The Punjab Home Department has launched welfare stores across all nine central jails in the province, aiming to improve living conditions for inmates through access to essential daily-use items.
The initiative was inaugurated at Central Jail Lahore by Rana Manan Khan and Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi. Officials confirmed that each welfare store is stocked with 74 essential items, including food products, beverages, kitchen supplies, and hygiene goods, all available at affordable prices.
A key feature of the initiative is its digital purchase system. Inmates can buy items through a centralised Point of Sale (POS) system using tablets, with biometric verification and linked bank accounts. This system ensures transparency and keeps detailed records of purchases, including items, prices, and buyer information.
Authorities also stated that the entire process is monitored through CCTV surveillance, enhancing accountability and preventing misuse. The stores are being managed by the Punjab Prisons Foundation and will operate on a no-profit, no-loss basis, ensuring items are sold at market rates.
Officials highlighted that all food items available at the stores have been tested and approved by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority, ensuring quality and safety standards.
According to Prisons Inspector General Mian Farooq Nazir, the initiative is part of a broader reform agenda aimed at transforming prisons into rehabilitation and welfare-oriented institutions.
The government plans to expand this facility to all prisons across Punjab within the current month. Inmates have reportedly welcomed the initiative, expressing satisfaction with improved access to essential goods.
This move reflects ongoing efforts by provincial authorities to modernize prison systems and enhance inmate welfare through technology-driven solutions and improved facilities.
