Summers have arrived in Karachi, and their arrival means two things. Firstly, it’s blazing hot, and secondly, summer vacations have either begun or are about to begin.
It goes without saying that you must have thought about visiting different places in Pakistan during your kids’ summer vacations. The northern areas are a sure winner, but before you start to plan out a trip, check out some do’s and don’ts of traveling to northern areas of Pakistan. The one thing common between all trips to the northern areas is that they officially kick off from either Lahore or Islamabad. Since we wanted to help you with your travel plans, we are discussing different travel options from Karachi to Lahore and vice versa. Your options include travelling via a car, bus or train, or you might also take a flight from Karachi to Lahore. Let us discuss each travel option in detail.
Travel options from Karachi to Lahore
- Travelling via car
- Travelling via bus or train
- Travelling via flight
Your options include travelling via a car, bus or train, or you might also take a flight from Karachi to Lahore. Let us discuss each travel option in detail.
By Road
It takes around 18 hours to reach Lahore from Karachi by road, and the best route to take from Karachi is the National Highway, N5 motorway. We have taken the liberty to map out the journey:
Route from Karachi to Lahore via car
- Start your journey from Chaand Bibi Road to reach Johair Road, and then Jehangir Punthakey Road. Travel to Aga Khan III Road, more commonly known as Garden Road, and then take Manghopir Road. You will then reach Lyari Expressway. This journey will take around 15 minutes.
- From Lyari Expressway, reach Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway then follow Indus Highway/N-55 from there to National Highway 5. Then take Lodhran-Khanewal Expressway, moving on to Lahore-Abdul Hakeem Motorway/M-3 to Link Ferozepur Road/Nalay Wali Sarak in Lahore. It will take approximately around 17 hours to cover 1,234 km and reach Lahore.
- Continue on Link Ferozpur Road to reach your destination in Lahore.
People usually stop over for a breather at Sadiqabad, after a 10-hour drive. You can stay for the night at any of the local hotels, resuming your journey the next morning. Remember to keep your original NIC, copies of car registration, and your driving licence with you.
By Bus
Convenient travel options from Karachi to Lahore include taking Daewoo bus service because of its decent service quality and punctuality. It takes around 21 hours to reach Lahore from Karachi by bus. Daewoo bus service features comfortable seating and audio-visual entertainment. They also provide support for carrying luggage while traveling. Some additional services offered by the bus service include:
- 30 kg of luggage
- Extra Luggage (ELT) facility
- Luggage tags for the safety and security of baggage
- Free porter service
Bus services from Karachi to Lahore are available at different times during the day, and the fare is around PKR 5,000.
By Train
There are quite a few trains available from Karachi to Lahore and vice versa. The choice of a particular train usually comes down to its timing, travel time, and the ticket price. You can expect the train ticket price from Karachi to Lahore to be somewhere around PKR 1,400 to PKR 6,000.
Let us discuss the train service you can take to travel from Karachi to Lahore and vice versa. Also, please note that the fares remain the same whether you are going from Karachi to Lahore or from Lahore to Karachi:
Shalimar Express
Shalimar Express is named after the historical Shalimar Gardens. The train was the first fully air-conditioned service offered by Pakistan Railways and comprised 14 parlour coaches, with every coach consisting of 52 seats featuring comfortable elbow room and two televisions. The interior of the coach matched that of an aeroplane. The windows of the train were tinted black to keep the interior cool.
Shalimar Express also has the privilege of being the first train to get Pakistan Railway livery, which is used till now. Shalimar Express departs from Karachi Cantt at 6:00 in the evening and reaches Lahore Junction at 12:40 in the afternoon the next day.
Shalimar Express Train Ticket Price:
A seat in the AC Business Class of Shalimar Express costs PKR 5,000 while a seat in the economy class costs PKR 1,800. The travel duration is 18 hours, 40 minutes. Shalimar Express departs from Lahore junction at 6:00 in the evening and reaches Karachi at 12:45 the next day.
Awam Express
Awam Express is the largest passenger train run by Pakistan Railways. The train runs from Karachi to Peshawar, and while it is cheaper than other trains, it takes longer to reach Lahore from Karachi. The train departs from Karachi Cantt station at 7:00 and reaches Lahore at 6:35 the next day.
Awam Express Train Ticket Price:
The train ticket price of Awam Express from Karachi to Lahore is PKR 3,250, and the travel duration is 23 hours 35 minutes. An Economy class ticket, however, costs PKR 1,400 (berth). Awam Express departs from Lahore Junction to Karachi Cantt at 19:00 in the evening and reaches Karachi the next day at 18:15.
Allama Iqbal Express
Allama Iqbal Express is the oldest express train of Pakistan. It started its service in 1940 as Shaheen Express, departing from Karachi and reaching Sialkot via Faisalabad. Shaheen Express was renamed Allama Iqbal Express in 1985, to honor Pakistan’s national poet, Allama Iqbal.
