PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has announced a revised welfare package for police personnel killed or injured in the line of duty, including higher compensation, education support for their children and cash assistance instead of residential plots.
Speaking at a police martyrs’ ceremony at the Governor House in Peshawar, Kundi said compensation for martyred constables, head constables, assistant sub-inspectors, sub-inspectors and inspectors would rise from Rs11 million to Rs17 million.
The package for martyred DSPs and SPs has been set at Rs25 million. Families of SSPs, assistant inspectors general and officers in grades 18 and 19 will receive Rs30 million, while the amount for DIGs, the provincial police chief and officers in grade 20 and above will be Rs35 million.
Compensation for personnel left permanently disabled has increased from Rs500,000 to Rs5 million. Payments for those seriously injured have risen from Rs100,000 to Rs1.5 million.
Under the revised scheme, families will receive cash in place of plots: Rs18 million for families of constables and head constables, Rs25 million for families of ASIs, sub-inspectors and inspectors, and Rs35 million for families of DSPs and SPs. Families of SSPs and more senior officers will be eligible for Rs70 million. Close relatives of personnel killed in terrorist attacks may also receive between Rs3 million and Rs5 million, subject to eligibility criteria.
Kundi said daughters of martyred officers would receive Rs1 million each for marriage expenses, and pledged financial assistance for the children’s education and other needs. He also said police salaries had been raised to bring them in line with those in other provinces, and that a provincial police welfare package would be modelled on Punjab’s arrangements.
During the event, the governor handed over plot-allotment letters to families of personnel killed in attacks in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and other districts. He urged government departments and state institutions to support the police and called for a coordinated approach to tackling terrorism.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting chaired by Kundi on October 13 to review police pay and welfare for the families of martyred and injured personnel. A Governor House statement said officials had been asked to prepare proposals covering increased compensation, cash in place of plots, marriage assistance and an endowment fund for children’s education.
The announcement comes amid continuing security challenges in the province and renewed federal intervention following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule on October 11.
