Pakistan Railways has approved a fresh hiring plan to solve the long-standing shortage of train drivers. Under this move, 417 assistant train drivers will be recruited across different divisions. This decision shows the department’s intent to restore strength, improve daily operations, and bring reliability back to rail services nationwide.
Karachi Receives the Highest Number of Vacancies
Official sources confirm that the Karachi division has received the highest number of posts, 182. This is due to heavy traffic and constant operational pressure in the country’s busiest rail network. The large allocation reflects Karachi’s importance in freight movement and passenger travel across Pakistan.
Vacancy Distribution Across Other Divisions
Besides Karachi, other divisions have also been given posts based on workload and need.
| Division | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Sukkur | 66 |
| Multan | 51 |
| Peshawar | 33 |
| Rawalpindi | 30 |
| Quetta | 29 |
| Lahore | 26 |
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
Railway officials stated that applicants must have passed matriculation and hold a 3-year Diploma of Associate Engineering. Diplomas in Mechanical, Electrical, Information Technology, or Automobile Technology are acceptable. These requirements ensure that selected candidates have basic technical knowledge to handle modern railway systems safely.
Quota Policy and Reserved Seats
The recruitment will follow the existing quota system. 60% seats are for open merit candidates. 20% are reserved for children of railway employees, while 10% are for ex-servicemen. 5% of seats each are allocated for minority and orphan candidates.
Recruitment Aims and Expected Benefits
Officials explained that this hiring drive will help reduce staff shortages and ensure smoother train operations. With more trained drivers, delays can be controlled, safety standards improved, and passenger confidence rebuilt. Strong manpower is seen as the backbone of efficient railway service delivery.
