The committee directed that the jail must be completed by June 30, with the phased transfer of prisoners to begin from July 1. Authorities were also instructed to ensure the timely deployment of prison staff and the completion of all necessary arrangements.
The committee asked the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Finance to resolve any outstanding issues regarding the model jail and decided to invite the Secretary of Finance to the next meeting.
The national prison reform action plan was also discussed, with the committee stressing the need for an effective framework to implement prison reforms.
Expressing concern over the rising crime rate in Islamabad, the Chief Justice directed that forensic laboratory reports be made mandatory in rape cases, the training of investigation officers be enhanced, and the district judiciary expedite case disposal.
The committee was also briefed on Safe City initiatives and the city’s CCTV surveillance systems. In addition, the meeting instructed authorities to further strengthen security at courts, judges’ residences, and judicial complexes, install emergency exits and alarm systems, and improve the efficiency of the prosecution department.
It is worth mentioning here that originally, the project was proposed in 2007, the new jail project only moved forward after funding was approved in the 2016-17 budget. Although the facility was initially slated for completion by 2019, it faced multiple delays, including budgetary cuts.
However, construction had picked up again in July 2025, and key structures, including two standard barracks, a special barrack, security checkpoints, and a central watchtower, have already been completed.
The new model jail is expected to help reduce the burden on Adiala Jail, it is unlikely to resolve overcrowding entirely. Adiala Jail, which has a capacity of 3,500, currently houses around 7,500 inmates. Even after transferring 2,000 inmates to the new facility, overcrowding will remain a major challenge.
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