Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced Rs12.5 million in financial assistance and a house for each of the families of three Pakistani sailors killed during an operation to recover a hijacked vessel off the coast of Somalia.
The government will also provide free education and healthcare to the children of the deceased, identified as Syed Kashif Umar, Mahmood Ahmed Ansari and Rafiullah Khan.
The three Pakistanis were among crew members killed during the operation involving the MT Honour 25, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates.
PM Shehbaz spoke by telephone with Azhaan Kashif, son of Syed Kashif Umar, and expressed his condolences over his father’s death.
The prime minister assured the bereaved families that the government would stand by them and provide all possible assistance.
He also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s diplomatic mission to expedite arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies and maintain close contact with both the families and Somali authorities.
Shehbaz further ordered authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for injured Pakistani crew members and accelerate arrangements for the safe return of the remaining Pakistani sailors.