Pakistan Railways has decided to outsource 15 additional trains as part of its ongoing efforts to increase private sector participation in railway operations and improve service efficiency. The department has formally advertised the initiative, while the auction process is scheduled to be held on June 16 at the Railway Headquarters in Lahore. Officials said the trains will be allocated to eligible companies through an open bidding process. According to reports, several private firms have already been declared eligible to take part in the auction.
Trains Included in Outsourcing Plan
The trains included in the latest outsourcing plan are Hazara Express, Awam Express, Karakoram Express, Karachi Express, Millat Express, Fareed Express, Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Ravi Express, Lasani Express, Thal Express, Mianwali Express, Sukkur Express, Narowal Passenger Train, Sialkot Express and Faiz Ahmed Faiz Passenger.
Previous Outsourcing Attempts
Pakistan Railways has made similar attempts in the past to outsource train operations through competitive bidding. However, earlier efforts saw limited participation from the private sector, with bids submitted for only a few trains while several services failed to attract interest. Sources also revealed that a company that had previously acquired the Mianwali Express under an outsourcing agreement later returned the train, citing operational challenges.
Strategic Goals
Officials said the latest move reflects the department’s continued strategy to modernize operations, improve efficiency and enhance passenger services through collaboration with the private sector. The auction is expected to attract more interest this time, with several companies already declared eligible.
