Pakistan Railways has announced plans to introduce a high-speed bullet train between Lahore and Karachi by 2030, cutting the travel time between the two provincial capitals from around 20 hours to just five.
As reported by state-run Radio Pakistan, the 1,215-kilometer track will be developed under the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project — a $6.7 billion modernization of the Karachi–Peshawar railway corridor, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
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Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi revealed that the bullet trains will run at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, with major stops at Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. The project is being executed with Chinese support, with the China Railway Construction Corporation expected to take a leading role.
The ML-1 upgrades will include dual tracks, rebuilt bridges, and an advanced signaling system. Along with faster passenger travel, the high-speed line is also aimed at enhancing freight transport, raising rail’s share from the current 4% to 20% by 2030.
Officials anticipate that the project will create thousands of jobs during both its construction and operational phases.
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The move toward rail transport is also expected to cut Pakistan’s dependence on costly road freight, potentially saving the country billions in fuel imports.
Despite being a vital part of the national transport network, Pakistan’s railway system has long struggled with underinvestment, obsolete technology, and persistent delays. Currently, Pakistan Railways manages more than 7,700 kilometers of track, but decades of neglect and mismanagement have left the network in poor condition.