LAHORE: The Punjab government has started implementing a new package of financial assistance to the families of civil servants who die while in service, especially taking care of the children of two secretaries who died last year.

The package was made after the death of two senior officers -- one of PMS and the other of PAS. The families of both the officers have also been given an additional Rs15 million each as one-time grant for the construction of their houses.

The new package has been made on the pattern of the Shuhada Package introduced for policemen who die in the line of duty, especially fighting terrorists. This package was given after DIG Traffic retired Capt Ahmed Mubeen, acting DIG Operations Zahid Ikram Gondal and some others died as a suicide bomber blew himself up at Lahore’s Charing Cross early last year.

There is no special package for the civil servants who die in an act of terrorism because of what officials said on Sunday different nature of the duty. “They are not supposed to fight crime or terrorism,” a senior official said.

According to the package, the lump sum grant for those in BS-1 to 4 has been revised to Rs1.6m from Rs0.4m, in BS 5 to 10 to Rs1.9m from Rs0.6m, in BS-11 to 15 to Rs2.2m from Rs0.8m, in BS-16 and 17 to Rs 2.5m from Rs1m, in BS 18 and 19 to Rs3.4m from Rs1.6m and in BS-20 to Rs4m from Rs2m.

The family of the deceased is entitled to receive monthly salary, along with annual increases, the deceased officer was drawing at the time of his or her death. It will continue till the date of the retirement. Afterwards, the family would be given pension.

The salary is to be paid against the posts of OSD to be created especially for the purpose of paying salary to the family of a deceased officer.

The family of the deceased civil servant is allowed retention of the government accommodation till the age of the superannuation of the officer. Education scholarship is also allowed to the children (up to three) of the deceased out of the Benevolent Fund.

Appointment of one child or widow in BS-1 to BS-11, marriage grant, free health facilities as per the entitlement, pension/general provident fund and monthly benevolent grant, and group insurance are also the benefits.

In addition to this, the package allows continuation of marriage grant for the children of the deceased. It also allows farewell grant, four-month salary, lump sum payment equal to 365 days to the family at the time of the death of the official.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2018