Pakistan Railways has decided to hand over the operations of two major passenger trains, Karakoram Express and Millat Express, to private companies as part of its efforts to improve service quality, generate additional revenue and reduce the financial burden on the state-run railway.
Under the plan, coaches of both trains will first undergo reconditioning before being transferred to private operators.
The Millat Express is scheduled to begin operations under private management from October 1, 2026, on the Lala Musa–Karachi route. The Karakoram Express will follow on October 8, with advance booking for the service already transferred to the selected private company.
Pakistan Railways has reportedly stopped government-operated booking for both trains as the transition to private management gets underway.
The Karakoram Express will temporarily operate through Sahiwal until the Faisalabad section of the route is restored.
Under the agreement, the private operator will also be required to deposit more than Rs. 748 million every week in advance.
Meanwhile, private management offices will be established at major stations along the Millat Express route. These offices will facilitate passengers and support the management of train operations.
The move is part of Pakistan Railways’ broader strategy to introduce outsourcing and public-private partnership models for passenger train services.
Through the transition, private operators will take greater responsibility for train management, passenger services, maintenance and revenue generation.
The government expects private-sector participation to improve passenger services while helping Pakistan Railways generate additional revenue and reduce operational losses.
The handover of Millat Express and Karakoram Express marks another step toward greater private-sector involvement in Pakistan’s passenger railway operations.
