Pakistan Railways Police to Conduct Ticket Checks on Major Train Routes
Pakistan Railways Police has been assigned additional responsibilities to check passengers’ tickets and take action against people travelling without valid tickets on trains.
According to an official order issued by the Office of the Inspector General of Pakistan Railways Police in Lahore, special teams will carry out ticket inspections in coordination with Special Branch personnel in the relevant railway divisions.
Four Teams Assigned to Major Routes
Four special teams have been formed to conduct ticket-checking operations on key railway routes across the country.
The teams will cover the following routes:
- Peshawar–Rawalpindi
- Lahore–Multan
- Sukkur–Karachi Main Line
- Sukkur–Quetta
The teams have been instructed to monitor ticketless travel and take action where passengers are found without valid tickets.
Daily Reports and Live Location Monitoring
Under the order, the special teams must submit daily reports to the Central Police Office.
They have also been directed to share their live locations twice a day through WhatsApp so that their activities can be monitored by the relevant authorities.
The order states that negligence in carrying out the assigned duties will not be tolerated.
Senior Superintendents of Police have been instructed to ensure that station house officers and railway police post in-charges cooperate with the special teams and provide necessary assistance, including accommodation when required.
Questions Over Resources and Responsibilities
The decision has also prompted concerns within the department about whether railway police personnel have the equipment and training required for ticket inspections.
Some personnel reportedly do not have dedicated ticket-checking devices or specialised training for the task.
There are also questions about the division of responsibilities within Pakistan Railways. Ticket issuance and checking have traditionally been associated with the railway’s commercial operations, while the police force primarily handles passenger security and the protection of railway property.
The new arrangement is therefore expected to require coordination between the railway’s commercial staff, railway police and other relevant departments to ensure ticket-checking duties are carried out effectively.
