Pakistan Railways has unveiled an ambitious flea train project between Lahore and Karachi, aimed at reducing travel time from almost 20 hours to just five by 2030.
The project is a central part of the upgrade of $ 6.8 billion ML-1 as part of the Chine-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Abbasi to journalists told. The 1,215 km line should operate at speeds up to 250 km / h and include stations in Hyderabad, Multan and Sahiwal.
“The Bullet Train project is a visionary plan that will revolutionize travel and trade between Karachi and Lahore,” said Minister of Railways Hanif Abbasi, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
“With Chinese technical support – including China Railway Construction Corporation – we strengthen the backbone of this nation,” said Abbasi, highlighting the broader economic benefits. The project will include double -track lines, reconstructed bridges and modern signaling systems.
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Beyond the improvements in travel, upgrades should create thousands of jobs, increase regional trade and increase the share of rail freight from Pakistan by 4% to 20% by 2030. Managers estimate that the reduction in the dependence on road transport will save billions of fuel imports.
Earlier this year, Punjab Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved a separate high -speed train initiative between Lahore and Rawalpindi, promising just 2.5 hours travel.
Development comes while the Asian Development Bank (BAD) is about to proceed to the place where Chinese financing is lagging behind, accepting an upgrade of $ 2 billion in the Karachi – 500 km railway corridor.
According to sources, this track is essential for transporting the copper ore from the long -awaited Reko Diq mine. A consortium led by the AfDB should formalize the agreement later this month, with an international entrepreneur appointed via a competitive offer.
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In parallel, Pakistan Railways has launched a national digitization and automation program. Upgrades include the installation of computerized locking systems to main junctions like Landhi and Badal Nala, by adopting a digital microwave radio system along the Karachi-Lahore route, and in deployment of push-to-to-high digital networks on several divisions to stimulate security and operational coordination.
