Pakistan Railways has announced plans to introduce a bullet train service between Karachi and Lahore, aiming to reduce travel time from nearly 20 hours to just five by the year 2030.
The high-speed train will run on the Main Line-1 (ML-1) corridor, a key component of the $6.8 billion upgrade under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project spans 1,215 kilometers and is designed for speeds up to 250 km/h, with major stops in Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal.
Speaking to the media, Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi described the initiative as a “visionary plan” that could transform transportation and commercial activity across the country. He credited technical support from Chinese firms, particularly China Railway Construction Corporation, for helping drive the project forward.
The ML-1 upgrade will include construction of a double-track line, the rebuilding of bridges, and the installation of modern signaling systems to improve safety and efficiency.
In addition to reducing travel time, the bullet train project is expected to:
Officials say the rail network will be critical to moving cargo, especially as Pakistan gears up for large-scale mineral exports like copper ore from the Reko Diq mine.
With delays in Chinese funding, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reportedly agreed to finance a $2 billion upgrade for the Karachi–Rohri section of the line. A consortium led by ADB is expected to finalize the agreement soon, with an international contractor to be appointed through a competitive process.
Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif earlier this year approved a Lahore–Rawalpindi bullet train project, which aims to reduce travel time to 2.5 hours.
Pakistan Railways is also rolling out digitization and automation initiatives nationwide. These include: