Govt approves Rs3.61b package for LoC residents

185 civilians martyred, 875 injured by Indian shelling in five years


Shabbir Husain October 16, 2021
A Pakistani Kashmiri man points to a damaged wall hit by a mortar during cross border shelling, in Nakyal Sector, on the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Kashmir, on August 18, 2015 (AFP)

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has agreed to provide a package amounting to approximately Rs3.61 billion for the rehabilitation and protection of citizens living around the Line of Control (LoC) to ensure their protection from Indian military strikes and firing.

As per the package, over 773 protective bunkers will be built in addition to the construction of 178km of roads.

Similarly, the amount of money given to the families of martyrs has been increased from Rs0.3 million to Rs1 million including Rs3,000 per month for the children of martyrs and Rs0.25 million to Rs0.3 million for severely injured persons.

The amount disbursed to completely disabled persons has also been increased from Rs0.25 million to Rs0.8 million. On the other hand, compensation for minor injuries has been increased to Rs50,000.

Read Thaw paves way for LoC ceasefire

According to a document available with The Express Tribune, approximately 185 people have been martyred and over 875 injured as a result of Indian aggression across the Line of Control in Azad Kashmir during the last five years.

The report adds that the civilian population living along the LoC has been badly affected as a result of unprovoked firing by India that has damaged 2,130 houses and shops, 393 livestock and 58 vehicles.

The document further states that more than 600,000 people in eight districts along the border have been badly affected by the Indian shelling.

Further details highlight that more than 64 people were martyred in Kotli district, 36 were martyred and 171 injured in Poonch district, 27 were martyred and 91 injured in Neelam while 25 people were martyred and 99 injured in Haveli.

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