LAHORE, Sept 13: The Pakistan Railways administration is holding suitability test of its over 4,000 employees on Sept 18, it is learnt. Some 150 or so employees in BS-3 and above, recruited during 1990 to 1995, are also among the 4,000 workers who have been directed to appear in the suitability test being held simultaneously at its all divisional headquarters on Sept 18 at 10 am, according to the documents made available to Dawn by the affected people on Tuesday.
The affected employees include station masters and assistant station masters, divisional and assistant engineers, clerks and guards.
Officials said the decision to hold the suitability test was taken on the directive of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways’ sub-committee. NA body chairman Sardar Tufail Ahmad was not available for comment till late at night.
Meanwhile, a letter issued to the heads of all the railway establishments said: “All those employees in BS-3 and above, who were recruited during the 2003 and 2004 and have completed one-year service since their appointment would appear in the suitability test.”
The letter explains the procedure for holding the test to all the divisional superintendents; the Cairns Hospital medical superintendent; the deputy general manager (headquarters); the managing director of locomotive factory, Risalpur; the managing director of the CF, Islamabad; Mughalpura DCOs and the Railway police inspector-general.
According to the documents of a majority of the affected employees, they were hired after written examination, interview, medical test and underwent training at the PR Academy in Walton. Their service records have no adverse remarks by the competent authority.
The services of some employees, who joined railways during 1990 and 1995, were also regularized but they have been directed to undergo the suitability test.
The section 11 of the Civil Servants Act 1973 reads: “Civil servants on successful completion of two year probation period shall stand confirmed. If there is a no order to the contrary during first year of probation, the probation period shall be deemed to have been extended by another year. If there is a no order on expiry of extended period the probation period shall be deemed to have been successfully completed.”