After seeing the Mughal monuments and feeling the beating of drums at Sufi shrines in Lahore, many travelers choose to head south to the financial capital of Pakistan, Karahi for some fun in the sun, upscale nightclubs, and modern rock. From wandering through the streets of Old Lahore to the bustling beaches of Karachi, you might be in for a bit of culture shock, but here it is.
Proverb
The cheapest option is the train. The Fareed Express #38DN leaves Lahore every morning at 10:00 and arrives in Karachi at 12:35 in the afternoon. That means your train journey will be a minimum of 26 1/2 hours if the train is running on time. Roads in Pakistan are not known to be particularly punctual or safe. There are 5 possible types of this train, including full berth AC class for 1810 rupees ($23), full AC (Economy) for 790 rupees ($10), full seats in economy 710 rupees ($8.90), half-berth for 480 rupees ($6 ) and a half seat for 400 rupees ($5). Sitting in the middle seat for 26 hours, it is certainly not the most comfortable way to travel to Karachi, but it is the cheapest.
You will be able to see the timetables, the addresses of the booking agents, you can check from Pakistan Railways online. Tickets are usually booked through a travel agent to avoid the inevitable chaos at the station.
Bus
The safer, more comfortable, and faster option is to take the bus. There are many different companies that travel from Lahore to Karachi, but Daewoo is by far the most pleasant and professional. For women traveling alone, Daewoo is the best choice. The Daewoo station is located near Calma Chowk, while other bus companies operate from the main bus station in Old Lahore. A one-way ticket on a Daewoo Bus costs 1900 rupees ($24) and they leave the station five times a day. You can book tickets for 11:00am, 1:00pm, 5:00pm, 11:00pm and 1:00am. The journey takes 21 hours, a good five hours less than the train.
To book tickets, you can call the Daewoo office at 111-007-008. From Lahore, dial 042 first. You can book 48 hours in advance and you will have to hold your seat 30 minutes before departure.
Air
It’s the cheapest, cheapest, and fastest option by air. Two airlines fly regularly between Lahore and Karachi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Air Blue. One-way tickets on PIA are 6,000 rupees ($76) and up, depending on how far in advance they are booked. You can book at any PIA office or at several travel agents. Air Blue offers special online fares and tickets, which is easy for travelers. One-way tickets from Lahore to Karachi are currently 5250 rupees ($66) with online specials. When you print your e-mail, you still need to check in the paper ticket at the Air Blue office in the departure area. Air Blue flights are twice a day and take about two hours.
As you can see, it’s really up to you how you travel from Lahore to Karachi. Flying from the pen with a business class seat in the train car is stressed, like a sardine for $5; everything is available!
