ISLAMABAD: Thousands of posts lie vacant in Pakistan Railways, severely disrupting train operations across the country, ARY News reported, citing sources.

According to sources, both technical and non-technical positions remain unfilled, with a staggering total of 22,546 vacancies from Pay Scales 1 to 21 across the organization.

The staffing shortage spans all four provinces: Punjab accounts for 12,165 vacant positions, followed by Sindh with 7,245, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 1,840, and Balochistan with 1,296.

Due to the unfulfilled permanent positions, the department currently relies on daily-wage technical staff to meet operational needs.

Railway sources added that the organization is currently working on a recruitment framework to hire essential staff on a priority basis.

Earlier, Pakistan Railways directed private companies operating outsourced trains to honour railway passes, privilege ticket orders (PTOs) and concession cards for eligible passengers, including senior citizens, journalists and persons with disabilities.

The Office of the Chief Commercial Manager, Pakistan Railways Headquarters, Lahore, issued instructions to private operators, including S. Jamil & Company, ZKB-BT JV, AA Enterprises, Prime Rail and Lasani Cargo, directing them to ensure the provision of all admissible travel concessions in accordance with railway rules and contractual obligations.

In a letter, the department reiterated that the companies had been instructed on several occasions to extend all applicable concessions to eligible passengers under Pakistan Railways rules and the terms of their agreements.

The letter specifically referred to Clause 5.15 of the agreement, which requires private operators to honour railway employees’ travel facilities, privilege and post-retirement passes, duty and privilege ticket orders, special passes, and concessions for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other entitled categories.

“The Party No. 2 will entertain Railway employee (2) in all classes, Privilege/post retirement Passes, Duty/Privilege Ticket Order (PTO), special passes, or any other facility of travelling issued by Railway Authorities such as concession of senior citizen, disable persons, and other entitled categories,” the clause states.

It further specifies that the relevant quota will lapse 48 hours before the train’s departure.

According to the letter, Pakistan Railways has received numerous complaints about the denial of concessions to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, journalists, railway employees and other eligible passengers through the Pakistan Citizen Portal and the Wafaqi Mohtasib (Federal Ombudsman).

The department has therefore directed all concerned private operators to ensure strict and immediate compliance with Clause 5.15 of their agreements.

The letter stressed that all applicable railway passes, PTOs, special passes and other admissible travel facilities must be provided to entitled passengers in accordance with the rules and policies currently in force.

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