Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price, timings and online booking
The Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price starts at Rs 5,050 for an economy seat and reaches Rs 13,500 for a premium sleeper berth, with 15 operators running the 1,420 km corridor. This is the longest mainline bus route in Pakistan at roughly 18 hours, which is why more than half the departures are overnight sleepers. Compare every fare and class below.
Short answer: Karachi to Islamabad economy seats cost around Rs 5,050 to Rs 5,600, business and executive class Rs 5,900 to Rs 9,650, and sleeper berths Rs 10,200 to Rs 13,500. On an eighteen hour journey the sleeper premium is the most defensible on any Pakistani route, because it replaces a night’s accommodation.
Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price by operator and class
The Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price spans a wider band than any other corridor, because 15 operators compete here across everything from bare economy coaches to full sleeper berths. All fares below cover Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which operators treat as one destination.
| Bus operator | Class | Seat layout | Journey time | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STC Transit | Sleeper Plus | 1 + 1 berths | 17h 30m | Rs 13,500 |
| Gul e Kashmir | Sleeper | 1 + 1 berths | 18h 00m | Rs 11,500 |
| Faisal Movers | Sleeper | 1 + 1 berths | 17h 30m | Rs 10,800 |
| Kainat Travels | Sleeper | 1 + 1 berths | 18h 00m | Rs 10,200 |
| Daewoo Express | Gold Class | 2 + 1 | 17h 00m | Rs 9,650 |
| Faisal Movers | Business | 2 + 1 | 17h 30m | Rs 9,135 |
| Daewoo Express | Luxury | 2 + 2 | 17h 00m | Rs 8,120 |
| Faisal Movers | Executive | 2 + 2 | 18h 00m | Rs 7,700 |
| Skyways | Business | 2 + 2 | 18h 00m | Rs 6,800 |
| MG Business Class | Business | 2 + 2 | 18h 00m | Rs 6,500 |
| Iftikhar Express | Business | 2 + 2 | 18h 30m | Rs 6,300 |
| Al Sanober Express | Business | 2 + 2 | 18h 30m | Rs 6,100 |
| Pakistan Express | Business | 2 + 2 | 18h 30m | Rs 5,900 |
| Waraich Express | Economy | 2 + 2 | 19h 00m | Rs 5,600 |
| Manthar Transport | Economy | 2 + 2 | 18h 30m | Rs 5,400 |
| Karachi Coach Service | Economy | 2 + 2 | 19h 00m | Rs 5,200 |
| Adil Shah Coaches | Economy | 2 + 2 | 19h 00m | Rs 5,050 |
Fares are indicative published prices and vary with fuel adjustments and peak demand. Your live, confirmed fare appears on the seat map before payment.
Why economy is a harder sell on this route
On a four hour motorway hop, an economy seat costs you nothing but a slightly narrower chair. Over eighteen hours it costs you the following day. The gap between the Rs 5,050 floor and a Rs 10,200 berth looks enormous on paper, but spread across the longest scheduled bus journey in the country it works out at roughly Rs 290 an hour for a flat bed instead of an upright seat. That is the calculation most regular travellers on this corridor eventually make.
Karachi to Islamabad bus timings and daily departures
Karachi to Islamabad bus timings are built around an eighteen hour journey, so departures cluster in the afternoon and early evening to produce a morning arrival at Faizabad. Very few operators run a pure daytime service on this corridor, because it would deliver you to Islamabad in the middle of the night.
Early afternoon
2:00 to 4:00 PMThe earliest practical departures. Arrives Faizabad between 8 AM and 10 AM, which is the best arrival window of the day.
Evening peak
5:00 to 7:00 PMBusiest slot and where most sleeper berths sit. Arrives late morning, still leaving you a usable day in the twin cities.
Night
8:00 to 9:30 PMPopular with budget operators. Arrives early afternoon, which is fine if you have nothing scheduled on arrival day.
Morning services
Limited, 9:00 to 11:00 AMA handful of departures arriving in Islamabad after midnight. Only worth it if someone is collecting you.
Which departure should you pick?
A 3 PM to 5 PM departure is the best choice on this corridor. You are through Sindh before dark, asleep for the long Sukkur to Multan stretch, and into Faizabad in time for breakfast with the day ahead of you. Later departures push your arrival into the afternoon, and the scarce morning services land you in Islamabad well after midnight, which is the one arrival window worth actively avoiding on an unfamiliar route.
