PM Shehbaz announces Shuhada Package for martyrs

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the Shuhada Package to support the families of the federal government officials martyred in the line of duty on Thursday.

The Shuhada Package will comprise cash assistance, housing allowance as well as free education and medical treatment.

PM Shehbaz Sharif announced this while he visited the family of late Customs Inspector Syed Hasnain Ali Tirmizi, who was martyred in a firing incident in Dera Ismail Khan a few days ago. PM Shehbaz handed over a cheque under the Shuhada Package to the grieved family and assured his government’s all-out efforts for the security of the customs officials serving to purge the country of smuggling.

The premier, who was accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, PML-N leaders, and senior government officers, said that the package will also apply to civilian officials, police, and law enforcement agencies.

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Offering Fateha for the martyred soul and sympathizing with the bereaved family, he said that the Shuhada Package, earlier announced by the Punjab government, had now been extended to the federal government and could be revised further considering the country’s financial position.

Under the package, the family members of a martyred sepoy would get Rs 10 million cash assistance and Rs 13.5 million housing allowance besides free education and medical treatment. The family of a martyred customs inspector would be entitled to a Rs15 million cash and Rs25 million housing allowance along with free education and medical facilities.

During interaction with the family members, the prime minister showed compassion and affection to the orphaned children and called them the “children of a hero” and his father the “father of a hero” of whom the whole nation felt proud.

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The prime minister paid tribute to the late customs inspector who sacrificed his life while fighting against smuggling and to save billions of dollars for the national economy. He also lauded the patience and perseverance of the martyred customs inspector’s father and apprised him of his government’s ongoing efforts to curb smuggling, citing his multiple meetings on the subject.

The father of martyred Customs Inspector Hasnain Tirmizi thanked the prime minister for visiting and sympathizing with them. He told the prime minister that his son was inducted into the service just 22 months ago and added that he felt proud of him for opting to die with dignity while fighting for the country.