The federal government, through the Establishment Division, has issued an important clarification regarding the appointment of family members of federal government employees who died while in service under the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package (PMAP). According to an Office Memorandum issued by the Cabinet Secretariat’s Establishment Division, comprehensive instructions have been communicated to all federal ministries, divisions, attached departments, and subordinate offices in light of the judgment delivered by the Federal Constitutional Court on February 27, 2026.
Court Ruling on Previous Policy
The memorandum states that the Federal Constitutional Court, while deciding a number of petitions, ruled that the cases of all federal government employees who died in service on or before October 17, 2024, shall be processed under the previous policy governing the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package. The Court directed that one eligible family member—whether the widow, son, or daughter—may be considered for appointment in accordance with the policy that was in force at the time of the employee’s death.
Implementation of Pending Cases
The Establishment Division further clarified that all such pending cases must be decided in accordance with Office Memorandum No. 8(23)/2021-E-2(PT), dated December 23, 2022, as the Federal Constitutional Court has expressly upheld the implementation of those instructions in its judgment. The memorandum directs all federal ministries, divisions, attached departments, and subordinate offices to ensure immediate and full compliance with the clarification. It also instructs the authorities to circulate the order among all concerned offices to ensure its implementation in both letter and spirit.
Relief for Bereaved Families
Legal experts believe the clarification is expected to provide significant relief to hundreds of bereaved families whose appointment cases had remained pending due to ongoing legal proceedings and varying judicial interpretations. Following the latest clarification, the processing of all pending applications relating to employees who died in service on or before October 17, 2024, is expected to resume in accordance with the applicable policy framework.
Background of PMAP
The Prime Minister’s Assistance Package was introduced to provide immediate financial relief to the families of government employees who die while in service. Under the scheme, one eligible member of the deceased employee’s family may be offered government employment to help the family overcome financial hardship and maintain economic stability. Observers have described the latest clarification as a significant legal and administrative development that is expected to remove uncertainty surrounding numerous pending cases and facilitate the timely disposal of applications in line with the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling.
