ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Peshawar on Tuesday with a special welfare package for the families of security personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty, as the government steps up efforts to address security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will accompany the prime minister during the visit. Sharif is also expected to receive a briefing on the latest security situation in the province, including developments in counterterrorism operations.
The visit comes amid continued calls for improved financial support for police personnel and the families of those killed while fighting militancy in the province.
During Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s tenure, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police made several requests to increase compensation under the existing Shuhada package. In August, Afridi announced an additional monthly honorarium of Rs50,000 for the family of each police martyr.
However, other demands, including an incentive equivalent to one month’s basic salary for police personnel across all ranks and the allocation of residential plots, remained unaddressed.
In its proposal, the KP police argued that officers routinely confront heavily armed militant groups and continue to suffer casualties amid the province’s volatile security situation. It also maintained that financial incentives, including a militancy allowance, were essential to boosting morale and sustaining operational effectiveness.
Following the imposition of governor rule in the province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced a revised welfare package for police personnel and their families following the imposition of governor’s rule in the province, with restoring peace identified as a priority.
Under the revised package, compensation for police officers martyred in the line of duty has been increased to up to Rs35 million. In addition, residential plots previously allotted to bereaved families will be replaced with cash payments of up to Rs70 million.
The prime minister’s visit is expected to bring renewed attention to the welfare of police personnel and their families, as authorities face pressure to strengthen security and support those serving on the front lines of the fight against militancy.
