The Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s direction, has taken its first step toward launching a bullet train service between Lahore and Rawalpindi.
A special working group has been established to drive the project forward.
The decision came after a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi. Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also participated in the meeting. The newly formed team has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive feasibility study and proposing a realistic timeline for the high-speed rail initiative.
Major Funding Challenges Ahead
According to the sources, the project’s estimated cost exceeds $10 billion — a figure that has sparked concerns about how the provincial government will secure such an enormous sum. Experts warn that simply laying the tracks for a bullet train could cost between $40 million and $50 million per kilometre, highlighting the financial and technical challenges ahead.
The working group brings together key figures, including Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan and Adviser to the Chief Minister Shahid Tarar. It also includes the chairman of Pakistan Railways and the railway’s chief executive officer. The group has been given a tight deadline and is expected to present its recommendations to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz within a week.
Alongside planning the Lahore-Rawalpindi route, the team will also assess the viability of future high-speed train routes across Punjab. The aim is to eventually expand the bullet train network.
Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan participated in the meeting through a video link. Meanwhile, Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch and Planning and Development Secretary Asif Tufail attended in person.
Rail Network Review and Station Upgrades
During the session, railway authorities delivered an in-depth briefing on Pakistan’s current rail infrastructure. They specifically focused on the condition of the existing tracks.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasized that the project would not only introduce a bullet train. She added that it would also upgrade major railway stations in Lahore and Rawalpindi to accommodate future needs.
