The Pakistani government has approved plans to develop a high-speed rail (HSR) connection between the capital region of Islamabad and Lahore, the country’s second-largest city. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi announced that the project aims to reduce travel time from the current four hours to just 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The HSR line would connect Rawalpindi — the former capital located within the Islamabad metropolitan area — with Lahore, a major economic hub and the capital of Punjab province, home to over 14 million people.
The project is estimated to cost $10 billion, though funding has yet to be finalized. Multiple financing models are under consideration, including public-private partnerships. Punjab’s Senior Minister, Maryam Aurangzeb, is currently in talks with Pakistan Railways regarding funding options.
The project includes upgrades to existing tracks, bridges, and marshalling yards, as well as the construction of second tracks on single-line sections. Simultaneously, feasibility studies are underway for upgrading infrastructure on six additional lines in Punjab, with results expected by the end of June.
Lahore is currently Pakistan’s most advanced city in terms of passenger rail: it is home to the country’s first metro system, inaugurated in 2020, and the city recently approved its first light rail project last summer.
