KARACHI, Jan 23: A certificate distribution ceremony was held at the central prison’s computer centre here on Tuesday. On the occasion, largely attended by prisoners, jail staff and media men, 35 persons including five foreigners were awarded certificates on the successful completion of different type of computer courses in the prison.

The computer centre established in December 2005 has so far imparted computer training to about 1,000 prisoners and many of them on their release are associated with the computer business, told Nusrat Mangan, superintendent of the prison.

He said that 600 prisoners had already been enrolled, who were being imparted the primary education, while 1,500 prisoners were receiving religious education.

Mr Mangan informed that the Allama Iqbal Open University on his request would be establishing its campus within the prison’s premises, which would be inaugurated very soon.

There has been a very positive impact of such activities on the overall environment of the prison, he added.

Mr Mangan urged the prisoners to take more interest in acquiring education as this training would benefit them in the future after their release.

Syed Mustafa Kamal, IT expert, Shamim Ahmad Siddiqui and instructors of the institute also spoke on the occasion. A video documentary was also showed highlighting the activities of the computer centre.