KARACHI: With the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s approval, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised the assistance package for families of the Customs officials who died in service, it is learnt.
In this regard, Qasim Khan Khattak, Secretary (Mgt.Cus.III), has issued a Circular No 15(5)Cust-III/2015 to all the Chief Collectors/Director Generals of Customs, all Collectors, Director Reforms.
According to letter, funds have been increased by 300 percent in package – 2006 for in service death of civilian employees. This increase will be given on the 2006 package that included BS 1 to 4 (Rs 600,000), BS 5 to 10 (Rs 900,000), BS 11 to 15 (Rs 1,200,000), BS 16 to 17 (Rs 1,500,000), BS 18 to 19 (Rs 2,400,000) and BS 20 and above Rs 3,000,000.
Pension: 100 percent pension to the families of the deceased government servants as per their length of service and last pay drawn. In case of less than 10 years service of the deceased employees, rate of minimum 10 years service will be applicable.
Accommodation: Retention of government house or payment of rent of hired house till the age of superannuation.
Education: Free education to all the children of the deceased government employee up to the graduation in any public/government educational institution including expenses of tuition fee, books related material and living allowances etc.
Allotment of plot: Discontinuation of the entitlement of 2 percent quota for allotment of plot. Payment of lump sum grant in lieu of plot subject to the condition that no plot had been alloted in the past, as per scale that include BS 1 to 8 Rs 2 million, BS 9 to 16 Rs 5 million and BS 17 and above Rs 7 million.
Employment: Employment for posts in BS 1 to BS 15 on two years contract without advertisement.
Marriage grant: Marriage grant amounting to Rs 8 lac on wedding of one daughter, may be granted to family of deceased government employee.
Health: Free health facilities as per their entitlement during service.
House building advance: In case of advance against salaries sanctioned by the AGPR or the provincial AG office, the unpaid balance to be waived.
Nomination of an officer as council: An officer of BS 17 or BS 18 may be nominated by each Ministry/Division/Department as council who will be responsible for finalization/provision of all the facilities under the package to the families of government employees who die in service within one month of the incident.
Special lumpsum grant from Benevolent Fund: A special lumpsum grant from Beneolent Fund ranging from Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 including BS 1 to 10 Rs 200,000, BS 11 to 16 Rs 300,000, BS 17 to 19 Rs 400,000 and BS 20 and above Rs 500,000.
Pre-requisite for facilitation of family of deceased government employee: In case of in service death of a government employee, the concerned Ministry/Division/Department should immediately submit family pension case, option form for Direct Credit Scheme (online payment of pension), application for Anticipatory Pension (80pc of the total pension).
Besides, as a pro-active approach each Ministry/ Division/ Department to observe practices that include up to date list of family members of each employee for pension purpose be maintained before hand, nomination for General Provident Fund must be ensured for each employee in his/her life.
GP Fund: Only payable amount of GP Fund shall be paid to the deceased family.
Furthermore, according to the letter, the prime minister has also approved that the relevant recruitment rules may be appropriately amended to provide for appointment of family members nder the instant package, and a death will be deemed to be a “Security Related Death” if it occurs due to a terrorist act or while combating or confronting the terrorist (s), irrespective of the fact that the victim was member of Law Enforcement Agency LEA or a civilian employee. Death of a member of LEA due to a cause, other than a terrorist act, will be classified as an “In-service Death”.
