June 28, 2026 Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Prisons, Mr. Iftikharullah Jan, conducted a detailed visit to Central Jail Haripur alongside Special Assistant for Tourism and Culture Malik Adeel, Member of Provincial Assembly Akbar Ayub Khan, and Inspector General of Prisons Rehan Gul Khattak. During the visit, the dignitaries inaugurated three landmark developmental projects aimed at staff welfare, digital innovation, and correctional reform.
The newly inaugurated projects and key highlights of the visit include:
- Shaheed Zahir Shah Sports Arena: Named in honor of the martyred staff member who embraced shahadat in the line of duty, this floodlit box cricket arena is the first-of-its-kind facility established within any prison in the province, designed to promote physical and mental well-being among the staff.
- Prison Industry Display Center & SMD Screen: The refurbished showroom now features the province’s first-ever SMD screen installed in a prison to showcase inmate craftsmanship, promotional media, and digital retail offerings.
- Staff/Officers Mess: Modelled after the successful initiative at District Jail Mansehra, this facility provides quality dining and a comfortable environment for prison personnel.
During the operational briefing, authorities noted that Central Jail Haripur currently houses approximately 1,100 inmates. Key technological upgrades—including NRTC integration, virtual courts, a production laboratory, and a digitalized pharmacy and OPD—are fully functional. Furthermore, Haripur stands as the third prison in the province to launch its own dedicated website, following Mardan and Peshawar. Total approved funding for ongoing ADP schemes and new initiatives stands at 342 million rupees, with 153 million rupees utilized and overall project completion reaching 55 percent.
The Special Assistant inspected various units, including the women’s cell, juvenile section, Bacha Khan ward, medical and surgical wards, dentistry department, X-ray room, and the drug rehabilitation center. He issued directives to fully digitize store records, promptly fill the vacant dentist position, expand drug rehabilitation protocols, and evaluate options for transferring eligible convicted prisoners to facilities closer to their hometowns to ease family visitations.
The visit concluded with the distribution of commendation certificates to meritorious officers and personnel, followed by the presentation of honorary souvenirs by IG Prisons Rehan Gul Khattak to the visiting dignitaries, reinforcing the government’s resolve to transform correctional institutions into centers of reform and human rehabilitation.
