Lahore has become new Karachi. With rapid increase of population, a robust management of resources is necessary for preserving the city’s clean landscape and comfortable ambience as well as its status in Pakistan real estate. In collaboration with Punjab Government, City District Government and Lahore Development Authority are making the needed arrangements to meet these new challenges. Construction of new roads, reconstruction of the old and broken ones, and addition of new overhead bridges, flyovers, service lanes and footpaths along with better drainage system are some of the glimpses of Lahore’s current face.

Meanwhile, individual needs of different zones and markets are also addressed, for instance, the long longed parking plaza for Liberty Market i.e. Liberty Ride and Park Plaza is now operational to fix the traffic issues of the market. However, few hurdles make this plaza a not so attractive investment in Lahore Properties. Although, the Liberty Ride and Park Plaza was inaugurated in December 2010, it is still struggling to find its way in Lahore real estate as a strong investment. The construction cost of the project also remains controversial as many people find the Rs. 678million spent on the plaza a “staggering high” amount.

In Addition, couple of corruption cases were reported against the LDA where the Authority was accused of mismanaging an amount Rs. 37 million. The petition filed against its construction on the property of Parks and Horticulture Authority is beside the issues faced by the Plaza. None the less, the Park and Ride Plaza seems to have sailed through the crises and now stepping into a new era where its acceptance is indispensible for fixing the maddening traffic issues faced by the Lahore’s most posh market i.e. Liberty Market. Many people have appreciated the addition of this plaza in the busy Liberty Market and the shop owners who initially did not find it pleasant to walk all the way to their shops from the parking plaza are now adjusting accordingly.

Built adjacent to United Christian Hospital, Liberty Park and Ride Plaza is constructed on an area of 3.17 kanal and has 11 floors. Four floors including the basement, ground floor, first floor, and rooftop are reserved for shops and restaurants. Rest of the 7 floors are meant for vehicle parking and have a room for as many as 308 cars. The plaza can be accessed from all four sides and has two capsules lifts as well as stairwells and ramps. To ensure the steady function of lifts, signals and barriers, a standby generator is also installed. The construction design of the plaza has not ignored any security aspect and has facilities such as CCTV, fire alarms and fire fighting, audio and emergency buttons, car-canners, public address system and road blockers.

Pakistan real estate sector has undergone many changes over the course of last few years. Where the sector experienced rapid growth and expansion during the early and mid 2000s, it also experienced stagnancy for the years that followed. The trillion-rupee industry, which is definitely one of the most robust real estate markets in the world, is now inching towards another metamorphosis. As is the case with all things, Pakistan property market is too headed towards a more radical transformation that is driven by the demand from buyers who are now after a more luxurious living without compromising on the security.

For the longest time, the property market of Pakistan was more of a market for middleclass and lower middleclass buyers who were keen on one, maybe two storey homes with basic facilities and a long lasting, sustainable structure. However, the modern home seekers in major cities are no longer simpletons eager to pounce on any offer that can save them some bucks. These smart buyers are after houses that are more luxurious and they are willing to pay a bit more than they have to if it justifies the cost. One important factor that affects their buying decisions is the kind of security offered by newer developments.

Street crimes in the major cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore have become a huge problem for both new and the existing developments dotting the cities. In attempts to curb the incidents of street crimes, many projects have developed gated communities while others have resorted to deploying security guards. Newer communities, which are developed on the peripheries of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi real estate, are more vulnerable to not just street criminals but also robbers and dacoits. Therefore, these new developments need to offer a lot to prospective buyers in terms of high-class amenities and modern lifestyle facilities along with foolproof security. The security remains the definitive factor affecting buyers’ decisions.

Pakistan real estate is a billion dollar industry. Apart from the raving and uncontrollable inflation in the country, the government has no contribution is sustaining or boosting the local realty market. There is massive potential in the property market of Pakistan where it can perform miracles for the economy with a little help from the government. Among the many steps, that government can take to boost the performance of Pakistan properties, one is to promote tourism on the same lines as the United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates in general and Dubai is particular is popular for being a hub of some of the world’s most precious real estate developments. The UAE’s government’s decision of capitalising on Dubai real estate market was followed by a series of steps taken to attract foreign and local investors in order to give it a leg up to prosper. Other than successfully raising substantial capital for strengthening UAE real estate and helping it become the fifth important pillar of the state, UAE government also very smartly used its high-end real estate to attract loads of tourists to the country.