Allama Iqbal Express Train Ticket Price:
Allama Iqbal Express departs at 14:00 from Karachi Cantt and reaches Lahore at 10:25. It takes almost 21 hours to reach Lahore. The ticket price is PKR 1,400. Allama Iqbal Express departs from Lahore at 12:00 in the afternoon and reaches Karachi at 6:00 in the evening the next day.
Jinnah Express
Jinnah Express was launched on 30th March 2019. Its travel duration is around 17 hours with just three stops – Khanewal, Rohri, and Islamabad. Jinnah Express departs from Karachi Cantt station at 3 in the afternoon and reaches Lahore at 7:30 in the morning the next day.
Jinnah Express Train Ticket Price:
The ticket price is PKR 6,200 for AC Business class. The train is fully air-conditioned and provides lunch, breakfast, and complimentary light refreshments. Jinnah Express from Lahore station departs at 2:30 in the afternoon and reaches Karachi at 7:00 am the next day.
Pak Business Express
Pak Business Express is one of the fastest passenger trains in Pakistan. It runs from Karachi to Lahore with 8-9 stops in between. Eight stops if you are traveling from Karachi and nine stops if you are travelling from Lahore. It takes around 17 hours and 30 minutes to cover an approximate distance of 1,214 km.
Pak Business Express Train Ticket Price:
Karachi to Lahore train ticket price is PKR 4,950 for AC Business and PKR 1,750 for economy class. The train departs from Karachi Cantt at 4:00 in the evening and reaches Lahore at 9:15 the next day. When travelling from Lahore to Karachi, the train leaves at 3:30 and reaches Karachi at 9:00 am the next day.
Karakoram Express
Karakoram Express leaves from Karachi Cantt at 3:30 in the afternoon and reaches Lahore at 9:00 am the next day.
Karakoram Express Train Ticket Price:
The fare for Karakoram AC Business class is PKR 5,450 and PKR 1,950 for economy class. The train leaves Lahore at 4:00 in the evening and reaches Karachi at 9:00 in the morning the next day.
Karachi Express
Karachi Express was launched in 1943 and it used to run between Karachi and Peshawar. The route was later shortened, and the train now runs from Karachi to Lahore. The train leaves Karachi Cantt at 4:30 in the evening and reaches Lahore at 10:40 the next morning.
Karachi Express Train Ticket Price:
The train ticket price is PKR 4,950 for AC Business Class and PKR 1,750 for economy class. The train departs from Lahore at 5:00 in the evening and reaches Karachi at 11:05 in the morning the next day.
Shah Hussain Express
Shah Hussain Express, previously known as Night Coach, takes around 18 hours to cover a distance of 1,286 km.
Shah Hussain Express Train Ticket Price:
Train ticket price is PKR 5,000 for AC Business Class and PKR 1,800 for economy class. The train timings are the same for both Lahore and Karachi, as it leaves at 7:00 pm and arrives at 1:00 pm the next day.
Tezgam
Tezgam is a daily express train service which earlier ran between Karachi and Peshawar. The word “Tezgam” means a fast runner. The train’s route was later shortened to Karachi to Rawalpindi. It makes a stop at Lahore Junction while going to Rawalpindi and its timings from Karachi to Lahore are 5:30 pm to 12:50 am.
Tezgam Train Ticket Price:
The fare for Tezgam AC Business Class is PKR 4,450 and PKR 1,450 for economy class.
Green Line
Green Line is an air-conditioned VIP train service from Karachi Cantt to Lahore. It starts off its journey at 10:00 pm and arrives at 2:20 pm the next day in Lahore.
Green Line Train Ticket Price:
The train ticket price from Karachi to Lahore is PKR 6,200 for AC Business Class. For Lahore to Karachi, the train departs from Lahore at 8:30 at night and reaches Karachi at 1:00 pm the next day.
Khyber Mail
Khyber Mail is a popular train service. The timing of Khyber Mail is from 10:15 in the morning, which is when it leaves Karachi Cantt, and 7:25 pm the next day, which is when it arrives in Lahore.
Khyber Mail Train Ticket Price:
The fare is quite cheap at just PKR 4,200 for AC Business Class.
By Air
If you are planning to take a flight from Karachi to Lahore or vice versa, then there are quite a few options available. PIA PK-302, PK-304, and PK-306 are available and depart at various times including 8:00 am, 9:45 am, 3:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:45 pm. Lahore to Karachi air ticket price is PKR 15,488 one way only. For Air Blue, the fares are a bit higher at PKR 15, 965. Flights from Karachi to Lahore via Serene Air can cost PKR 16,000 one way only.
These were the various travel options from Karachi to Lahore. You can choose any of these depending upon the mode of transportation you prefer. Have a safe journey!
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