Islamabad: Special Correspondent: Rs36.5 million performance award put on hold as Railways Ministry revokes notification; honorarium to be considered separately amid Rs61 billion net loss. In a surprising policy reversal, the Ministry of Railways withdrew its own notification approving cash awards for 420 Pakistan Railways officers and employees just hours after issuing it on June 30, 2026, raising questions about the decision-making process within the department.
According to official documents, the ministry had initially approved Rs36,515,761 in cash awards for officers and employees from BPS-22 to BPS-11 in recognition of their performance during the financial year 2025-26. The approved list included 420 officials, among them CEO/Senior General Manager Muhammad Hafeezullah, AGM Traffic Muhammad Sufyan Sarfaraz, AGM Mechanical Muhammad Yousaf, AGM Infrastructure Hammad Hassan Mirza, Chief Mechanical Engineer Muhammad Nasir Khalili, Kashif Farooq, Waqar Ahmad Shahid, Robina Nasir, Dr. Mah-e-Munir, Munawar Hussain and several other senior officers from operational, engineering, finance, mechanical and administrative departments.
However, later the same day, the Ministry issued another official letter declaring that the earlier notification stood “withdrawn ab initio,” effectively cancelling the cash award scheme before its implementation. The fresh notification states that the grant of honorarium to deserving officers and officials of Pakistan Railways will instead be considered and communicated separately.
The development comes at a time when the Auditor General of Pakistan’s latest audit report has highlighted a net loss exceeding Rs61 billion for Pakistan Railways, placing the financial health of the state-owned organisation under renewed scrutiny.
The ministry has not explained why a notification approved by the competent authority was withdrawn within hours, nor has it disclosed whether legal, administrative or financial objections were raised after its issuance.
The latest notification also leaves several questions unanswered. It remains unclear whether the same 420 officers and employees will eventually receive honorarium, whether a fresh list will be prepared, how much will be paid, and what criteria will be adopted for the revised award.
A review of the withdrawn award list also reveals an unusual entry in which a BPS-18 officer, Muhammad Ishaque Baloch (DTO Multan), is shown with a basic pay of Rs1,122,600, significantly higher than other officers of the same grade. The entry may require official clarification or correction.
The issuance and withdrawal of two contradictory official notifications on the same day has triggered discussion within Pakistan Railways, with observers calling for greater transparency over the circumstances that led to the abrupt reversal. The episode has attracted further attention because it occurred against the backdrop of a reported Rs61 billion net loss, raising broader questions about financial management and administrative decision-making in the organisation.
