Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif recently chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the feasibility of establishing a high-speed rail link between Lahore and Rawalpindi. The proposed project aims to drastically reduce travel time between the two cities, bringing Pakistan’s rail system closer to international standards.
During the meeting, a task force was formed, consisting of Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, Adviser to CM Shahid Tarar, and senior officials from Pakistan Railways. Their primary task is to assess the technical, financial, and logistical aspects of implementing the high-speed rail project over the 280-kilometer stretch.
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However, experts have raised concerns about the viability of the proposal, citing the outdated infrastructure, financial challenges, and the difficult terrain along the route. The current rail network, which has a maximum speed of just 65 km/h, would not be able to support the high-speed trains envisioned for the project. Travel times between Lahore and Rawalpindi currently range from 4.5 to 5.5 hours, and CM Nawaz has expressed her ambition to cut this time down to just two hours.
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has suggested a more feasible alternative: upgrading the existing track to support speeds of 100 km/h, with an estimated cost of Rs40 billion. CM Nawaz has agreed in principle to this proposal, although experts caution that even with this upgrade, the concept of high-speed rail—defined internationally as speeds starting at 200 km/h—would not be achieved.
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Financially, experts estimate that implementing a full high-speed rail system could cost around $12 to $14 billion, with advanced systems in Europe and other regions requiring up to $50 million per kilometer. A compromise plan, which includes upgrading the track to 160 km/h with new locomotives and coaches, is expected to cost around Rs400 billion.
In addition to financial hurdles, the project faces significant technical challenges, including the need for straightened tracks, advanced signaling systems, and special infrastructure—none of which currently exist in Pakistan. The route also presents physical constraints such as uneven paths, river bridges, and canal culverts, which make the implementation of straight tracks difficult.
The issue of accessibility to Lahore’s railway station has also been raised, as it currently takes between 40 to 90 minutes for commuters to reach the station from various residential areas. Without addressing these access challenges, the shift to rail travel may not be appealing to the public.
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Despite these challenges, the task force is expected to submit a report in the coming months to determine the feasibility of the project, and whether it should proceed or if an alternative solution should be pursued.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
