Pakistan Railways Police has withdrawn from routine ticket checks involving passengers traveling without valid tickets.
The decision also ends the existing standard operating procedure for joint ticket inspections. The previous procedure involved Railway Police and commercial staff.
Special Ticket Examiners and Travelling Ticket Examiners also participated in these inspections. The new order changes the role of police personnel during routine checks.
An official order has directed Railway Police staff not to join regular ticket-checking operations. Police officials have also been told to avoid leaving their main security assignments.
The decision means dedicated police teams for ticketless passenger checks have been withdrawn. Commercial staff will now conduct routine inspections independently.
Pakistan Railways will continue ticket checking through its commercial staff. Special Ticket Examiners and Travelling Ticket Examiners will remain responsible for identifying ticketless passengers.
Railway Police will still provide assistance in certain situations. However, police intervention will no longer be part of routine ticket inspections.
Police assistance can be requested when passengers resist ticket checks. It can also be provided in cases involving misconduct or law-and-order concerns.
Such assistance will require a written request from the concerned ticket examiner. STEs or TTEs must submit the request before police personnel are deployed.
Officials said concerns about potential legal complications contributed to the decision. These concerns led to the withdrawal of the joint ticket-checking SOP.
The new arrangement separates security duties from routine commercial responsibilities. Railway Police personnel will now focus on their primary security functions.
Pakistan Railways Police will therefore not be routinely assigned to ticket inspections. Its involvement will depend on the situation during a ticket check.
The change also removes specially formed teams used for ticketless passenger checks. These teams will no longer carry out routine joint inspections.
Commercial employees will handle regular ticket enforcement without police support. They can seek police assistance if a situation becomes difficult or threatens public order.
The written request requirement creates a formal process for police intervention. It also ensures that police resources are used for specific situations.
Pakistan Railways has maintained that its police personnel have core security responsibilities. The latest order aims to keep them focused on those duties.
The decision does not prevent Railway Police from responding to incidents on trains. Officers can still intervene when resistance, misconduct, or a security issue occurs.
However, routine ticket checking will remain the responsibility of commercial employees. This includes STEs and TTEs working across the railway network.
The change comes shortly after Railway Police had been involved in ticket-checking duties. The latest order now removes their routine participation in these operations.
Pakistan Railways will continue enforcing ticket requirements through its commercial branch. Passengers without valid tickets can still face action under applicable railway rules.
The revised system is expected to change how ticket inspections are conducted on trains. Commercial staff will work independently unless police support becomes necessary.
Railway Police will continue its main security duties under the new arrangement. Its support during ticket checks will require a written request from authorized ticket examiners.
The decision reflects concerns over the legal implications of joint ticket inspections. It also establishes a clearer separation between security work and commercial ticket enforcement.
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Pakistan Railways passengers will therefore see commercial staff handling routine ticket checks. Police personnel will only become involved when specific circumstances require their assistance.