Islamabad or Rawalpindi, which arrival terminal should you choose?
Operators sell this route as Karachi to Islamabad and Rawalpindi at a single fare, but the terminal you arrive at makes a real difference to your onward journey. The twin cities have three main arrival points and they are not interchangeable.
Faizabad
The main arrival hub, sitting exactly on the Islamabad and Rawalpindi boundary. The Metro Bus station is adjacent, running straight into Blue Area and the sectors, which makes this the cheapest and fastest onward connection into Islamabad proper.
Pirwadhai
Rawalpindi’s main general bus stand and where most economy coaches terminate. Busy and basic, but genuinely well connected for onward travel toward Peshawar, Abbottabad and Azad Kashmir. A long way from central Islamabad in morning traffic.
Daewoo Rawalpindi
Daewoo Express runs its own terminal at Saddar with a proper waiting lounge and taxi rank. Convenient for Rawalpindi cantonment and the Saddar commercial area, less so if your destination is an Islamabad sector.
Departure terminals in Karachi
- Al Asif / Sohrab Goth, M.A. Jinnah Road
- The main long haul terminal where most operators load. Runs 24 hours with waiting area, luggage handling and ticket counters.
- Karachi Saddar
- Daewoo Express near Empress Market, plus counters for several other operators. Far easier if you are starting in the city centre.
- Karachi Cantt
- Opposite the railway station, useful for onward rail connections and the southern districts.
Rest stops on the way
- Sukkur
- First major break, roughly six hours in. Food court, prayer area and fuel.
- Multan
- Second break around eleven hours in, and the point where the route turns north onto the M-4.
- Bhera or Kallar Kahar
- Short final stop on the M-2 for premium services, roughly ninety minutes before arrival.
The terminal decision in one line
If your destination is an Islamabad sector or Blue Area, insist on a Faizabad arrival and take the Metro Bus from there. If you are heading to Rawalpindi or onward to the north, Pirwadhai saves you a doubling back. Booking the wrong one can cost you an hour and a taxi fare across the twin cities at rush hour.
Karachi to Islamabad distance, journey time and motorway route
The Karachi to Islamabad distance by road is about 1,420 km with a journey time of 17 to 19 hours depending on class. The route strings together four motorways, M-9 to Hyderabad, M-6 and M-5 up through Sukkur and Multan, M-4 to Pindi Bhattian and finally the M-2 into Islamabad, which is why it holds a schedule far better than the distance suggests.
Major stops and cities along the route
- Karachi, Sohrab GothDeparture, km 0
- HyderabadEnd of the M-9, roughly 2h 30m in
- Moro and Naushahro FerozeM-6 through central Sindh
- SukkurFirst major rest stop, around 6h in: food, prayer and fuel
- Rahim Yar KhanSome services pick up passengers here
- MultanSecond rest stop, around 11h in, where the route turns north
- Pindi Bhattian interchangeM-4 joins the M-2 toward the capital
- Islamabad, FaizabadArrival, km 1,420
Why this route takes longer than the distance implies
Karachi to Islamabad is only about 210 km further than Karachi to Lahore, yet it adds close to three hours. The reason is the final leg: after Multan the route leaves the fast southern motorway and works north through Punjab before the M-2 climb over the Salt Range at Kallar Kahar. Buses also make an extra stop on this section. If you are timing a connection in Islamabad, treat the scheduled arrival as optimistic by about an hour.
Sleeper bus from Karachi to Islamabad, fares and availability
The sleeper bus from Karachi to Islamabad costs between Rs 10,200 and Rs 13,500, against roughly Rs 5,050 for the cheapest economy seat. On an eighteen hour journey this is the strongest sleeper case of any Pakistani route, and it is the only corridor where several operators run berths as their main product rather than a premium extra.
Sleeper operators on this route
- Kainat Travels, Rs 10,200, the cheapest berth on the corridor
- Faisal Movers, Rs 10,800, from Sohrab Goth to Faizabad
- Gul e Kashmir, Rs 11,500
- STC Transit, Rs 13,500 for Sleeper Plus, the premium option
Before you book a berth
- Flat six foot berth, privacy curtain, blanket and reading light
- Around 27 berths per coach, noticeably quieter than a 45 seat bus
- Lower berths are easier to access, so book early for the choice
- Sleeper departures run between 2 PM and 9 PM only
- Berths sell out first at Eid and through the summer holidays
Is the berth worth Rs 5,000 more than economy?
