Located in the centre of a bustling metropolis, Gulshan-e-Iqbal has always enjoyed the status of being one of the most sought-after areas to live in Karachi. Boasting an urban infrastructure, this residential society offers home buyers and investors a range of both affordable and upscale housing options with top-notch amenities. If you’re looking to buy a house in Karachi and are wondering what makes living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal a popular option, here’s an in-depth analysis of the facilities that ensure a quality lifestyle among the residents of the area.
Facilities in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi
These are some of the most noteworthy facilities available to those living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
- Prime location
- Access to public transportation
- Shopping malls and markets
- Mosques
- Educational Institutes
- Hospitals and clinics
- Cafes and restaurants
- Parks and sports facilities
- Family entertainment facilities
Here is an in-depth analysis of each of these facilities that ensure a quality lifestyle in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi.
Prime location
Situated in the heart of the city, Gulshan-e-Iqbal enjoys a prime location in Karachi. The area is well-connected to different business hubs and shopping avenues through a network of roads and bridges. Some of the most important roads linking Gulshan-e-Iqbal to other parts of the city include Rashid Minhas Road, National Stadium Road, University Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal and Shaheed-e-Millat Road, to name a few.
Jinnah International Airport is located at a distance of about 10 kilometres from the sprawling neighbourhood. This means it takes the residents of Gulshan-e-Iqbal approximately 20 minutes (or even less) to reach the airport, depending on which block they live in. Meanwhile, Cantt Railway Station is also a 30-minute drive away from Gulshan-e-Iqbal at a distance of approximately 15 kilometres.
Moreover, Gulshan-e-Iqbal is surrounded by a number of popular housing societies, such as Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Federal B. Area and Bahadurabad.
Overall, Gulshan-e-Iqbal has 19 blocks.
Nearby Locations
One of the main benefits of living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal is its proximity to important landmarks. These are some of the famous places situated in the vicinity of the residential area.
- Lucky One Mall
- National Stadium
- University of Karachi
- NED University of Engineering
- Pakistan Maritime Museum
- Aga Khan University Hospital
- Liaquat National Hospital
- Jinnah International Airport
- Drigh Road Railway Station
- PAF Faisal Base
Access to public transportation
Owing to its central location and well-developed network of roads, public transport is readily available in this area. Some of the most well-known bus stops in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include Nipa Chowrangi Bus Stop, Hassan Square Bus Stop, Maskan Chowrangi Bus Stop, Gulshan Chowrangi Bus Stop, Expo Centre Bus Stop and Sir Syed Bus Stop among several others. A large number of public buses also navigate through the residential area, making it convenient for the residents to travel anywhere for a low fare. You can also find taxis and rickshaws quite easily in the neighbourhood.
Apart from using their personal vehicles, people living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal also use different online ride-hailing services to travel.
Shopping malls and markets
There is no shortage of supermarkets and shopping malls in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi.
The residents of the area enjoy access to a number of hypermarkets and departmental stores, including Imtiaz Super Market in Block 2, Chase Up stores in Block 3 and Block 10 as well as Metro Cash and Carry near Safari Park. Carrefour, which is one of the leading chains of superstores in the world, is also located at a short distance from the area. Apart from groceries and other household items, most of these superstores also allow customers to buy cosmetics, skincare, crockery, apparel, electronic appliances, stationery, gift items and much more from under the same roof.
Some other notable grocery stores in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include NEEDZ Supermarket in Block 16, Home Plus and Al-Wardah supermarkets in Block 4 and Shazz Supermarket in Block 17.
When it comes to markets in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, KDA Market in Block 3 definitely stands out as the top destination among shoppers in the area. Although it started out as a small neighbourhood market, KDA Market has now become home to some of the outlets of top domestic and international brands. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find local vendors selling clothes, jewellery, shoes and other items in the market. Due to the growing popularity of the market, a number of beauty salons, fitness centres and restaurants have begun popping up in the vicinity of this market, ensuring a quality lifestyle in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Furthermore, those living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal also enjoy quick access to Lucky One Mall, one of the top shopping malls in Karachi. Located in the Federal B Area, it is considered the largest mall in Pakistan and features outlets of high-end local and international brands along with a vast food court, a food street, children’s play area and much more. Millennium Mall and Saima Square One Mall are also situated at a close distance from the housing society.