Taking a leaf out of UAE’s book, Pakistan could learn a lesson or two from the UAE government and work on her own tourism industry in hopes of lending a helping hand to the local real estate market. Not to boast or anything but there are very few countries in the world which are as gifted as this Land of Pure. From the lush green valleys of Swat to the snow clad peaks of Gilgit Baltistan, to the sun kissed deserts of Thar and the virgin beaches of Gwader, Pakistan offers breathtaking sites at every step of the way.

Pakistan could gain millions in revenue by cashing on the gifts offered by the Almighty with little effort. On its way up, the tourism industry could also substantially give Pakistan real estate in general and hotel industry in particular a nudge in the right direction and towards a more prosperous future.

The concept of gated communities is becoming increasingly popular in Pakistan. DHA Valley Islamabad is one of the finest additions among the gated communities located in the federal capital. It falls under the umbrella of Defence Housing Authority and thus enjoys a very strong reputation in Pakistan real estate. The popularity and demand of homes and property in DHA Valley Islamabad is not limited to local buyers, investors, and brokers but a lot of queries have been made by the overseas Pakistanis in the community Forum at Zameen.

DHA Valley Islamabad is synonym to living a luxurious and secure life stamped by the most reliable and popular housing society of Pakistan i.e. DHA. Once the development work finishes in DHA Valley, the residents here will enjoy a green, fresh, secure, and fully facilitated lifestyle that would meet international standards. These promises have enticed the overseas Pakistanis to book a plot or two here and construct their houses in the highly secure city of Pakistan as soon as they shift to Pakistan. Many of these overseas Pakistanis have dual nationalities but they still pick Pakistan as the country they will ultimately head to. Their interest in the property here is not just an expression of their love but an attempt to support the real estate sector of their homeland.

The development work is on in DHA Valley at a faster pace and there are various Pakistan estate agents listed at Zameen who deal exclusively in DHA Valley Islamabad properties. The planned development in this society include a Harvard International Medical University, Mega Malls, International Standard School System, Jacaranda Family Club, underground wiring, Soan Marina and most of all round the clock maintenance services. Greenbelts, parks, and artistic landscaping dominate the society and offer a wonderful atmosphere for the families as well as business executives. The very location of DHA Valley Islamabad makes it nicely away from the rush and usual hustle bustle of big cities and yet close enough to be accessed from the adjoining areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Any investment in DHA Valley Islamabad would be worth it.

Pakistan real estate is one of those sectors of the country, which despite the criminal negligence from the government and other concerned authorities, have performed brilliantly. Although his potential has never been given much room to materialise, but the ruling party of PPP has finally senses it, as a result of which Lahore had the honour of hosting one of Pakistan’s first construction expos. This provided a unique opportunity to builders and agencies to learn from some of the best people in the international industry and make the most of this expo.

The three day international event, which was given the name of Build Pakistan 2012, brought a plethora of experts, all masters of their fields, from more than twenty different countries of the world. The sheer number of the experts who took part in the expo makes it one of the most superior construction exhibitions of Pakistan. This expo was held at Lahore Expo Centre from 10th to March 12th. The fact that it featured well over a hundred exhibitors from across the world means that the local construction and building sector had a lot to learn from it.

For Lahore real estate, which is widely recognized as one of Pakistan’s most stable realty markets, holding such a massive expo was undoubtedly a display of trust vested by the government in this sector. According to several news sources, construction was not the only highlight of this expo since besides construction material, several different manufacturers of furniture, tiles and stones along with dealers of property also participated in the expo. The opening ceremony drew several important official and non official bodies, including Planning Commission (PC) Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeem Ul Haque and FAKT Exhibitions CEO Saleem Khan Tanoli, where Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan inaugurated the event.

