Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has inaugurated the newly built Islamabad Model Jail by eating a meal of daal at the facility, while State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry also joined him for the meal.
The inauguration came amid protests by journalists, who objected to the minister’s arrival after they had been led to expect Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The jail was originally awaiting formal inauguration by the prime minister.
وزیر داخلہ محسن نقوی نے نیو ماڈل جیل اسلام آباد کا افتتاح دال کھا کر کر کیا
وزیر مملکت طلال چوھدری نے بھی دال کھائی
وزیر اعظم کی آمد کا دھوکہ دے کر وزیر داخلہ جیل کا افتتاح کرنے آگئے: صحافیوں کا احتجاج pic.twitter.com/LMoGiOyXlA
— Israr Ahmed Rajpoot (@ia_rajpoot) October 27, 2026
Speaking to the media at the facility in H-16, Naqvi said the project had been completed and that around 1,500 prisoners from Islamabad would be shifted there. He added that the remaining prisoners would move to the new facility after the second phase was completed.
The minister said Adiala Jail currently housed around 3,300 prisoners from Islamabad, of whom 1,500 would be transferred to the new prison.
Naqvi credited Talal Chaudhry, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman, and his team for completing the project. He said construction began in 2016 after the project was launched in 2009. By 2024, work had stalled, with only 40 to 50% of the project completed.
The project was subsequently handed over to the CDA, which completed the first phase at a cost of approximately Rs7 billion, including funds previously spent by the now-defunct Public Works Department (PWD). The project was initially estimated to cost Rs3.9 billion in 2016, with a 2019 completion deadline.
During his visit, Naqvi inspected several sections of the jail, including its 35-bed hospital and kitchen.
Meanwhile, the interior minister also visited the Kashmir Chowk underpass construction site to review progress. The Rs. 1.4 billion project was launched on October 6, and officials said physical progress had reached around 75% after 18 days.
Naqvi expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction and said the underpass could be completed in less than 30 days if work continued at the current speed. CDA officials said they expected to finish the project before November 5.
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