PM Approves IT Hires for Pakistan Railways as Digital Overhaul Picks Up Pace

Pakistan Railways has been promising digital transformation for years. The gap between that promise and visible progress has been wide. Two new hires will not close it overnight, but the way these appointments were made says something worth noting.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has personally approved the contract appointment of two IT professionals to Pakistan Railways’ Information Technology Directorate, according to a notification issued by the Establishment Division. Both appointments are on three-year contracts under MP-III Scale of the Management Position Scales Policy, 2020.

Who Has Been Appointed

Dr Rabea Jaffery joins as a software developer with a specialisation in UI/UX design, while Mr Basit Jamil Abbasi has been appointed as a software developer for Mobile Application Development. Both officers’ contracts take effect from their respective dates of joining.

The choice of specialisations is deliberate. UI/UX design and mobile application development are the two disciplines most directly linked to what Pakistan Railways’ passengers actually experience, the interfaces through which they buy tickets, check schedules, track trains, and interact with the service digitally. Hiring in these areas signals an intent to build customer-facing digital products rather than back-end infrastructure alone.

Why PM-Level Approval Matters

Under the MP Scales Policy, senior contract appointments at this tier require Prime Ministerial approval, so the notification is procedurally standard. But the fact that Railways’ IT directorate is now filling positions at this level, with PM-level sign-off formalized on the record, reflects a seriousness about digital hiring that has not always been visible in how Pakistan Railways has approached technology.

Pakistan Railways has historically struggled to attract and retain technology talent within a government pay structure that cannot compete with private sector salaries. The MP Scales framework exists precisely to bridge that gap, offering contract-based compensation packages that are more competitive than standard government grades while keeping appointments within the federal service structure.

What These Roles Are Expected to Deliver

According to the Establishment Division notification, both officers will support Pakistan Railways’ digital transformation initiatives, specifically including the development of user-centric digital platforms and mobile applications aimed at improving operational efficiency and customer services.

That mandate covers a lot of ground. Pakistan Railways’ existing digital presence, its ticketing systems, passenger apps, and online booking infrastructure have faced persistent criticism for reliability and user experience. A dedicated UI/UX designer working within the IT Directorate would be positioned to address the interface and experience gaps that have frustrated passengers and driven users toward third-party booking alternatives.

The mobile application developer role is equally important in a country where smartphone penetration continues to grow and a significant portion of digital interactions happen exclusively on mobile. A well-built Pakistan Railways app, one that works reliably, handles booking and cancellations cleanly, and provides real-time train information, would represent a meaningful upgrade to the passenger experience.

For Pakistan Railways specifically, digital transformation carries stakes beyond convenience. The organisation handles millions of passengers annually and operates critical national infrastructure. Improved digital systems could strengthen revenue collection, reduce leakages in ticketing, improve scheduling efficiency, and provide the operational data that management needs to make better decisions.

Two software developers cannot deliver all of that. But building a capable IT directorate requires starting somewhere, and filling specialist roles in UI/UX and mobile development is a more targeted approach than the generalist IT hiring that has characterised government technology efforts in the past.

Whether these appointments translate into visible digital products that passengers actually use will be the measure that matters. The hiring decision is on record. The delivery clock has started.