Mosques and other religious institutions
Gulshan-e-Iqbal is home to a number of significant mosques and religious institutions.
Some of the most well-known mosques in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include Madni Mosque in Block 5, Masjid Khulfa-e-Rashideen in Block 13D-1, Masjid-e-Quba in Block 7, Aqsa Mosque in Block 13D-3, Jamia Masjid Bait-ul-Mukarram in Block 8 and Jamia Masjid Noor in Block 16.
As for other religious institutions, St. Philip’s Parish is also located in Block 13D-3.
Educational Institutes
Gulshan-e-Iqbal houses some of the best schools, colleges and universities in Karachi, making it an excellent place to live for families with kids of all ages.
Reputable schools such as Beaconhouse School System, City School and Happy Home School all have their campuses located in the residential area. Some of the top schools in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include Practical Schooling System, DEBS (D Education Bureau Schooling System), Foundation Public School, The Smart School and Happy Palace Grammar School. Dewa Academy and Vaila’s School for Children with Special Needs are also situated in the area, providing learning opportunities to special needs children in a safe and nourishing environment.
Meanwhile, some of the major colleges in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include Government Degree College in Block 7, Beaconhouse College Campus in Block 4, Liaquat College of Management and Sciences in Block 4 and Bahria Foundation College in Block 7 among others.
As for higher education, the well-reputed Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology is located in Block 5. The Federal Urdu University in Block 9, Institute of Industrial Electronics Engineering in Block 6, Usman Institute of Technology in Block 7 and Indus University in Block 17 are among the top universities in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Furthermore, the University of Karachi and NED University of Engineering, which is one of the most prestigious engineering universities in Karachi, are also located at a short drive from Gulshan-e-Iqbal. Depending on where you live in the area, it’ll take you somewhere between 8 to 20 minutes to reach these institutes, both of which are located on the University Road but have various points of entry, including the ones opposite Maskan Chowrangi.
The presence of these educational institutes is one of the top facilities in Gulshan-e-Iqbal that attract homebuyers.
Hospitals and clinics
There are quite a few state-of-the-art clinics and hospitals in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, ensuring the residents don’t have to travel far to seek help in the case of medical emergencies.
Patel Hospital in Block 4 is considered one of the top hospitals in Karachi. Ashfaq Memorial Hospital in Block 13C, Ibn-e-Seena Hospital in Block 6, Al-Mustafa Medical Centre in Block 13 and National Institute of Blood Diseases in Block 17 are also some of the most renowned hospitals in Gulshan-e-Iqbal providing in-patient and out-patient care. M. Rab Medical Center in Block 2 and Samdani Hospital in Block 5 are also known for providing quality medical treatment at rather affordable rates.
Furthermore, it is important to mention that Aga Khan University Hospital and Liaquat National Hospital are located about 15 to 20 minutes’ drive away from the housing society. In addition to that, several well-known eye clinics, dentists and orthopaedic clinics are also situated in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Cafes and restaurants
Over the last couple of years, the number of cafes and restaurants in Gulshan-e-Iqbal have multiplied significantly. In fact, the road between KDA Market in Block 3 and Maskan Chowrangi in Block 7 has turned into a full-fledged food street housing everything from fine dining restaurants and chic coffee shops to cosy fast food joints and vendors selling street food.
Some of the most popular restaurants in Gulshan-e-Iqbal include Usmania Restaurant, Lasania Restaurant Sizzlers Café and Grill, Royal Taj Restaurant, Nosh Grill, Kebabist, Chop-Soy, Urban Tarka, Ginsoy and Fettuccine among several others. Branches of almost all international food chains, such as KFC, Subway and Burger King, are also situated in the area.
Coffee shops such as Dunkin Donuts and Coffee Wagera are also pretty popular in the area. Quite a few famous dessert bars, including Creamello and Crave Bar are also located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Parks and sports facilities
The availability of parks and green spaces are also of the main perks of living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
While almost every block in the area has a small community park, there are a few that more famous than the others. For instance, Aziz Bhatti Park in Block 10, Nasir Hussain Shaheed Family Park in Block 2, Mehmud Ghaznavi Park in Block 16 and are among the most popular places among families in the area. These parks offer various facilities, including but not limited to jogging tracks, children’s play areas and bird aviaries among others.
Moreover, Safari Park is a famous picnic spot in Gulshan-e-Abad. Located on University Road, this lush green park features a lake filled with swans and ducks, mini zoo, safari bus tour, children’s play area, hiking trails, walking tracks and much more. An adventure theme park named Go Aish is also situated within the premises of Safari Park.
Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal enjoy easy access to National Hockey Club in Block 5, Women Sports Complex in Block 3 and Hakeem Muhammad Saeed Playground in Block 8 among others. All of these sports facilities are well-maintained, with National Hockey Club holding hockey matches on a regular basis. AKUH Sports Complex, UBL Sports Complex, Customs Cricket Academy and National Sports Coaching Center are also located at a short distance from Gulshan-e-Iqbal. There are also plenty of football grounds in the area, making Gulshan-e-Iqbal an ideal place for sports lovers and aspiring athletes to reside.
There are also several fitness centres, both for men and women, present in the area.
Recreational facilities
When it comes to recreational facilities in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Sindbad Amusement Park in Block 10 and Aladdin Park in Block 11, two of the most popular amusement parks in Karachi, stand out among the rest.
The luxurious Pavilion End Club next to Aladdin Park is also one of the top places to visit in Gulshan-e-Iqbal. This upscale club offers a number of facilities to its members, including separate swimming pools for men, women and children, gymnasium, library, sauna steam bath, fitness classes, water slides and salons among others. It is also an ideal place to hold corporate events, workshops, seminars, birthday parties, get-togethers, school functions, weddings, receptions and much more.
Arena, one of the most famous entertainment and recreational centres in Karachi, is also located at a short drive from Gulshan-e-Iqbal. The club boasts a large gaming zone, well-equipped gym, café, a buffet restaurant and banquet halls.
Gulshan-e-Iqbal also houses some of the most lavish wedding halls and banquets in the city.
Investment Opportunities in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi
Are you looking to buy real estate in Gulshan-e-Iqbal? If so, here’s a breakdown of sales and rental price trends of properties in the area.
Buy Property in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi
If you’re planning to buy a house in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, buying a 120 sq yd unit in the area costs between PKR 1.5 and 2.9 crore on average. On the other hand, the price range for 240 sq yd houses for sale in Gulshan-e-Iqbal ranges from PKR 3 to 6 crore. Meanwhile, the price trend for 500 sq yd homes in the residential area varies between PKR 7 and PKR 8.5 crore. The prices may vary with each block or locality.
Flats for sale in Gulshan-e-Iqbal usually include 2-bed and 3-bed options. The prices of 2-bed apartments in the area range between PKR 35 lakh and PKR 1.2 crore, depending on the block and project. Moreover, you can buy a 3-bed flat in Gulshan-e-Iqbal for as low as PKR 50 lakh.
Renting Property in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Karachi
In case you’re considering renting a house in the area, a 125 sq yd house for rent in Gulshan-e-Iqbal will cost you between PKR 35,000 and 70,000 per month. The monthly rent for 250 sq yd houses in the area averages from PKR 55,000 to 1.5 lakh.
The monthly rent for 2-bedroom apartments in the area starts from PKR 18,000 and goes up to PKR 35,000, whereas 3-bed flats for rent in Gulshan-e-Iqbal cost between PKR 26,000 to PKR 70,000.
So, do you plan on living in Gulshan-e-Iqbal? Share your suggestions and queries with us on blog@zameen.com.
For those who want to buy property in Karachi, don’t forget to take a look at our H1 2019 Real Estate Market Report for the City of Lights to figure out which area might be the best for you to invest in.
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