Pakistan Railways has announced an open auction for the commercial outsourcing of 15 major passenger trains as part of a broader reform agenda aimed at improving service quality, increasing revenue, and strengthening public-private partnerships.

According to the railways department, the auction will be held on June 16 at Pakistan Railways Headquarters in Lahore, where eligible private companies will compete through a transparent bidding process to secure operational contracts for selected train services.

The initiative forms part of Pakistan Railways’ strategy to modernize passenger operations, enhance customer services, and reduce the financial burden on the state-owned transport network while retaining public ownership of railway assets.

The 15 passenger trains selected for outsourcing are:

• Hazara Express
• Awam Express
• Karakoram Express
• Karachi Express
• Millat Express
• Farid Express
• Bahauddin Zakaria Express
• Ravi Express
• Lasani Express
• Thal Express
• Mianwali Express
• Sukkur Express
• Narowal Passenger
• Sialkot Express
• Faiz Ahmed Faiz Passenger

Officials said several private firms have already qualified to participate in the bidding process.

Pakistan Railways has previously outsourced a number of train services, but participation from the private sector remained limited. In several cases, routes failed to attract bids due to concerns over commercial viability and operational costs.

One notable example was the outsourcing of Mianwali Express, which was later returned to Pakistan Railways after the private operator reportedly faced financial and operational difficulties.

Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has repeatedly clarified that outsourcing does not amount to privatization.

Under the model, Pakistan Railways will continue to own railway infrastructure, locomotives, tracks, and operational systems, while private operators will manage commercial activities, passenger services, ticketing, and onboard facilities.

Officials expect the initiative to generate billions of rupees in additional annual revenue while improving cleanliness, customer experience, service quality, and operational efficiency across the railway network.

According to figures presented in the National Assembly, three passenger trains have already been outsourced, while another 15 are now being offered through the latest auction process.