📈 Budgetary Shortfalls & Delays in Relief for Disappeared Families

Nearly Rs. 1 Bn in funds earmarked for families of the disappeared remains unpaid, with significant risk of the capital being returned to the Treasury. Despite a 2022 allocation of Rs. 200,000 per family, administrative bottlenecks have stalled disbursements to approximately 5,000 eligible households. • Overall Funding & Allocations: • 2025 Budget: Rs. 1 Bn earmarked; majority remains undisbursed. • 2026 Budget: Allocation slashed to Rs. 300 Mn, covering only 1,500 families—far below the requested Rs. 2 Bn for 10,000 families. • Historical Claims: OMP has 19,000 total complaints; Presidential Commissions recorded 32,000 since 1988. • Operational Bottlenecks: • Staffing Crisis: The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) operates with only 29 staff members despite a required cadre of 250. • Cabinet Delays: Eligibility enquiries only received Cabinet approval in October 2025, leaving insufficient time for field verifications. • Reparations Progress: The Office for Reparations received only 563 recommendations last year, mostly relating to older cases. • Policy & Social Impact: • The government is transitioning toward a "comprehensive package" including housing, education, and livelihood support rather than one-off payments. • Families in the South (late 1980s period) remain largely excluded if they received prior minimal state assistance, leading to deep disillusionment.