On this route, more clearly than on any other. You are comparing Rs 5,050 for eighteen hours upright with Rs 10,200 for a flat bed and a functioning arrival day. If the alternative involves a hotel night at either end, the sleeper is cheaper outright. The one case against it is a tight budget on a trip where you have nothing scheduled for a day after you arrive, in which case economy does the job.
Which is the best bus service from Karachi to Islamabad?
The best bus service from Karachi to Islamabad depends on whether you want a berth, a guaranteed arrival time, or the lowest possible fare. With 15 operators competing, this corridor has genuine choice at every price point.
Daewoo Express
The fastest scheduled running time at 17 hours and the most reliable departure record. Luxury at Rs 8,120 and Gold Class at Rs 9,650, arriving at its own Rawalpindi Saddar terminal. No sleeper on this corridor, so the Gold Class 2+1 layout is as comfortable as Daewoo gets here.
Faisal Movers
A berth at Rs 10,800 with the largest terminal network at both ends, and a Faizabad arrival that connects straight to the Metro Bus. Executive at Rs 7,700 if you want the brand without the berth. The most departures per day of any operator on the route.
Kainat Travels
A sleeper at Rs 10,200, the cheapest flat berth on the corridor, and only about Rs 600 below Faisal Movers for a broadly similar product. Terminals and fleet sit a step below the majors, which is the trade you are making.
The honest recommendation
Eighteen hours is long enough that the class matters more than the company. Book a sleeper if you can: Kainat Travels at Rs 10,200 for value, Faisal Movers at Rs 10,800 for the better terminals. If a berth is out of budget, take Faisal Movers Executive at Rs 7,700 rather than a Rs 5,050 economy coach, because the extra buys a wider seat and an hour less on the road. Choose Daewoo only when arriving on time genuinely matters, since it has no berth to offer here.
How to book Karachi to Islamabad bus tickets online
Booking Karachi to Islamabad bus tickets online takes about two minutes, and on this route it matters more than most, because you need to check the arrival terminal as well as the fare. A CNIC number is required for every passenger.
Search the route and date
Enter Karachi, Islamabad and your travel date. All 15 operators running that day appear in one list.
Choose berth or seat
Decide sleeper or seated first, then filter by departure window and arrival terminal.
Check Faizabad or Pirwadhai
Confirm the twin cities arrival point, pick your berth or seat from the live map, add CNIC details.
Pay and get your e-ticket
Pay by JazzCash, Easypaisa, card or bank transfer. The e-ticket arrives on WhatsApp and email.
Before you confirm, check these four things
- Faizabad or Pirwadhai. The single most consequential detail on this route.
- Berth or seat. “Sleeper” means a flat bed; “Business” and “Executive” do not, whatever the fare suggests.
- Your arrival time. An afternoon departure lands mid morning; a morning one lands after midnight.
- CNIC details match the passenger. One valid CNIC per seat, name matching, and operators do check.
Payment methods
- JazzCash
- Easypaisa
- Visa & Mastercard
- 1LINK bank transfer
- Raast
- Cash at terminal counter
Karachi to Islamabad bus vs train vs flight ticket price
Comparing the Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price against the train and a domestic flight is where the bus case is weakest of the three big corridors. At eighteen hours, a two hour flight starts to look like value rather than luxury.
| Mode | Typical price | Journey time | Frequency | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus (economy) | Rs 5,050 to 5,600 | 18h to 19h | Many daily | Cheapest reliable option, but a long eighteen hours |
| Bus (sleeper) | Rs 10,200 to 13,500 | 17h 30m | Afternoon and evening | Best bus option, a flat bed and no hotel night |
| Train (economy) | Rs 3,500 to 5,000 | 20h to 24h | Several daily | Cheapest of all, though delays are routine |
| Train (AC business) | Rs 10,000 to 14,000 | 20h to 22h | Limited | Comfortable and you can walk around, if it runs on time |
| Domestic flight | Rs 18,000 to 32,000 | 2h flight | Many daily | The honest winner if a working day is on the line |
Flight and train fares fluctuate significantly; bus fares on this corridor are broadly fixed.
