250% risk allowance approved for officers for K-P ‘hard areas’

The federal government has officially designated 26 districts in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as high-risk, or "hard," areas, and has approved a security allowance for government and police officers stationed there. This decision, communicated through an official letter from the Establishment Division in Islamabad to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary, grants eligible officers a risk allowance equivalent to 250% of their base salary.

This financial support, provided by the federal government, will be exempt from income tax. It will commence from July 1 and will automatically terminate if an officer is reassigned from a designated hard area.

However, there are certain conditions attached to this allowance. It will not be granted to officers on suspension, serving as Officers on Special Duty (OSD), during the initial joining period, or while undergoing training. Additionally, the allowance is not considered for pension or gratuity calculations. The districts identified as high-risk include major cities such as Peshawar, Mardan, and Nowshera, as well as several tribal regions like North Waziristan and North Dir, highlighting the extensive scope of this security initiative.

Notably, officers assigned to Swabi district and the Hazara Division are excluded from this allowance. This measure is a direct response to the escalating threat of terrorism and the heightened security challenges faced by government personnel in these regions.