KARACHI: Pakistan Railways has announced that four special trains will operate on the occasion of Eid, following instructions from the Minister of Railways, to facilitate passengers traveling to their hometowns.
According to the schedule available with MM News, the first Eid special train will depart from Lahore to Karachi on March 16. The second will run from Quetta to Rawalpindi on March 17, while the third will travel from Karachi to Peshawar the same day. The fourth train is set to depart from Karachi to Lahore on March 18.
Officials said the decision was taken to ease passenger movement during Eid, a period when demand for travel typically surges and bus and train routes between major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, and Faisalabad are booked days in advance. To accommodate the expected rush, additional coaches will also be attached to regular trains.
Railways data shows that between 2019 and 2024, Eid special trains carried an estimated 28,000 to 38,000 passengers, averaging around 7,000 to 8,000 annually. This reflects both the limited number of trains and coaches available and the consistently high demand during Eid, when thousands of people travel from Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar to reunite with families.
