Irrespective of its financial status, Pakistan has taken the decision to run an all-new Karachi–Lahore bullet train, even though it can barely operate its existing railway. Even while facing what is being considered the deepest economic crisis Pakistan has ever been in—its treasury running entirely on debt—the nation still plans to introduce a new bullet train between Karachi and Lahore. Pakistan has now claimed it will reduce the 20-hour Karachi–Lahore journey to just 5 hours by 2030. While the new project has earned its fair share of skepticism on the internet, jokes online suggest that the bullet train will actually run in 2027. In view of this, Pakistan is also considering running a bullet train on its own.
As per media reports, Pakistan has failed to repair its railway tracks properly, and hence most of its trains have been facing difficulties. Despite this, political leaders from Pakistan have showcased a solemn belief that the bullet train will function profoundly.
What Will Be the Speed of the Train?
Media reports suggest that the train Pakistan is planning to introduce will be able to run at high speeds of 250 kmph, and the route will include major cities like Hyderabad, Multan, and Sahiwal. China will be handling the bullet train technology as well as establishing the railway stations necessary for the inauguration of the new bullet trains.
China’s Ploy to Trap Countries
China has plans to sell its bullet train technology and high-speed rails around the world. For the past decade, China has been using high-speed rail and major infrastructure projects as tools to expand its influence. This is being regarded as China’s “rail diplomacy.” Several countries in Southeast Asia are examples of this. According to The Interpreter, China launched the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail in Indonesia as a symbol of rapid development.
Such projects have been contentious, with years of delays and a $1.2 billion cost overrun. Indonesia has regarded such ploys as a ticking time bomb. In the past, Malaysia and China had also signed deals for high-speed rail agreements, but realizing the debt risks, they scaled back from the projects and funded many sections of the track through their own treasury.
Going by the fate of the CPEC projects in Pakistan, where most of them have been left in an unfinished state, the addition of this new, highly capital-intensive project will further strain Pakistan’s feeble economy. China has already slowed its funding; the Asian Development Bank has stepped in and approved $2 billion to upgrade the Karachi–Rohri line.
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