The Punjab government has formally launched the Online Mulakat App across all prisons in the province, allowing families of inmates to schedule jail visits directly from their homes instead of standing in long physical queues. The application was developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board and is now available for download through the Google Play Store, marking one of the province’s latest steps toward digitising public services that previously required lengthy in person processes.
The system began as a pilot project at Camp Jail last year, and following its success there, the Punjab Prisons Department decided to expand it across all jails in the province. Through the app, visitors can submit the required details of the prisoner they wish to meet and select a preferred date and time for their visit. Once a booking is confirmed, the user receives a unique digital token along with a message specifying the time of the meeting, which can then be presented at the jail front desk for a smooth check in process. The Punjab Prisons Department has also issued a formal notification confirming that the facility is now available across the province, with separate counters established inside jails on the directions of the Inspector General of Prisons to support the new booking process.
Officials said the app is designed to modernise the prison visitation system, making it more convenient, organised, and transparent for citizens across Punjab. The application also supports adding multiple visitors within a single booking and sends automated notifications if a scheduled meeting is cancelled for security or administrative reasons, keeping families informed without requiring a physical visit to confirm changes. In addition to visit scheduling, the app allows families to transfer funds directly into a prisoner’s savings account through digital channels including JazzCash, EasyPaisa, and Raast, removing the need for manual cash handling or intermediaries during the process. Officials added that the new system is expected to improve discipline within prisons and streamline administrative processes for jail staff managing large numbers of visitor requests on a daily basis.
The Punjab government said expanding digital services remains a key priority, with modern technology being introduced across various departments to reduce delays and improve transparency for citizens. Authorities have directed jail administrations to place awareness banners at visible locations within prison premises to inform both inmates and visiting families about the new service. According to the Punjab Prisons Department, the initiative is also intended to reduce opportunities for corruption that previously existed around the manual visit scheduling process, an issue that has affected the prison visitation system in the province for years. The department noted that citizen response to the app has been encouraging since its wider rollout, with growing numbers of families adopting the platform to book meetings, reflecting a broader shift toward digital governance within Punjab’s public sector institutions.
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