Cheapest way to travel from Karachi to Islamabad
The cheapest way to travel from Karachi to Islamabad is Pakistan Railways economy at roughly Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000, which undercuts every bus fare on the route. The trade off is time and reliability, since the rail journey runs 20 to 24 hours and delays of several hours are common. For the cheapest option that departs and arrives roughly on schedule, an economy bus seat at Rs 5,050 is the answer. Worth noting that on this corridor specifically, a discounted flight at Rs 18,000 saves you a full day and a night, which is a genuinely different calculation from the shorter routes.
Compare all 15 operators for your travel date.
Check live fares and seatsKarachi to Islamabad bus ticket price FAQs
What is the Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price?
The Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket price ranges from about Rs 5,050 for an economy seat to Rs 13,500 for a premium sleeper berth. Business and executive classes sit between Rs 5,900 and Rs 9,650. Fifteen operators serve this route, more than any other corridor in Pakistan, which keeps the lower end competitive.
How long does the Karachi to Islamabad bus take?
Express services cover the 1,420 km in about 17 hours, with typical journeys running 18 hours and economy coaches up to 19. It is the longest mainline bus route in Pakistan. The route is almost entirely motorway, M-9, M-6, M-5, M-4 and M-2, so schedules hold up better than the distance suggests.
Does the bus arrive in Islamabad or Rawalpindi?
Both, depending on the operator. Most services arrive at Faizabad, which sits on the boundary between the two cities and connects directly to the Metro Bus into Islamabad. Economy coaches usually terminate at Pirwadhai in Rawalpindi, and Daewoo Express uses its own Saddar terminal. Check the arrival point before booking, because they are a long way apart.
How much is the sleeper bus from Karachi to Islamabad?
Sleeper berths run from Rs 10,200 with Kainat Travels up to Rs 13,500 for STC Transit’s Sleeper Plus, with Faisal Movers at Rs 10,800 and Gul e Kashmir at Rs 11,500. You get a flat six foot berth with a privacy curtain, blanket and individual reading light. On an eighteen hour route this is the most worthwhile sleeper upgrade in the country.
Which is the cheapest bus from Karachi to Islamabad?
Adil Shah Coaches at around Rs 5,050, with Karachi Coach Service at Rs 5,200 and Manthar Transport at Rs 5,400. These are economy coaches with more stops and a journey closer to 19 hours, so weigh the saving against the extra time before booking on price alone.
What time do buses leave Karachi for Islamabad?
Most departures fall between 2 PM and 9 PM, timed so the eighteen hour journey produces a morning arrival at Faizabad. The busiest window is 5 PM to 7 PM, which is also where most sleeper berths sit. A small number of morning services exist but arrive in Islamabad after midnight.
Is the bus or a flight better from Karachi to Islamabad?
This is the one major corridor where the flight has a real case. A two hour flight at Rs 18,000 against an eighteen hour sleeper at Rs 10,200 means you are paying roughly Rs 8,000 to save most of a day. If your time has a value attached, the flight wins. For students, families and anyone travelling with luggage, the sleeper still makes more sense.
Do I need a CNIC to book a Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket?
Yes. One valid CNIC number is required per seat and the name on the booking must match. For children travelling on a B-Form, enter the guardian’s CNIC. Foreign travellers can use a passport number instead.
Do fares rise during Eid and holidays?
Published fares generally hold steady, but availability tightens sharply on this route. Sleeper berths sell out first, leaving only the most expensive remaining options. Book five to seven days ahead for Eid al-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha and summer holidays, longer than a shorter corridor would need.
How much luggage can I take?
Most operators allow around 20 kg in the hold plus a small cabin bag, with excess charged by weight at the counter. Sleeper coaches carry the same allowance as seated classes. Hold space on full overnight services is genuinely limited, so call ahead if you are carrying anything bulky.
Related routes and fare guides
Return and nearby routes
Operator fare lists
Book your Karachi to Islamabad bus ticket
15 operators, seated and sleeper classes, Faizabad and Pirwadhai arrivals, and no booking fee added to the operator’s published fare.
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