New Islamabad jail has no road as opening nears, NHA asked for temporary link
ISLAMABAD: The long-delayed Islamabad Model Jail is approaching inauguration without a proper road connection, prompting the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission to ask the National Highway Authority to arrange a temporary link with Kashmir Highway.
The commission has sought the revival of an earlier proposal for a temporary slip road, as construction of the planned interchange has yet to begin under the relevant Public Sector Development Programme, sources told ProPakistani.
The request comes as the first phase of the project nears its official opening. The temporary road is meant to improve access for official vehicles, visitors and other commuters, and to prevent traffic congestion during the inauguration ceremony. The NHA has been asked to resubmit its earlier proposal for the road connection.
A decade-old access problem for the Islamabad Model Jail
The access problem dates back several years. An interchange connecting the jail to Kashmir Highway through signal-free access was reportedly approved by the NHA in May 2016. In April 2018, the Ministry of Interior directed the NHA to provide the interchange. Two months later, the Capital Development Authority was reportedly directed to construct a temporary access road until the permanent interchange was completed.
At the time, the prison site in Sector H-16 could only be reached through a dirt track crossing fields. Land possession and compensation issues also held up the proposed infrastructure. Despite those earlier decisions, the road connection remains unresolved as the jail prepares to open.
Repeated delays, first phase nearly done
The Islamabad Model Jail project has faced repeated delays stretching back years. In July 2024, the federal government moved to accelerate construction, with the CDA expected to take over execution from the then Public Works Department. According to media reports published in September and October 2026, the government planned to inaugurate the facility this month, and the first phase has been reported complete.
Dawn reported earlier this month that the first phase was ready for inauguration. The initial phase includes three barracks with capacity for around 1,500 inmates, a 35-bed hospital and other facilities.
The jail is intended to reduce Islamabad’s reliance on Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for housing prisoners from the capital, a burden that has grown as thousands of Pakistanis remain jailed abroad and at home strain the system. The facility’s inauguration has been anticipated for weeks.
The episode fits a wider pattern of infrastructure gaps in the capital. The city recently cut its security checkposts from 24 to 12 to ease movement, while the CDA pursues large commercial projects elsewhere in Islamabad. For now, the temporary slip road is meant to address the immediate problem while work on the permanent interchange remains pending.
FAQ
Where is the Islamabad Model Jail located?
The jail is being built in Sector H-16, Islamabad. The site was long reachable only by a dirt track, and the planned signal-free interchange to Kashmir Highway has not been built.
What does the first phase include?
The initial phase includes three barracks with capacity for around 1,500 inmates, a 35-bed hospital and other supporting facilities.
Why does Islamabad need its own jail?
The capital currently relies on Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi to house prisoners from Islamabad. The new facility is meant to end that dependence.
