DC Respect Card: Peshawar admin to facilitate martyrs’ kin

Card-holders will be entitled to special administrative support, discounts and preference in public facilities

PESHAWAR: To pay tribute to those who had sacrificed their lives to protect the homeland, Peshawar’s deputy commissioner on Thursday announced the ‘DC Respect Card’ for the next to kin of war on terror victims.

This was announced by Peshawar’s Commissioner Shahab Ali Shah while addressing an event in the provincial capital on Thursday to mark defence and martyrs day.

Cardholders will be entitled to special administrative support including resolution of their administrative issues on priority and will be preferred in all schemes introduced by the social welfare department.

The card will also entitle the holder to free provision of prosthetics at the artificial limbs workshop of the Social Welfare Department in Peshawar.

Cardholders will also get a 50 per cent refund for all [public] transportation charges apart from gaining free entry to government-owned recreational facilities.

In this regard, special counters for speedy disposal of their banking affairs in select branches of The Bank of Khyber will also be set up.

“They deserve more than this,” a senior official at the Peshawar’s district administration told The Express Tribune.

The official, who requested anonymity since he was not entitled to speak to media, stated that the next of kin of those who have sacrificed their lives, need to be facilitated.

Officials at the district administration stated that those whose names have been finalised for the cards will be invited as guests at all government functions and events. Moreover, he said that the provincial government has been requested to provide 10 honorary marks to children of such martyrs at the time of admission to colleges and to refund 20 per cent of their motorway toll tax.

Family of martyrs can apply for the cards via forms which will be available at the reception counter of the deputy commissioner’s office in Peshawar from Monday.

Meanwhile, Shah said that Peshawar has been on the frontlines in the war against terror and that a number of horrific terror attacks have claimed the lives of hundreds of people behind thousands of others as wounded.

These martyrs include law enforcement personnel, public servants and even ordinary citizens.

Shah announced a perpetual, sustained yet innovative modality to look after those injured in terror attacks and their next of kin, adding that the ‘DC Respect Card’ initiative will have a sustained and continuous impact as it will boost the morale of the injured and the next of kin of martyrs.

The ceremony was attended by parents and next of kin of the martyrs of Army Public School and College Peshawar, and government officers.

Officers of the district administration also visited homes of the martyrs and the severely injured and offered prayers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2018.