Preparations are underway for Pakistan's first high-speed rail project, with a proposal for a Lahore-to-Rawalpindi high-speed rail link already sent to the Punjab chief minister's house for approval.
The project, estimated to cost $1.6 billion, has been developed by the departments of transport and mass transit. According to the documents, the high-speed rail will enable trains to travel at speeds of up to 250km/h, reducing the travel time between Lahore and Rawalpindi to less than two hours.
The proposal emphasizes that an action plan should be prepared, considering the pre-feasibility study conducted by the railway department. The pre-feasibility study will be funded by the Department of Planning and Development, as indicated in the documents. However, securing upfront funding for the ambitious project remains a significant challenge.
If approved, the high-speed rail will be a major step forward in modernizing Pakistan’s transportation infrastructure, providing a fast and efficient travel option between two of the country's key cities.
