ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court on Friday directed the government to release prisoners involved in minor crimes to stem the spread of coronavirus as the country has recorded over 400 confirmed COVID-19 cases with three deaths.
In 113 operational jails of the country, more than 75,000 prisoners are kept against the capacity of around 60,000 inmates. The official data shows only 25,990 prisoners are convicted out of the total in different crimes while around 46,000 are still under trial.
“If a prisoner contracts coronavirus [in the jail], it will be difficult to control the situation,” Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Justice Athar Minallah remarked while hearing a petition regarding the release of 1,362 under trial prisoners.
The court has directed the Islamabad district administration to look into the matter and release all under trial prisoners on bail from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Pakistani prisons are overcrowded and pose various health risks. Hundreds of inmates in different jails are said to be suffering from different diseases including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. Under the circumstances, many fear that prisoners are also at risk of contracting and spreading the deadly coronavirus.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat informed the court that no prisoner was infected with the virus so far, though he also added that the authorities would comply with the court order and release the inmates involved in petty crimes.
The district administration has constituted a two-member committee in the wake of the court order to release these criminals. The jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court extends to the federal capital only, making it suggest to the provincial administrations to avoid “unnecessary arrests” and release petty criminals through executive order.
Currently, there are 5,001 prisoners in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail against the capacity of 2,174 inmates. Among them, trials of 1,362 detainees are pending before various courts in the federal capital.
Human rights activists and organizations working for the well-being of prisoners have applauded the verdict and urged the provincial governments to follow suit.
“It is a wonderful initiative by the high court to consider releasing under trial prisoners facing petty charges,” Ali Haider Habib, spokesperson for the Justice Project Pakistan, a non-profit organization based in Lahore that works for vulnerable prisoners, told Arab News.
He lauded the government and the judiciary for “safeguarding and protecting prisoners, prison staff and their families in this difficult time.”
Pakistani court asks government to release petty criminals to prevent COVID-19 spread
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Pakistani court asks government to release petty criminals to prevent COVID-19 spread
- More than 75,000 prisoners are jailed in 113 prisons against the capacity of 60,000 inmates in the country, says the official data
- Islamabad district administration to release 1,362 under trial detainees languishing in Adiala Jail
At Gulfood expo, minister urges Pakistani firms to boost exports to end reliance on foreign debt
- The Dubai expo brought together more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries, showcasing over 1.5 million food and beverage products
- Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal says Islamabad is committed to promoting productivity, quality and innovation within the private sector
ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday urged Pakistani companies participating in the Gulfood food and beverage exhibition in Dubai to expand exports and focus on value-added products, saying it was the only way for Pakistan to end reliance on foreign debt.
Gulfood’s 31st edition, being held in Dubai from Jan. 26 till Jan. 30, has brought together more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries, showcasing over 1.5 million food and beverage products across 12 sectors, making it one of the most influential platforms for global agri-food trade.
Pakistan has made its largest-ever showing at the world’s leading food and beverage trade exhibition, with a total of 142 Pakistani companies participating in the 2026 edition, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information released this week.
On Thursday, Iqbal visited toured various stalls and interacted with exhibitors at Pakistan Pavilion at the exhibition and encouraging them to focus on enhancing exports and value-addition, Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said.
“If we are to permanently free ourselves from reliance on the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and foreign debt, there is only one way forward, promoting and expanding our exports,” he was quoted as saying. “I am particularly encouraged to see that Pakistani exporters are now focusing on value added products.”
Pakistan has struggled with boom-bust cycles for decades and secured 22 IMF bailouts since 1958. The country is currently navigating a long, tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF program secured in Sept. 2024.
Pakistan has been increasingly using global trade exhibitions to promote value-added food exports, particularly to Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, which remain among the country’s largest destinations for rice, meat and processed food products.
Of the 142 Pakistani firms, 67 companies are participating under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), while 75 companies are taking part independently, across four specialized pavilions covering rice, pulses and grains, world food, beverages, and meat and poultry. Notably, 30 rice exporters are participating under TDAP, underlining Pakistan’s position as one of the world’s leading rice suppliers.
Iqbal visited the Biryani Festival stall at Pakistan Pavilion and appreciated the initiative to showcase and promote Pakistani Basmati rice.
“We are committed to promoting productivity, quality, and innovation within the private sector so that ‘Made in Pakistan’ becomes a global symbol of quality, and Pakistani products are visible on every stall, in every shop, and on every shelf across international markets,” he said.
