ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has decided to provide substantial financial assistance and rehabilitation grants to the families of missing persons, offering Rs 5 million per individual.
According to government sources, the decision is expected to be formally announced at an upcoming cabinet meeting.
Government sources stressed that this financial assistance should not be seen as compensation, but rather as a rehabilitation grant aimed at supporting the families of those individuals who have been missing for more than five years.
“Bereavement assistance is not compensation but a rehabilitation allowance,” clarified the sources, who also stressed that all possible steps are being taken to solve the problem of missing persons.
They further stated that in the last few years, 78% of missing person cases have been solved, while the remaining 22% of cases have been handled through best efforts. They said that all government institutions are taking strict measures in this regard.
Sources said that the state is not responsible for the missing persons but shares the suffering of the affected families and this decision was a sincere and commendable step by the state and its institutions despite all the allegations.
They further said that the sanctity and protection of life of every citizen is important in Pakistan and it is the responsibility of the state to ensure this sanctity. The issue of missing persons was discussed at a recent cabinet meeting, that many of these cases were solved by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED).
The state undertakes to solve the problem of missing persons using all available resources. To express this decision, the government launched the “National Consensus and Legal Resolution (NCLR) on Missing Persons”.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the package was intended as support, not compensation. “If the missing person returns, there will be no amount to claim,” he said. Reiterating that the cabinet has approved a support package of Rs 5 crore for each affected family, the minister highlighted the human challenges associated with the issue.
Tarar also revealed that some major recommendations from various committees have been approved by the government. Reports of two committees on missing persons were submitted and the government engaged with the families of the missing persons to hear their concerns and suggestions.
The minister highlighted the efforts of a special committee set up by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, which is actively working to resolve the issue. The Missing Persons Commission, which has been in operation for 13 years, has successfully solved 78% of cases in the last few years, with the remaining 22% still trying to solve.
“All state institutions are taking strict measures in this regard,” the sources said, confirming the government’s commitment to solving the problem of missing persons.
Minister Tarar emphasized that the issue of missing persons is a long-term problem and the government is dealing with it comprehensively.
