The federal government has officially appointed senior police officer Shehzada Sultan as the new Inspector General of Pakistan Railways Police with immediate effect. A capable BS-21 officer belonging to the Police Service of Pakistan, Sultan brings extensive administrative and field experience to his new command.
Prior to this important assignment, he was serving within the Punjab government where he managed key responsibilities. The Establishment Division issued a formal notification regarding his posting in accordance with Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973.
The top position at the Railways Police had been operating with interim arrangements following the transfer of the former police chief, Wasal Fakhar Sultan. Since then, DIG Sarfraz Ahmed Falki had been holding the office as an additional charge alongside his primary responsibilities to ensure continuity of departmental operations.
The appointment comes at a crucial time as the national railway network faces multifaceted security challenges, ranging from passenger safety to the protection of vital infrastructure across the country. Senior officials within the interior setup have emphasized that modernizing the railways police force and enhancing its operational capacity remain top priorities for the newly appointed Inspector General.
Shehzada Sultan is widely recognized in professional circles as an upright and diligent police commander. Throughout his career in the Police Service of Pakistan, he has successfully handled sensitive assignments across various provinces, earning a reputation for strict adherence to the rule of law and effective crime prevention strategies.
Railway unions and departmental staff have welcomed the notification, expressing hope that the new IG will take proactive measures to improve the welfare of police personnel and streamline security protocols on moving trains as well as at railway stations. Daily Jang had earlier exclusively highlighted the impending administrative changes in its Sunday edition, correctly anticipating the government's choice for this critical leadership role.
Observers note that managing the vast network of railway tracks stretching thousands of kilometers across Pakistan requires robust coordination between provincial law enforcement agencies and federal security apparatuses. The Ministry of Railways is expected to extend full cooperation to the new police chief in tackling longstanding administrative hurdles and upgrading security equipment.
Further briefings are scheduled to take place at the Central Police Office in Lahore, where Shehzada Sultan will formally assume charge of his office and outline his vision for the department. Regional police officers and divisional superintendents have been directed to prepare comprehensive reports on the security status of their respective jurisdictions ahead of the transition meeting.
The federal administration has urged the incoming IG to focus on capacity building, intelligence-based monitoring, and transparent internal accountability to restore public trust in the institutional framework of the Railways Police.