Pakistan Railways is gearing up to launch a brand-new business train this week, aimed at providing passengers with a comfortable, modern, and digitally connected travel experience on the busy Lahore-Karachi route.
According to officials, the train will comprise 28 coaches equipped with digital facilities, free Wi-Fi for passengers, and a dining car built to international standards – a significant step towards modernising the country’s rail services.
The move is part of Pakistan Railways’ broader strategy to upgrade long-distance travel facilities and attract more passengers through enhanced comfort and service quality. The Lahore-Karachi route, connecting Pakistan’s two largest cities, has always seen high demand from both business and leisure travellers.
Officials say the new business train is designed to meet international benchmarks for passenger comfort, marking a major improvement over traditional services.
In parallel, Pakistan Railways is also moving forward with its plans to outsource operations for 11 additional trains under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. While authorities argue that such initiatives will improve service delivery, critics remain concerned about the impact on lower-income travellers who rely heavily on affordable rail transport.
Civil society representatives have raised concerns that outsourcing may lead to fare hikes, making inter-city travel more difficult for underprivileged communities. However, railway officials insist that improved service quality will ultimately benefit passengers.
Rail travel remains a vital and economical mode of transportation in Pakistan, particularly for poor and middle-class commuters. Estimates suggest that nearly 100,000 people travel daily by train, with a significant majority using routes connecting Karachi to cities across Punjab.