As per experts, this expo would not only give a boost to the local industrial sector but would also help local builders learn much from their international counterparts.

Finding a good home has always been a difficult job as a lot of factors contribute in making a home and its locality appropriate for different clients. The buying and selling activity in Pakistan real estate was seen on low during last many years but the prices remained stable in bigger cities including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. Those who could not afford to buy houses in these cities chose to live on rent, which is evident from the increasing population of the mentioned cities. According to the general trends of renting and buying houses in Pakistan, it is surprising to note that the demand for houses in posh as well as less developed areas is similar.

Out of bigger cities, the performance of Lahore real estate has been encouraging for the realty market and many housing and commercial projects kept on adding value to properties in Lahore. Ever since the property boom witnessed in 2001, Pakistan real estate sector has expanded 25 folds. In light of the unfolding international events of 2001, a tremendous rise was observed in the revenue sent back home by the overseas Pakistani and most of it was invested in real estate business. Lahore real estate in general and Properties in DHA, Lahore in particular benefited much from this foreign exchange. The value of residential plots and houses in DHA increased 300 times in less than few days after the tragic demise of World Trade Center.

The real estate business in Pakistan has climbed many steps of success ladder but it is very important that its benefits are reaped by people from all sectors, classes and localities. According to the estimates of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and industry, more than 5 lacks houses need to be added in the realty sector annually for next two decades to meet the housing shortfall in Pakistan. It is also been noted that almost 50% population of population of major cities lives in undesirable conditions. These statistics show the potential of real estate and infrastructural sector of Pakistan and also determine the areas where the focus should now be at.

Real estate has long been a safe and profitable investment option for Pakistanis for many years. There are only a handful of options of saving in Pakistan if you skim all the ways which are not considered halal. For many decades now, Pakistan realty market had presented a safe haven for all kinds of investments. Such was the trust of the people in Pakistan real estate that they would invest their lifetime’s savings into buying properties in different areas of the country regardless of the development of localities. However, the trust of the people has been badly shaken during the course of recent few years.

As the world economy is screeching its way through an agonizing crunch, the affects of it are palpable in various sectors of Pakistan as well. Pakistan real estate has been one of the biggest sufferer in this regards where there once was a time when buying properties was a sure way of doubling and sometimes even tripling your investment over a period of time, buying property in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad now is rather akin to inviting a loss. The severe lack of trust in the market, risk of fraud, and the ever deteriorating value of rupee has forced people look for other options to invest their money.

Gold also has also been a favoured investment option for many Pakistanis for years. The ever rising prices of the metal in the national and international market have helped it emerge as a more promising investment option for many. Despite the high prices, people’s preference to pick gold over making an investment in properties in Pakistan has rung alarming bells for the local realty market. If the government of Pakistan ever wishes to as much as try and resolve the uncertainly regarding Pakistan real estate, it needs to take immediate measures to curb the various unfavourable conditions engulfing the realty market.

Buying a good piece of property is not easy and the reasons for this are obvious. Many complex procedures are involved in property transfer and getting good house on good rates is practically harder. The first step in this regard is to determine whether or not the property you intent to buy is a good one. Some of the pointers, which will help you determine this, are listed here.

Scrutinize the district

The first and the foremost thing while buying a house is to check if the district where this house is located has the facilities required for modern and convenient lifestyle. Such services include road infrastructure, water, gas and electricity, security system, markets and of course medical care units. If some housing society promises such facilities in near future than perhaps buying a piece of land there could be a safe idea but buying a house there certainly is not. It is so because the house you will buy will remain unoccupied until all of these facilities are made available.

Check the location

The very location of the house is equally important. Since corner plots are expensive, many investors in Pakistan real estate prefer buying the corner property. If you intend to live in the house, the corner location may not practically do any good to you but for investment purpose it sure does. The accessibility of the house from main roads and nearby markets also matters. Sometimes, the house may appear good on all criterions but there is an in-house factory at its backside, which makes the entire neighborhood a noisy place. All of these elements combine to decide the location of the house and are very important for you to consider thoroughly.

