Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate the Islamabad model jail soon after the completion of Phase 1 of the project in Sector H-16.
Spread over 90 acres, Phase 1 of the prison has the capacity to accommodate 1,000 inmates, for which three barracks have been constructed. Once the prison becomes operational, all prisoners from Islamabad currently housed at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi will be transferred to the new facility.
Possible transfer of high-profile prisoners
According to sources, there is also a possibility that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will be shifted to the Islamabad jail from Adiala. Any such move would carry major political weight given the sensitivity of his detention.
Islamabad model jail: facilities in Phase 1
Under Phase 1, the residence of the prison superintendent has been completed. Twelve flats have been constructed for officers, while a three-storey barracks building has been built for staff.
A 32-bed hospital has also been established inside the complex, along with two watchtowers, 34 security posts, an administrative block and a kitchen. The hospital will be managed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff.
The prison has been built at a cost of Rs7 billion, and staff have been appointed to operate the facility. Cleaning work is currently underway, and Phase II of the project will be undertaken subsequently.
Why the capital needs its own prison
Islamabad has never had a functional prison of its own, which is why under-trial prisoners and convicts from the capital have been housed at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for decades. That arrangement has strained Adiala’s capacity and added transport and security costs every time an Islamabad prisoner appears in court.
A dedicated federal capital jail with a 1,000-inmate Phase 1 capacity will take significant pressure off Rawalpindi’s facilities. The transfer of all Islamabad prisoners from Adiala will be the first operational test of the new complex, and the possible shift of high-profile inmates will be watched closely by political observers.
The inauguration by the prime minister will formally open a project that has been under construction for several years.
CDA inspects progress
CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf and the chief commissioner of Islamabad visited the site to review progress on the construction work, the current status of the project and the stipulated completion timeline.
The chairman inspected various sections of the project and reviewed the quality of construction and compliance with prescribed standards. He also held discussions with relevant officers on the development of essential infrastructure.
The Islamabad model jail has been under construction for several years, and its completion will give the federal capital its own dedicated prison for the first time, ending Islamabad’s dependence on Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Islamabad model jail located?
The jail is in Sector H-16, Islamabad, spread over 90 acres.
What is the capacity of the new jail?
Phase 1 can house 1,000 inmates in three barracks, with a 32-bed hospital, staff flats and 34 security posts.
Will Imran Khan be shifted to the new jail?
Sources quoted by ProPakistani said there is a possibility the PTI founder may be shifted from Adiala Jail to the Islamabad facility. No official decision has been announced.
