ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways is planning to operate a train service between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, while it has also unveiled an ambitious bullet train project between Lahore and Karachi, passing through various cities between the two provincial capitals.
The decision to launch the Islamabad–Rawalpindi train was taken during a meeting in Lahore between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi.
The meeting reviewed security arrangements for railway tracks and trains across the country, particularly in Balochistan.
It was also decided to conduct a joint crackdown against encroachments on railway land, with the National Constabulary and FC assisting railway police in anti-encroachment operations.
Naqvi assured foolproof security for passengers and rail infrastructure, saying their safety was the government’s top priority.
He also praised the initiatives taken under Abbasi to improve railways’ performance.
Lahore Karachi bullet train service
Separately, Pakistan Railways has presented the country’s first bullet train project, aiming to cut the Karachi–Lahore travel time from about 20 hours to just five.
The $6.8 billion plan, part of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) upgrade under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is expected to be completed by 2030.
The 1,215-kilometre high-speed service will operate at 250 km/h, with major stops in Hyderabad, Multan and Sahiwal.
Tickets are projected to cost between Rs5,000 and Rs10,000, considerably cheaper than current domestic airfares of Rs20,000 to Rs30,000.
Abbasi said the bullet train would not only modernise Pakistan’s century-old rail system but also offer a fast and affordable alternative to air travel.
The project, to be executed with Chinese companies including China Railway Construction Corporation, will also involve double-track laying, bridge reconstruction and a modern signalling system.
Officials expect the scheme to create thousands of jobs, boost regional trade and increase rail’s freight share from 4 per cent to 20 per cent.
In April, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved a separate high-speed bullet train project between Lahore and Rawalpindi, expected to reduce travel time to just two and a half hours.
The announcement get people — who frequently travel between Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore — excited. Many are eagerly awaiting the start of construction, hoping that the new facility will provide a much faster and more comfortable alternative to existing transport options.