The government has decided to hold an exclusive civil awards ceremony for the doctors and paramedics who had lost lives their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, an official statement said on Saturday.

Last year on August 14, the former president awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz posthumously to 299 doctors and paramedical staff who died while rendering services during the pandemic.

But this time due to the non-availability of essential data and information with the Federal Ministry of Health, their names could not be included in civil awards ceremonies held at the federal and provincial levels.

The statement said the health ministry had been issued directives to collect the necessary data at the earliest.

“As soon the information will be available, a separate award ceremony will be announced to be held at the federal and provincial levels accordingly,” it added.