Secretary Railway told the Senate Standing Committee on Railways on Monday that right now there were 35 to 40 per cent less employees in the Railway Police than what it should be, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The Senate committee met with Jam Saifullah Khan in the chair.
During the meeting, Senator Shahadat Awan raised the issue of recruitment in the Force. “The outgoing IG of the railway police had complained that the department was understaffed. After all, when recruitment will be complete,” he added.
The secretary informed the committee that presently there were total 95,000 seats in the Force. “Out of these, 58,000 have been filled, while the remaining are still lying vacant.”
“We simply cannot pay the pensions,” he informed.
Senator Awan pointed out that when the railway police received grants from the government, then why the department faced difficulties in paying pensions? “Why do you hire people on contract? Why don’t you make recruitments against vacant posts?” he questioned.
The committee chairman, on the occasion, directed the secretary to submit a report on the transfers made in the Force during the last two months.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif