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.

Excellent planning, effective management, and continuous maintenance have helped keeping Islamabad clean, green, and beautiful. The residents of Islamabad are proud of being miles away from heavy traffic, suffocating pollution, piles of garbage and nasty crowd. Low crime rate and excellent management of resources have made capital of Pakistan literally the model city. All of these factors contribute to making property in Islamabad very precious and thus highly desirable.

For those who thought that, as compared to Lahore and Karachi, life in Islamabad is little dull, we have news; an international cricket stadium is to become part of the city soon. Capital Development Authority and Pakistan Cricket Board have joined hands for the construction of a cricket stadium in Islamabad that can seat 50,000 spectators. The expertise of PCB and CDA will combine for this stadium and there are great hopes among the cricket enthusiast to get a state of the art cricket stadium in the capital.

CDA has allocated a piece of 35 acres of land in this regard and there are no conditions attached to this allocation. It was planned four years ago that the capital should have an international cricket stadium but due to internal clashes in PCB, the proposal remained limited to files. Since the concerned authorities are all set to construct the stadiums and have signed an MOU in this regard, it is likely that the stadium will be construction in about one year’s time. The construction expenses would be borne entirely by PCB.

Along with this cricket stadium, Islamabad will get a cricket academy as well. This cricket academy is meant specifically for the training of future cricketers from Islamabad, AJK, FATA, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The citizens of Islamabad and sports enthusiast of the adjoining cities have warmly welcomed this decision and they are happy that that long awaited venue for promoting sports activities in the capital has finally been announced.

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.

Saidpur Village, the prominent tourists destination located on the slopes of Margalla Hills near Islamabad, had started responding to the commercial attention it received during the last one decade. Because of increased commercial activity and value of Saidpur in Pakistan real estate, its original beauty as a historic model village is fading. CDA officials have therefore decided to remove the illegal structures in the village and restore its original beauty.

Saidpur enjoys a rich history that spans over hundreds of years. The scenic beauty of the village and its pure environment earned Saidpur a status of a popular hill station throughout the recorded history of last 500 years. The architectural beauty of the village and simple lifestyle of its natives serve the visitor’s interests. Various activities that are part of everyday life of Saidpur natives have triggered the village’s status as a popular tourist destination near Islamabad.

Several families, group of friends and foreigners visit the village on regular basis and these activities increase many folds over the weekends. Saidpur is no longer a remote village where the natives crave for experiencing modern lifestyle and facilities, in fact those who visit here end up admiring their simple and pure lifestyle. Many restaurants, hotels, dining spots and stores mark the commercial activity in the Saidpur Village and various handicrafts and gift shops add to the unique experience of visiting this beautiful model village located near the capital.

It was lately observed by the CDA authorities that illegal structures were built on the allotted areas in Saidpur. A thorough survey was conducted in order to find out the developments that have not been approved by the authorities. CDA has planned an operation against these illegal structures to restore the original rustics of the village. The authorities believe that clear laws need to be lined out and implemented in order to stop this practice for once and all in Saidpur.

These efforts taken by the Capital Development Authority  are a glimpse of its efficiency and commitment. CDA has truly been inspirational in managing property in Islamabad and making sure that no illegal structures and buildings are added in the city as well as the towns and villages that fall within jurisdiction of Islamabad.

The popularity of this scheme and piling applications by shelter-less people of Punjab suggested that more such projects need to be initiated. Well, the prayers of poor have been answered as the CM Punjab lately announced that 5 marla residential plots will be distributed among the needy people across Punjab. The focus this time is on the residents of smaller towns and remote villages.

The project was in pipeline from last few months and reports have confirmed that the Government of Punjab is done with selecting the residential plots suitable for this project. Right now, the authorities have included 110,554 residential plots in this scheme and there are fair chances that various similar projects will be initiated during this year.

The most encouraging aspect of this project is that the dwellers of Katchi Abadis are also eligible to claim for their zameen. According to news, it will take a little more than a month for this project to finish. The announced date for the project to begin is 26^th April and it is expected to complete by 30^th March. The officials right now are surveying the chosen plots and verifying the residents of Katchi Abadis.

Just like Ashiana Homes, these residential plots will be aided with complete facilities like water and gas pipelines, electricity and other infrastructure that makes a residential land a sound investment in Pakistan real estate. Computerized balloting for these 5 marla plots will be held on the 6^th of June. Zameen will keep you updated about the project and its details.

Ferozpur is one of the busiest roads in Lahore and connects various important parts of the city with each other as well as with other highways. A diverse range of traffic can be seen here during different parts of the day and night. Many public busses and vans use this route for reaching southern part of the city, as Ferozpur road is the main link between the city and the housing societies newly developed in the south of Lahore. It is believed that these housing societies will benefit from all developments done on Ferozpur Road and experience an increase in their value of real estate in Pakistan.

The maddening traffic here affected thousands and thousands of people who travelled daily on this route and remained stuck for hours at different points on Ferozpur Road. Finally, a flyover was added in the Kalma Chowk in Aug 2011 to lower the traffic pressure. This flyover has reduced the 60% load on that signal and now the chowk is no more packed with heavy traffic of all sorts. All such developments combine to strengthen the value of commercial as well as residential property in Lahore and encourage developers to extend their projects in the southern and western part of the city.

The current Cheif Minister of Punjab Mr. Shahbaz Sharif do not appear satisfied with the traffic condition on Ferozpur Road and believes that a lot more is required to be done in order to lubricate the traffic here. The commitment of the Chief Minister is not limited to fixing the traffic condition on roads but he is determined to deliver fine and flawless public projects to the people at large. He believes that public transport system needs improvement so that people do not feel miserable while travelling on public busses and thus playing their part in reducing the pollution in Lahore and traffic load on its road.

The busy commercial areas on Ferozpur Road are causing traffic issue on both the service lanes and Mr. Sharif has a plan to fix. He said that a parking plaza would be shortly constructed on the Ferozpur Road to address the parking issue. He did not reveal more details about the project but it is very encouraging to note that his efforts are not meant to benefit a particular class or group of people but are directed towards making people’s life easier.

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.

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

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.

The popularity and demand of the project has called for the expansion of the scheme. In 2009, what started as a 480 houses block in Atari, Lahore has spread to other cities of Punjab, including Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Jehlum, and Faisalabad. New land has been purchased by the Government of Punjab in the mentioned cities as well as in other areas of Lahore real estate. Ashiana Qaid, at Sabora Atrai has delivered all the 480 houses to the deserving candidates selected through highly transparent scrutiny in July 2011. The concerned authorities have promised that each Ashiana Housing project would include hospitals, industrial areas, schools, colleges and universities, public transport and all related state of the art welfare features.

At Ashiana Qaid, the extension work has begun and another batch of 2,000 houses is to be delivered by the due time. This extension includes five marlas plots and all 935 plots will be allotted to the right candidate through fair balloting system. To accommodate the increasing demand for plots and houses in Ashiana Projects in Lahore, Ashiana Iqbal has been planned. The number of houses in Ashiana Iqbal would be 8,000, which is double the number of houses in Ashiana Qaid but the applications received for the new allotments are normally 20 times more than the available units. This data shows that highly robust construction work and detailed planning would be required to deliver the very best of this dynamic project as well as benefit the business of properties in Pakistan.