Pakistan Railways has announced plans to launch the country’s first bullet train, which will cut travel time between Lahore and Karachi from almost 20 hours to just five. The $6.8 billion project is part of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgrade under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is considered one of the most ambitious transport initiatives in Pakistan’s history, a news story published in the Gulf News on Sunday stated.
According to the report, the bullet train will run on a 1,215-kilometre route with stops in Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. Designed for speeds of up to 250km/h, it will provide a faster and cheaper alternative to air travel. Tickets are expected to cost between PKR 5,000 and 10,000, much lower than the average airfare of PKR 20,000–30,000, making it affordable for students, professionals, and families.
As part of the ML-1 upgrade, Pakistan will lay double tracks, rebuild bridges, and install modern signalling systems to replace its century-old infrastructure, which currently limits trains to 60–105 km/h. Punjab has also approved a separate Lahore–Rawalpindi bullet train that will reduce travel between the two cities to two and a half hours.
According to the project timeline, construction is set to begin in 2026, with testing scheduled for 2029 and full operations expected in 2030. The train is planned to make 10–15 trips per day.
Officials say the project will create thousands of jobs, boost regional trade, and increase Pakistan’s freight rail share from 4% to 20% by 2030. It is also expected to cut fuel import costs by reducing reliance on road transport. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi said the bullet train would not only transform travel but also reshape Pakistan’s economy by connecting people and markets more efficiently.
