PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to grant Shuhada Package to the families of Levies and Khasadar personnel of erstwhile tribal districts who had embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism.

A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan here on Thursday also decided to upgrade the posts of Malakand Levies from grade-5 to grade-7, said an official statement.

“Besides induction of one of the heirs of each martyr into police force, other incentives under the Shuhada Package would also be given to the affected families of Levies and Khasadars who were martyred in the war against terrorism,” it was decided in the meeting.

The chief minister directed the quarters concerned to immediately complete all the prerequisites and process a summary for formal approval.

He also approved, in principle, regularisation of the remaining 511 personnel/officials of Mohmand Special Khasadar Force and directed the authorities to submit the matter for approval of the provincial cabinet.

The chief minister asked officials to take necessary steps for redressal of other issues of Mohmand Special Khasadar Force on priority. He said that Levies and Khasadars had been absorbed into the regular police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and now they should have all the facilities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, including the Police Shuhada Package.

He said like other forces the Levies and Khasadar personnel had also made sacrifices during the war against terrorism and they were martyrs of the nation.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021