LAHORE, Feb 14: The Pakistan Railways administration has decided to offer free medical facilities to the dependent children of its employees.

The railways administration at a meeting on Friday decided that it would provide all the approved medical facilities to the dependent children of the employees of PBS-1 to BPS-16. Each employee would be required to submit a certificate bearing information about his/her dependents every year.

The department has exempt employees, having special children, from producing a certificate. It also waived the condition of getting recommendation letter from the railways to get treatment in any public sector hospital, except the PR hospitals, in case of emergency.

The administration also decided that the department would refund full expenditure incurred on the emergency treatment.

PRE-QUALIFICATION: The PR administration has revised the system for pre-qualification of firms, seeking contracts from the railways.

According to the new system, the head of the department concerned would chair the meeting to finalize the pre-qualification of firms for award of contracts. The vigilance directorate will, however, be responsible for final scrutiny.

PICK-POCKETS HELD: The railways police claimed on Friday to have arrested some pick-pockets and retrieved cash, jewellery and other stolen items worth Rs213,000.

A PR spokesman said pick-pockets ring leader, constable Muhammad Amin, already suspended by the PR administration, managed to escape with a group member Salma bibi.

The arrested pick-pockets are Ashfaq Ahmad, Rabia and Afshan.