Daewoo, train or flight: the best way to travel between Pakistani cities
Daewoo bus ticket prices, train fares and domestic flights compared for Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, with refund and luggage rules, as of October 2026.
On Lahore to Islamabad, take the Daewoo bus or the railcar: the Subuk railcars cost Rs 1,300 in economy and Rs 2,250 in AC Business (October 2025). On Lahore to Karachi, a Daewoo bus ticket was Rs 9,200 in September 2026, the Pak Business Express takes 18.5 hours. On Islamabad to Karachi, nonstop flights usually cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 one way (July 2026). Daewoo charges 30% to cancel; the railway refunds 90% up to 48 hours ahead.
A Daewoo bus ticket from Karachi to Lahore cost Rs 9,200 in September 2026 (Bookme listing), while the Pak Business Express train cost Rs 5,100 in economy at its July 2025 launch. Between Lahore and Islamabad, take the Daewoo bus or the Subuk railcar, which cost Rs 1,300 in economy in October 2025. Between Islamabad and Karachi, fly: nonstop fares were usually Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 one way in July 2026.
Fares moved a lot in 2026 because of fuel prices. Treat every number here as a guide, and check the live fare in the operator’s app before you go.
Daewoo, train or flight: which is best for each route?
Route
Daewoo bus
Train
Flight
Lahore to Islamabad / Rawalpindi
We couldn’t confirm a 2026 Daewoo fare
Subuk railcars: Economy Rs 1,300, AC Standard Rs 2,100, AC Business Rs 2,250, AC Parlour Rs 2,500 (Oct 2025)
We found no sourced fares
Lahore to Karachi
Rs 9,200 (Bookme listing, Sep 2026)
Pak Business Express: 18 hours 30 minutes; economy Rs 5,100 at launch (Jul 2025)
We found no sourced 2026 fares from an airline or news report
Islamabad to Karachi
Not covered by our sources
We couldn’t confirm a 2026 fare or journey time
Nonstop: usually Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 one way; South Air from Rs 14,218 with a stop (Jul 2026)
Train fares rose 5% in economy and 10% in AC classes on 9 March 2026, after the railcar and Pak Business Express fares above were set. So the 2026 price is likely higher.
Sources: Daily Times, APP, The Pakistan Connect, Pakistan Observer and Pakistan Today, dated in the sections below.
How much is a Daewoo bus ticket?
Daewoo Express doesn’t publish a fare list on its website. You see the fare only when you search a route and date in its booking form or app.
The latest dated figure we could find is for Karachi to Lahore: Rs 9,200, from fares listed on the Bookme website and reported on 12 September 2026. The same report said Karachi to Lahore bus fares in general had risen from around Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 or more, and that Kainat Express started from Rs 7,550. The report doesn’t say which Daewoo class the Rs 9,200 fare is for.
We couldn’t confirm a 2026 Daewoo fare for Lahore to Islamabad. The figures that show up in search results are either undated or don’t name the operator, so we left them out.
Daewoo Karachi to Lahore
Rs 9,200
Fare listed on Bookme, reported by The Pakistan Connect on 12 Sep 2026. Class not stated.
Classes. Daewoo says it runs “luxury and gold class” buses. Each bus has a driver, a hostess and a guard.
Where it stops. As of October 2026, Daewoo’s booking form lists terminals including Lahore Thokar, Lahore Kalma Chowk, Rawalpindi (26 No.), Faizabad in Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan and Peshawar. Check which terminal your bus leaves from: Lahore has two.
Can I book a Daewoo bus ticket online?
Yes. You can search departures and book on daewoo.com.pk, or in the Daewoo app on Google Play and the App Store.
Don’t be late. Under Daewoo’s terms, a confirmed booking is cancelled 15 minutes before departure if you haven’t reported at the ticket counter to buy the ticket. If you turn up without a booking, you can join the waiting list and get a seat if one is free.
What are Daewoo’s rules on refunds, children and luggage?
These come from Daewoo’s own terms and conditions, as of October 2026:
Rule
What Daewoo says
Cancelling an advance ticket
30% of the fare is deducted
Arriving after the bus has left
No refund, unless you take the next departure
Missed your bus
You go on the next departure if seats are free
Children
Full fare from age 4
Free luggage
Up to 30 kg per ticket
Extra luggage
Charged under the Extra Luggage Tariff (ELT)
Lost checked luggage
Paid by weight, not value: Rs 100 per kg, or Rs 20 per kg for food
Because lost luggage is paid by weight, not value, keep anything valuable in your hand luggage.
How much is a train ticket from Lahore to Karachi?
The newest named train on this route is the Pak Business Express, launched on 29 July 2025. It takes 18 hours 30 minutes between Lahore and Karachi, and economy cost Rs 5,100 at launch, according to APP. It has sleeper berths, a dining car, Wi-Fi and digital ticketing.
We couldn’t confirm a 2026 fare for the AC classes on this train, or for Green Line, Karakoram or Tezgam. Pakistan Railways sets fares by distance and train group, and we couldn’t confirm the rail distances needed to read the right fare off its table.
Pakistan Railways has five classes:
AC Sleeper
AC Parlour
AC Business
AC Standard
Economy
How did train fares change in 2026?