Proper ventilation and sunlight

Sometimes a house is constructed very well and meets your demand but lacks the very basic requirement of a good house i.e. proper ventilation and exposure to sunlight. A windy and sunny house is important to keep you family healthy. It is not easy to check and confirm in few visits if the house receives good sunlight but there are ways to check it. If the houses built next to it are close and two stories, there are fat chances that a good part of day light is blocked by these houses.

For ventilation, there have to be windows or air passage ways opposite to each other. Sometimes a lot of reflective glass is used to beautify the houses but this fixed glass doesn’t serve the purpose of ventilating the house. One window in a room means improper ventilation. Don’t let the fine window frames and fancy ceilings distract you from confirming the very basics requirements of a good house.

Faisalabad was known for its bumpy and un-kept roads. It is no longer the city’s reality because all the wrecked roads are being replaced by carpeted highways and wide tracks. For Faisalabadi citizens and all the people living in nearby areas, it was a long awaited development. All the adjoining towns and villages seem to be benefiting from this slow yet constantly happening change. People are happy because now they can easily move from the nearby villages to the commercial areas of Faisalabad.

FDA (Faisalabad Development Authority) has noticed this change and allowed many developers to launch housing societies near commercial zones to meet the increasing needs of people coming to reside in this city due to business and working opportunities. The present situation appears to be the most suitable condition for real estate sector betterment but in reality, it is nothing like it.

Inflation has taken its toll on Faisalabad real estate sector as well. And the remaining conditions are include high interest rates, strict bank loan terms, electricity load-shedding issue and poor amenities that are combined to squash the life of real estate sector over there as well. Faisalabad is one of the biggest industrial cities of Pakistan that offers job opportunities to hundreds and thousands of educated and poor people as well. But people are not willing to invest in the real estate of this city due to inflation, power crises and other difficulties.

Real estate sector has already become unaffordable for the masses of Pakistan and the prevailing conditions are preventing the rich class as well to invest in any new housing project with complete confidence. Therefore, people from nearby towns are forced to go back to their places after finishing the jobs and professionals are residing alone in small apartments because they do not want to bring their families to Faisalabad. And for that reason they do not consider investing in Faisalabad real estate on permanent or for long term basis.

Faisalabad real estate can generate big revenues but if the situation will remain like it, it can never force people to invest in this sector. Authorities must ponder to rectify the situation on priority basis.

Bahria Town real estate developers are one of the few land developers who have kept the heart of Pakistan real estate beating. Even amazing is that despite recession, inflation and real estate slump, housing societies launched by Bahria Town receive much attention and maintained good rates. It has been inspirational for the other spurring land developers who would have otherwise been inactive due to deteriorating Pakistan real estate. Now many housing societies are developing on the same standards set by Bahria Town and offer similar facilities but the sort of trust and faith buyers have in Bahria Town’s project, no other housing could earn it.

Bahria Education & Medical City is one of the most raved about housing societies in Lahore. Its convenient location, linked with all major parts of the city like Model Town, DHA and Multan Road, make it highly desirable for the buyers. The society is at 30min drive from Kalma Chowk. The idea of living away from heavy traffic, noise and usual tiring city life and yet being close enough to reach certain destinations in less time, attracts investors and buyers.

Bahria Education & Medical City’s primary feature is its International Standard Educational and Medical Complex with a spacious hospital where specialized doctors and highly skilled professionals are on panel. Since the educational and medical complexes are the focus of this housing scheme, the size of residential plots is kept 5 marlas. The scenic value of each plot is mesmerizing. Wide and lush green belts are kept by the trained gardeners and special plants and trees are planted there to keep the atmosphere fresh and healthy.

The education complex includes an international school and University Medical College where qualified professionals and world’s best teaching facilities promise a sound learning environment for girls and boys. The Medical Complex is a 500-bedded hospital equipped with state of the art technology and specialized doctor.

Since the activity in commercial properties in Pakistan is low, the residential societies have to offer all such facilities, which convince the buyers to make an investment there. Therefore it is very much expected that other prominent housing society will follow the footsteps of Bahria Town this time as well.