Pakistan Railways cancels 24 quarters over illegal subletting

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Railways’ Rawalpindi Division has moved against the illegal renting out of official residential units, cancelling the allotment of 24 government quarters that had been sublet to private individuals.

According to the department, red notices have been issued to the occupants of those quarters, directing them to vacate the premises immediately.

The action also extends to railway employees who had been allotted the residences but later rented them out in violation of the rules. Pakistan Railways has started departmental proceedings against those employees and has also withdrawn their eligibility for official housing.

A circular issued by the Divisional Superintendent Railways Rawalpindi confirmed the cancellation of the allotments.

Survey ordered across division

The department said that, on the instructions of the Divisional Superintendent, Railway Police are carrying out a detailed survey of government quarters and residences throughout the Rawalpindi Division.

The survey is aimed at examining the status of official housing units across the division following the action taken in the 24 cases identified so far.

Pakistan Railways said the crackdown was launched after the Rawalpindi Division took strict notice of government quarters that had been illegally rented out to private persons.

The latest measures include both the cancellation of allotments and the issuance of evacuation notices, alongside disciplinary action against the employees found responsible for subletting the residences after receiving them through official allotment.

The department has not announced any further figures beyond the 24 quarters whose allotments have already been cancelled, but the ongoing survey by Railway Police covers government residences across the division under the directions of the divisional administration.

The circular from the Divisional Superintendent forms the basis of the current action, which combines administrative penalties with on-ground verification of official housing arrangements in the Rawalpindi Division.

Under the action taken so far, the affected tenants have been served red notices for immediate evacuation, while the employees involved are facing departmental proceedings and the loss of their entitlement to official accommodation.