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       LAHORE: On the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a working group has been formed to implement the Punjab government’s decision of running a ‘bullet train’ between Lahore and Rawalpindi.

       A press release issued by the provincial government says that the maiden meeting on the project between Federal Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and senior Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was held and a working group was formed to prepare feasibility of the project and its time line.

       The group comprising Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, Adviser to CM Shahid Tarar, railway chairman and railway chief executive officer will frame its suggestions within a week to be presented to Ms Nawaz. The group will also identify new routes for running more bullet trains in Punjab.

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       The transport minister joined the meeting through video link, while Transport Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch and P&D Secretary Asif Tufail were present.

       The participants were briefed in detail about the rail network and condition of rail tracks by the railway authorities.

       Ms Aurangzeb was quoted as saying that the upgrade of Lahore and Rawalpindi railway stations is also part of the project.

       Experts say the total cost of the project runs into multi-billion dollars and they wonder how the Punjab government will manage these huge funds.

       They say the per kilometre cost of laying railway track for a fast train is between $40 and 50 million, meaning the total cost will be over $10 billion.

       Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025