LAHORE: Federal Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has announced the approval for permanent recruitment in the Railway Police, declaring that recent hiring of 1,500 personnel was conducted with “utmost transparency and merit.”
The minister made the announcement while addressing the passing-out parade of 468 Railway Police personnel at the Railway Police Training School in Walton. The ceremony marked the completion of six months of rigorous training for recruits, including 97 women officers, in modern policing techniques, counter-terrorism, weapon handling, and criminal law.
“Recruitment of 1,500 officers and employees has been carried out purely on merit,” Minister Abbasi stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to transparent hiring practices. He also paid tribute to the 37 Railway Police personnel who have sacrificed their lives in service, noting that some were posthumously awarded the Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal.
Referring to a recent attack on Jafar Express, the minister praised the courage of railway staff and police, declaring: “No one has been able to stop the Jafar Express through cowardly attacks, and will not be able to do so.”
Railway Police IG Rai Tahir, who welcomed the minister, requested permanent status for contractual employees and approval for recruitment in the police band. The minister subsequently announced permission for permanent recruitment, scale upgrades, and band staff hiring.
The ceremony concluded with the minister distributing awards to top performers, including Samiullah from Quetta Division and Ruqia Altaf from Rawalpindi Division, recognizing their exceptional performance during training.
Additionally Jaffar Express train service from the Quetta Railway Station was restored on Sunday, over four days after they were suspended following an explosion on the railway track that derailed a number of coaches in Mastung district of Balochistan.
The Indian proxy Fitna al Hindustan eparatist Baloch Liberation Army had carried out attack on the railway track in the Spinzand Dasht area of Mastung, causing six carriages of the Jaffar Express to derail, with one overturning. At least five passengers sustained injuries in the incident.
According to railway officials, the Jaffar Express will depart for Peshawar today on schedule, while the train from Peshawar to Quetta will also operate as planned.
In addition, the Bolan Mail has departed today from Karachi for Quetta.
It is worth mentioning that train services had been suspended after an explosion in Dasht on September 23, which caused a train to derail.
