Govt extends Railways Police jurisdiction

LAHORE - Lacking in basic infrastructure, manpower and other necessary facilities, Pakistan Railways Police (PRP) are facing an uphill task to man the areas recently handed over to it that included 1,500 more colonies and covering of 1,956 square kilometer area across the country housing 45 police stations.

The federal government added to the woes of Pakistan Railways Police when it extended the jurisdiction of Pakistan Railway Police which included now entire infrastructure of railways throughout the country including residential colonies, dwelling houses, barracks of railway servants, and any other property on land belonging to the railways. Handing over more territory to the railways is probably a good news for the authority-minded people but unfortunately the new responsibilities are being handed over to the railways without any increase in the budget.

The decision to extend the jurisdiction of the Railways Police was taken without taking the PRP higher authorities into confidence. A source in the PRP claimed that a former inspector general railways during his tenure had strongly opposed the decision of the federal government to extend the territorial limits. He had asked the federal government that the PRP would take these areas back if not provided with the required manpower and infrastructure.