Special Family Pension for Shuhada Families in Pakistan: 25 Years for Later Heirs and a 50% Rate
Special family pension for shuhada of Pakistan's armed and civil armed forces: 50% to later heirs, a 25 year limit, life cover for disabled children. See rules.
Special family pension in Pakistan is paid to the families of shuhada of the armed forces and civil armed forces. Since 10 September 2024, after the spouse or first recipient, the next family members get it for 25 years in total, a disabled child gets it for life, and the rate for the next heirs is 50 per cent of the last pension drawn by the first recipient.
We read the Finance Division's memorandum of 10 September 2024 on special family pension and its clarification of 3 January 2025 on 7 November 2026. Below is what changed, who it covers, what happens to families already drawing it, and the three questions the Finance Division has not yet answered.
Special family pension covers shuhada of the armed and civil armed forces only
The Finance Division says the special family pension in its 10 September 2024 memorandum is admissible to shuhada of the armed forces and civil armed forces only. Shuhada are personnel who died in the line of duty. Civil employees fall under ordinary family pension instead.
Civil armed forces are the federal forces such as the Frontier Corps, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary. Provincial police martyrs are paid under provincial packages, which is why a Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police family will not find its answer in this memorandum. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's police package is set out in the KP police martyrs package.
The rules on who is family, and in what order, come from the Pension Regulations Volume I (Armed Forces), 2010. The Finance Division memorandum points to Rule 12 for the order of heirs and Rule 108 for age limits. We have not read those regulations, so we do not repeat their order here.
Three changes took effect on 10 September 2024
On the recommendation of the Pay and Pension Commission 2020, the Finance Division changed special family pension in three ways. A time limit now applies after the first recipient. Disabled children are protected for life. And the rate for the following heirs went up to half of the first recipient's last pension.
| Rule | What the 10 September 2024 memorandum says |
|---|---|
| Who comes after the spouse or first recipient | Remaining entitled family members, for 25 years after the first recipient's death or ineligibility |
| Disabled or special children | For life |
| Rate for eligible recipients | 50% of the last drawn pension of the first recipient |
| Ranks covered | All ranks of armed forces and civil armed forces |
| Minimum or maximum | None, the 50% applies without limits |
| Transfer to heirs | To all eligible heirs, in the order of Rule 12 of the 2010 regulations |
The first recipient is usually the widow. Her own entitlement is not cut by this memorandum. The changes bite when she dies, remarries or otherwise stops being eligible, and the pension passes on.
The 25 years are counted once, for all later heirs together
The 25 years run from the death or ineligibility of the spouse or first recipient. They are one shared period, not 25 years for each heir. When one member stops being eligible, the next eligible member gets only the unexpired part of the 25 years.
Here is a worked example of our own. Say a widow drawing special family pension dies in 2026. Her unmarried daughter takes over and marries in 2036, ten years later. The next eligible member then gets the remaining 15 years, to 2051, not a fresh 25.
- Note the date the first recipient died or stopped being eligible. The 25 years start here.
- Check who is next under Rule 12 of the Pension Regulations Volume I (Armed Forces), 2010.
- Check that person against the age limits in Rule 108, which the Finance Division confirmed still apply.
- Subtract the years already drawn by earlier heirs from 25.
- Apply with the service's pension office for the remaining period.
One older limit also stays. A 2014 Finance Division order restricted special family pension to a third life, meaning a third person in line. The Finance Division's answer on 3 January 2025, when asked if that restriction had ended, was "No change".
Families already drawing it keep their terms and get the new rate
The 25 year limit does not apply to families who were already special family pensioners before 10 September 2024. They are treated under the terms on which their pension was first granted. But the higher rate of 50 per cent applies to them too, from 10 September 2024.
That is the one change in this package that helps existing families. A second or third recipient who has already drawn the pension for more than 25 years will not lose it, and the clarification says the same for unmarried, widowed or divorced daughters who passed 25 years before September 2024.
Shuhada families can also use the profit account set up for them under National Savings, set out in how to open a Shuhada Family Welfare Account. Its rate is listed with the other National Savings rates in the Behbood and pensioners' rate history.
The Finance Division has not yet said how the 50 per cent is worked out
The 3 January 2025 clarification left one point open. Asked whether 50 per cent means half of the basic family pension without increases, or half of the monthly pension being drawn at the time of death, the Finance Division said the query was not clear. It asked the pension accounts office to send a detailed reference with examples.
We found no later memorandum on the circulars page that settles it. So two families in the same position could, in theory, be told different figures. If your amount looks low, ask the pension office in writing which base it used, and keep the reply.
Common questions
Who gets special family pension in Pakistan?
The families of shuhada of the armed forces and civil armed forces, according to the Finance Division's clarification of 3 January 2025.
How long is special family pension paid after the widow?
For 25 years after the death or ineligibility of the spouse or first recipient, shared among later heirs. A disabled or special child gets it for life.
What is the rate of special family pension for later heirs?
50 per cent of the last pension drawn by the first recipient, for all ranks, with no minimum or maximum.
Does the 25 year limit apply to families already drawing the pension?
No. Existing special family pensioners stay on their original terms, but get the 50 per cent rate from 10 September 2024.
Do police martyrs' families get this special family pension?
The memorandum covers armed forces and civil armed forces. Provincial police martyrs are paid under provincial rules and packages.
What we read
We read the Finance Division's memorandum F.No.9(3)R-6/2024-264 of 10 September 2024 on special family pension and the clarification of 3 January 2025, Annex I, on its circulars page on 7 November 2026. Both are scans. We did not read the Pension Regulations Volume I (Armed Forces), 2010, which set the order of heirs. The worked example is ours.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