9 March 2026: economy fares rose 5% and AC fares 10%, after petrol and diesel went up by Rs 55 a litre. Passengers who had already booked in advance were not charged the difference, Pakistan Today reported.
3 April 2026: the prime minister told Pakistan Railways to keep fares unchanged for all classes despite the higher diesel price, Radio Pakistan reported. The government agreed to cover an extra Rs 6 billion until 30 June 2026. We couldn’t find whether this freeze was extended after June.
How much is the Lahore to Islamabad train ticket, and how long does it take?
The Subuk Kharam and Subuk Raftar railcars run between Lahore and Rawalpindi. On 6 October 2025, Pakistan Railways raised their fares by Rs 150 to Rs 250, Daily Times reported:
Class
Fare (Oct 2025)
AC Parlour
Rs 2,500
AC Business
Rs 2,250
AC Standard
Rs 2,100
Economy
Rs 1,300
Passengers on these railcars get free refreshments. These fares were set before the March 2026 increase of 5% (economy) and 10% (AC), so expect to pay more now.
We couldn’t confirm the journey time. Pakistan Railways’ timetable site, pakrailways.gov.pk, blocked our automated check.
Can I book a train ticket online, and what is the refund?
Yes. Pakistan Railways’ website links “Fares & Seat Availability” and the RABTA E-Ticket service to pakrailways.gov.pk, where you can check fares and seats.
The railway’s refund policy is kinder than Daewoo’s if you cancel early. As of October 2026, the policy on its website, in force since 25 August 2011, is:
More than 48 hours before departure: 90% refunded.
24 to 48 hours before: 80% refunded.
Less than 24 hours before: 70% refunded.
Up to 3 hours after the train leaves: up to 50% refunded.
Daewoo keeps 30% of an advance ticket whenever you cancel before departure.
How much is a flight between Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad?
Karachi to Islamabad. PIA, Airblue, AirSial, Fly Jinnah and Serene Air between them run several nonstop flights a day. One-way fares were usually Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, depending on date and time, Pakistan Observer reported on 13 July 2026.
A new airline, South Air, planned its first Karachi to Islamabad flight for 16 July 2026, from Rs 14,218 one way with no checked bag, or Rs 15,792 with a 20 kg bag. It stops in Bahawalpur, so the trip takes 4 hours 10 minutes on an ATR 72 turboprop.
Lahore to Karachi and Lahore to Islamabad. We found no 2026 fares for these routes from an airline or a news report. Fare-search sites show prices, but they change daily, so we don’t quote them.
What does a cheap flight ticket leave out?
Low fares often don’t include a checked bag. Fly Jinnah’s domestic fares, as of October 2026, are a good example:
Basic
Value
Ultimate
Hand baggage
7 kg + 3 kg personal item
7 kg + 3 kg personal item
7 kg + 3 kg personal item
Checked baggage
Paid extra
23 kg (1 piece)
46 kg (2 pieces)
Changes
Once, up to 24 hours before, minimum Rs 4,500
Once, up to 12 hours before, no fee (pay any fare difference)
See airline
Cancelling
Up to 24 hours before, minimum Rs 5,500
See airline
See airline
On a Basic fare, cancelling costs at least Rs 5,500, so pick Value if your plans might change. We couldn’t check PIA’s or Airblue’s fare rules: their websites blocked our automated check.
What if I drive between Lahore and Islamabad?
The M-2 motorway toll for a car, jeep or taxi is Rs 1,430 from 5 July 2026 to 23 April 2027, after a 7% rise, Profit reported. Fuel is on top of that.
Which should you choose?
Cheapest we could confirm on Lahore to Islamabad: the railcar in economy (Rs 1,300 in October 2025, plus the March 2026 rise).
Cheapest on Lahore to Karachi: the train, if you can spend 18.5 hours on it. Rs 5,100 in economy at launch is well under the Rs 9,200 Daewoo fare.
Fastest on Islamabad to Karachi: a nonstop flight at Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. South Air is cheaper but stops on the way.
If you might cancel: the train refunds 90% up to 48 hours ahead; Daewoo keeps 30% of an advance ticket; a Fly Jinnah Basic fare keeps at least Rs 5,500.
What is the Daewoo bus ticket price from Karachi to Lahore?
Daewoo Express charged Rs 9,200 for Karachi to Lahore in September 2026, according to fares listed on Bookme. Check the Daewoo app for the fare on your date.
Can I cancel a Daewoo ticket and get a refund?
Yes, but Daewoo keeps 30% of the fare if you cancel an advance ticket before departure. If you reach the terminal after the bus has left and don't take the next one, you get nothing back.
What is the train ticket price from Lahore to Karachi?
The Pak Business Express economy fare was Rs 5,100 when it launched in July 2025, for an 18.5-hour trip. Railway fares rose 5% in economy and 10% in AC classes on 9 March 2026, so check the live fare before you book.
How much luggage can I take on a Daewoo bus?
Up to 30 kg per ticket travels free. Anything over that is charged under Daewoo's Extra Luggage Tariff (ELT).
Is it cheaper to fly or take the train from Karachi to Islamabad?
Nonstop flights usually cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 one way in July 2026. We couldn't confirm a 2026 train fare or journey time for this route.
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