LAHORE: The Punjab Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 2016 has been promulgated, institutionalising and legalising state finances, medical and rehabilitation assistance for civilians facing hardships due to terrorism.

The law reads: `It is necessary to provide for timely recognition and assistance for civilian victims of acts of terrorism; recognising theright of civilian victims to receive state assistance for relief, healthcare and rehabilitation; arranging for adequate funds for such assistance; establishing an effective mechanism to track; investigate and analyse harm to civilians in acts of terrorism; and for other purposes.

The government through this Ordinance fixed the financial assistance and prescribed mode, manner and periodicity of the payments made to a civilian victim or any of his family members.In the previous arrangement, the recognition of civilian victims and financial assistance was the sole discretion of the chief minister.

According to the Ordinance, in case of death, a civilian victim would be entitled to Rs1 million, for grievous injury Rs500,000, substantial injury Rs100,000, for dwelling unit (complete destruction of house) Rs500,000, shop kiosk or any other business establishment (complete destruction) Rs500,000 and (partial destruc-tion) Rs100,000, and for severe damage to vehicle (truck, bus or other heavy vehicle) Rs500,000 and minor damage Rs100,000.

The grant allocated for severe damage to car, jeep or other four or three wheelers is Rs500,000 and minor damage Rs100,000.

Similarly, Rs500,000 worth financial assistance has been fixed for each buffalo, cow, bull, horse or donkey`s loss and Rs100,000 for each sheep and goat.

The Ordinance further reads: `A civilian victim shall be entitled tothe grant specified in the Schedule for the harm, caused to body, mind or property owing to an act of terrorism.

The government would, by notification in the official gazette, establish a `Civilian Victims Fund` with a dedicated head of account for timely payment of grants and other benefit to civilian victims.

Under the Ordinance, the government could amend the Schedule to increase the amount or grant or add any other category of harm and fix the amount of grant for it.

Government notified officials, preferably within 30 days of an act of terrorism, would communicate to the government details of the act and those of the civilian victims to initiate process of assistance. In the next phase, the government shall, within 15 days of receiving this communication and under intimation to the notified officers, transfer the requisite grant payable to civilian victims.

`The government may adopt any appropriate mode of payment that may have become available because of modern devices or techniques, for timely payment, the Ordinance reads.

About healthcare, the notified officer shall ensure immediate free medical treatment of a victim from a hospital owned or controlled by the government, local authority or any entity or agency or agency of the government.

`In case of non-availability of treatment in any health facility owned by the government, the hospital may refer the case to a private medical facility for the purpose,` it adds and further says the referring hospital should verify vouchers for payments to the private medical facility.

AccordingtotheOrdinance, the government shall, within three months of closing of a financial year, submit to the provincial assembly an annual report consisting details of civilian victims and a comprehensive statement of payments made during the proceeding financial year.

The Punjab government notified the law on March 7 to come into force across the province.