On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab government has taken its first step towards launching a bullet train service between Lahore and Rawalpindi by forming a dedicated working group.
A meeting chaired by Federal Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb resulted in the creation of the group, which has been tasked with preparing a feasibility study and proposing a timeline for the ambitious project.
According to experts quoted by Dawn News, the proposed bullet train project is expected to cost more than $10 billion, raising serious questions about how the Punjab government plans to secure such massive funding. Experts point out that the cost of laying high-speed rail tracks alone is estimated at $40 to $50 million per kilometre.
The newly-formed working group includes Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, Adviser to the Chief Minister Shahid Tarar, the chairman of Pakistan Railways, and the railway chief executive officer. The team has been directed to submit its recommendations to Ms Nawaz within a week.
In addition to planning the Lahore-Rawalpindi route, the group will also explore potential new routes for expanding the bullet train network across Punjab.
Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan attended the meeting via video link, while Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch and Planning and Development Secretary Asif Tufail were present in person.
During the meeting, railway authorities gave a detailed briefing on the existing rail network and the condition of railway tracks. Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that the project would also include upgrades to the Lahore and Rawalpindi railway stations.
hum ko Pakistani Rupees mein btao.
Look at the miserable condition of people in the beautiful punjab
They will not spend to purchase wheat from poor kisans or fund universities but can spend billion dollars on bullet trains.
Its better to have underground railroad network in Lahore as alternate to bullet train thus reducing rush on roads beside provision of transport to general public
I think clarifications have come. They want to work on track to raise the speed to 120kmph so that the distance between Rawalpindi and Lahore (280 km) is covered in 2 hours and 15 mins. Technically it’s not bullet train, the new rolling stock can do it if the track can support it. I think a laudable initiative to invest on rail rather than highways
This track can’t support it; the whole ML1 project is about that…..
Imagine spending this much money for the public; building hospitals, improving education, building dams to improve our irrigation and water management. But I guess the public would much rather have their travelling time reduced
The team is dfull of idiots. They can not even make good feasibility report.
Bullet train rhne do dam bna lo jiski humein zyada zrorat hy
Prejudice politicians of Pakistan are not is a favour of building natural Kalabagh Dam and Kalabagh steel.
Yes u r right
These kinds of **Day Dreaming News is Only Expected From Pakistani Corrupt Crooks and Liers Leaderships??**
Cosmetic. Might be an addition to existing toy like orange train. Try to improve lower court justice system( civil& criminal). Look how the employees of LDA, FDA,MDA,etc. creating problems for genuine transfer of cases. Improve law & order system of Punjab. Digitalize working of police stations. Improve salaries and working conditions of lower grade police employees. Improve the education system and work for betterment of it’s employees. Build more technical skill training institute like nurses, health care, welders etc. to export man power to Europe by legitimate means.
Punjab must not go for such costly projects as bullet train.we have many more crucial segments to think about
Bullet train is not important. Instead improve the existing system to operate the trains at optimal speeds.
High cost projects are preferred for handsome kickbacks.