PR workers denounce job cuts

Pakistan Railways' workers' organisations have rejected the government's move to eliminate vacancies in the department citing a financial crisis.

According to sources, workers are already grappling with a worsening financial and economic crisis, aggravated by the railway's mounting deficit. In response to the recent decision to eliminate 3,863 positions from the commercial and traffic departments, these organisations have rejected the move, announcing protests, sit-ins, and potential disruptions to train operations.

A circular issued by Pakistan Railways has led to the elimination of vacancies across all seven divisions in the traffic and commercial departments. In the Rawalpindi division, 149 out of 460 positions were cut, leaving 311 posts intact. The Quetta division saw 1,963 out of 3,963 positions eliminated, leaving 1,996. In Karachi, 546 out of 1,001 seats were cut, with 455 remaining. Lahore division lost 551 of its 938 seats, leaving 387.

The Peshawar division saw 131 positions cut, leaving 187 of its original 318. In Multan, 269 out of 609 seats were eliminated, leaving 340, while in Sukkur, 254 seats were cut, leaving 266 out of 520.

The cuts impact 35 categories, including positions like Ticket Booking Clerks, Ticket Checkers, Ticket Collectors, Aya, Naib Qasid, Chowkidar, Salesman, Ladies Booking Clerk, Commercial Inspectors, Ticket Examiners, Khakrob, and several Commercial Superintendent roles.

The Railway Workers Union Open Line held an emergency meeting to denounce the cuts, describing them as an "economic massacre" of railway workers, blaming the measures on pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The union criticised the Chairman of Pakistan Railways for his alleged lack of understanding of railway operations and for making unilateral financial decisions without consulting other officers. Rao Naseem, Central General Secretary of the Railway Workers Union, strongly condemned the decision, highlighting that many of the eliminated positions are currently filled by employees. He called for the immediate removal of the Chairman and the reinstatement of the abolished posts.

Naseem also presented a Charter of Demand from the union, urging workers to unite and communicate with office bearers across divisions. He warned that if demands were not met, there would be significant protests.