City authorities have pressed the Capital Development Authority to fast track construction of the Islamabad Model Jail project amid growing concerns over funding constraints and delays. Once completed the facility will be Islamabad’s first dedicated jail reducing reliance on the overcrowded Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa along with Member Engineering Syed Nafasat Raza visited Sector H Sixteen to inspect progress on the project. During the site visit the engineering team briefed the chairman on construction status and key challenges affecting timely completion.
According to a CDA press release the chairman directed that critical components including the administrative block kitchen jail hospital and barracks be completed within the current month. He stressed the importance of meeting deadlines to enable early operationalisation of the first phase of the jail.
However officials familiar with the project said funding issues could hinder compliance with the chairman’s timeline. They stated that even after the release of funds it would take nearly two months to complete the remaining work required to begin jail operations.
The Islamabad Model Jail project carries a total estimated cost of Rs7.4 billion. CDA officials previously informed the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works that around Rs4 billion had been released so far while nearly ninety percent work on the hospital and barracks had been completed. The committee later directed the Planning Division to release an additional Rs2.6 billion in January to avoid further delays.
Originally approved in 2016 at a cost of Rs3.9 billion with a completion target of 2019 the project faced repeated delays leading to a revised PC One. Chairman Randhawa also directed immediate completion of boundary walls gates road infrastructure drainage sewerage tube wells and electricity connections. He emphasised quality construction environmental landscaping and close monitoring to ensure the jail is completed at the earliest and meets modern standards.
