Private operators told to honour entitlements
Pakistan Railways has instructed companies that run outsourced services to treat Pakistan Railways concession cards, staff and privilege passes, and privilege ticket orders (PTOs) as valid for passengers who qualify under railway rules. The order came on Tuesday from the Chief Commercial Manager’s office at headquarters in Lahore and applies under each firm’s contract as well as standing railway policy.
The notice names operators that include S. Jamil & Company, the ZKB-BT joint venture, AA Enterprises, Prime Rail and Lasani Cargo. Headquarters said those parties had already been reminded more than once that every admissible fare reduction and travel facility must be extended to entitled travellers.
What Clause 5.15 requires
The commercial office pointed firms to Clause 5.15 in their agreements. That clause obliges the private party to recognise railway employees’ travel facilities, privilege and post-retirement passes, duty and privilege ticket orders, special passes, and reductions for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other entitled categories issued by railway authorities.
It also states that the related booking quota expires 48 hours before the train leaves. After that cut-off, the reserved entitlement for those facilities no longer holds for that departure.
Why the reminder was issued
Officials said many grievances had arrived through the Pakistan Citizen Portal and the Wafaqi Mohtasib, the federal ombudsman. Passengers who alleged denial included senior citizens, people with disabilities, journalists, railway employees and others who should receive concessions.
Headquarters therefore demanded immediate, strict compliance: every applicable pass, PTO, special pass and related facility must be given to entitled travellers under the rules and policies now in force. Pakistan Railways concession cards fall within that set of admissible facilities for qualifying riders on the outsourced services named in the letter.
What passengers should expect next
For travellers on those privately run trains, the practical effect is that documented entitlements recognised by Pakistan Railways are meant to work the same way as on departmental services, subject to the 48-hour quota rule. Anyone still refused a listed facility can use the same public complaint routes already cited—the Citizen Portal and the federal ombudsman—while operators remain bound by Clause 5.15.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan Railways ne private train chalane wali companies ko keh diya hai ke pass aur concession card manne honge. Purane shehri, mazoor log, sahafi aur railway ke mustahiq musafir in suhulatein le sakte hain. Booking ka haq train se 48 ghante pehle khatam ho jata hai. Agar koi company mana kare to Citizen Portal ya Wafaqi Mohtasib par shikayat ki ja sakti hai.
