Pakistan Railways has announced a bullet train project between Lahore and Karachi, cutting travel time from 20 hours to just five by 2030, state-run media reported.
As per Radio Pakistan, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi said the 1215-kilometer long high-speed rail line is part of the 6.8 billion dollars ML-1 upgrade under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
The train will run at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour with major stops in Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal.
The project will be executed with Chinese support, including China Railway Construction Corporation.
Upgrades include new double tracks, rebuilt bridges, and modern signalling systems.
‘Punjab Air’ project, bullet train announced
Beyond faster travel, the project is projected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation, boost regional trade, and increase Pakistan’s freight rail share from 4% to 20% by 2030.
It is also expected to reduce reliance on costly road transport, saving billions in fuel imports.
Earlier this year, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved Lahore-Rawalpindi Bullet Train Project.
The proposed rail link is expected to reduce travel time between the two major cities to just 2.5 hours.