Pakistan Railways has introduced a groundbreaking plan to establish a high-speed bullet train service between Lahore and Karachi to cut the travel time between these two major cities from 20 hours to only five hours.
This initiative is a central part of the multi-billion-dollar ML-1 (Main Line 1) upgrade. The project will modernise the vital Karachi-Peshawar railway corridor under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to the state-run Radio Pakistan, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi provided details about the project. The high-speed trains will operate at speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour. The rail line will stretch 1,215 kilometres and include major stops in several cities, such as Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal, to connect key population centres.
The project is being developed with significant support from China. The China Railway Construction Corporation is expected to play a key role in its implementation. Core upgrades will involve laying dual tracks, reconstructing bridges, and installing a state-of-the-art signalling system.
The project extends beyond passenger travel and is expected to create a significant economic boost. A primary goal is to dramatically increase Pakistan’s freight capacity, with an official target to raise the rail share of freight transport from 4% to 20% by 2030.
This shift from road to rail is also projected to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on expensive fuel imports, potentially saving the country billions of dollars. Furthermore, the initiative will generate thousands of new jobs during both the construction and operational phases.
