Living in DHA Karachi has always been one of the most popular options among the residents of the city.
Located within Clifton Cantonment, Defence Housing Authority is considered one of the most affluent neighbourhoods of the city. From housing state-of-the-art hospital and schools to famous shopping malls and trendy restaurants, DHA Karachi offers the latest facilities ensuring a quality lifestyle.
The Armed Forces of Pakistan Welfare Department initially established Defence as a cooperative housing society. It was meant for retired military personnel and their families. However, thanks to its ideal location and thriving economy, DHA opened applications for all Karachiites and soon evolved into a sought after residential district.
In fact, Defence Karachi has always been among the most popular areas to buy property in the city. This prosperous neighbourhood has eight phases that are sub-divided into further extensions.
Let’s take a look at some of the facilities in DHA Karachi that make it different from other areas of the city.
FACILITIES IN DHA KARACHI
These are some of the most notable facilities available to those living in DHA Karachi.
- Prime location
- Easy transportation
- Secure environment
- Shopping malls and markets
- Mosques
- Educational Institutes
- Parks and stadiums
- Family entertainment facilities
- Hospitals
- Cafes and restaurants
Here’s some more information about the facilities and amenities that ensure a quality lifestyle in DHA Karachi.
Location
The prime location of DHA Karachi has undoubtedly played a huge part in its popularity.
The area is a stone’s throw away from the beach. It is also surrounded by upscale residential societies, such as Clifton and Naval Housing Scheme. DHA is connected to the rest of the city through a network of road, bridges and underpasses. This makes it easy for the residents to get around Karachi without much hassle.
Moreover, it takes about 20 to 25 minutes to reach Karachi Cantonment Railway Station from DHA Karachi. Meanwhile, depending on the traffic, the residents can easily reach Jinnah International Airport within 40 to 45 minutes.
Take a look at some more nearby locations.
Nearby Locations
- Sea View
- Dolmen Mall Clifton
- Frere Hall
- Mohatta Palace
- National Bank of Pakistan Cricket Ground
- Ibn-e-Qasim Park
- Karachi Gymkhana
Transportation
The availability of public transport is also one of the major facilities in DHA Karachi.
Regardless of day or night, you can find public buses such as Sheraz, Starline and Super Hasan Zai in Defence, making it easier for the people who live or work in the area to move around. Those living in DHA Karachi also have access to rickshaws, taxis and private cabs. A number of online ride-hailing services also operate in the area, making transportation even more convenient.
Security
Defence Housing Authority is certainly one of the most secure areas in the city.
Apart from the installation and round the clock monitoring of CCTV cameras in the neighbourhood, the DHA Karachi Security and Vigilance Directorate work with Sindh Police to maintain a safe and peaceful environment.
Furthermore, Defence, Darakhshan and Gizri police stations are all located within the area to protect residents against any threats and ensure the tranquillity of the community.
Shopping malls and markets
There is no shortage of luxury boutiques and shopping centres in DHA Karachi. In fact, you can easily find outlets of both high-end and local brands spread across the commercial areas in each phase. The list includes popular stores such as Generation, Agha Noor, Sheep, Deepak Perwani and Humayun Alamgir, to name a few.
Residents can also head over to Zamzama Mall or browse through the outlets in Dolmen Mall Clifton, Emerald Towers and Ocean Mall, which are located in the vicinity. Moreover, a number of famous supermarkets, including Hyperstar, Chase Up, Agha’s and Imtiaz are also easily accessible to those living in DHA Karachi.
Mosques
Each phase in DHA Karachi has a beautiful and well-known mosque.
Some of the famous mosques in the area include Mustafa Mosque, Creek Vista Mosque and Usman-e-Ghani Mosque. All of these mosques are known for their stunning architecture.
The world-famous Tooba Mosque, which is considered one of the largest mosques in Pakistan, is also situated in DHA Phase 2. Commonly referred to as ‘Gol Masjid,’ this mosque is one of the top tourist attractions in Karachi.
Educational Institutes
To ensure a quality lifestyle along with a good education system in DHA Karachi, Defence Housing Authority has established its own schools and colleges in the area. However, branches of almost all top private schools are also located in the neighbourhood, providing quality education to young residents.
Some of the most popular schools in DHA Karachi include Froebel Education Centre, Bay View Academy, Haque Academy, Beaconhouse School System and The City School, among others. Most of these schools follow both matriculation and A-levels systems while providing well-equipped classrooms, playgrounds and other modern facilities to the students.
DA Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed College, DHA Suffah University and Greenwich University are also situated in the Defence. In addition to that, the residents also have easy access to the Defence Central Library in DHA Karachi.
Parks and sports facilities
The abundance of parks in the housing society makes it easy for those living in DHA Karachi to relax and unwind far away from the traffic and crowd of the city.
Zamzama Park, Nisar Shaheed Park, Sea View Park, Major Khalil Shaheed Park and Capt. Raja Farhan Shaheed Park are some of the major parks in DHA Karachi. These spots are not only perfect for children to play and run around but also for families to get together and spend some quality time.
Recreational places for kids is one of the other important facilities in DHA Karachi. Residents with young children can also visit The Palace in Phase 8 and Chunky Monkey Amusement Park in Phase 6 for a wonderful experience in a safe and secure environment.
Furthermore, DA Country and Golf Club and Moin Khan Academy, also known as DA Sports Club, serve as ideal spots for sports lovers to swing some clubs and score a few runs. A few major sports facilities, including Southend Club Cricket Stadium and DA Zamzama Club Hockey Stadium, are also located in the vicinity.
Family Entertainment Facilities
There are a number of family entertainment places in DHA Karachi that provides residents with a number of recreational and leisure activities.
Those who love swimming, sailing and fishing among other activities can become members of some of the best clubs in the city. Defence Authority Club, DA Marina Club, DA Sunset Club, DA Creek Club, DA Beach View Club, DA Zamzama Club and DA Creek Club are among the most popular recreation centres ensuring a quality lifestyle in DHA Karachi.
People living in DHA Karachi also have quick access to Nueplex Cinemas. It is housed on the second floor of The Place and happens to be one of the largest cinema complexes in Karachi.
Hospitals
Medwin Hospital and National Medical Centre are some of the major state-of-the-art hospitals in DHA Karachi, providing residents with emergency medical treatment. People living in the area can also visit DHA Medical Center in Phase 6. It houses consultancy clinics, a Sindlab collection unit, X-ray and ultrasound facilities, 24-hour Emergency Unit and an ambulance service.
Meanwhile, PNS Shifa Hospital and South City Hospital are also located at a short distance.
There is an Aga Khan University Hospital Laboratory located in Phase 2 Ext as well.
Cafes and restaurants
Owing to the dynamic lifestyle in DHA Karachi, the area boasts some of the best eateries in the city.
Some of the most popular restaurants in DHA Karachi include Café Zouk, Thyme Restaurant, POMO Neapolitan Pizzeria and Yoshi’s. Meanwhile, those who prefer desi food can head over to Kolachi Restaurant on Do Darya to enjoy a scrumptious meal with their friends and family. Also, health and fitness enthusiasts can check out Neco’s Natural Store and Café for some healthy and delectable treats.
A wide variety of cafés in DHA Karachi offer their patrons an opportunity to select a book from their collection and relax with a steaming cup of coffee. There are also some places that allow and encourage individuals and groups to hold events, such as exhibitions and open mics, on their premises.
Coffee shops such as FLOC, Espresso and Mocca Café have also gained immense popularity. They are particularly famous among freelancers and home-based employees, as they provide free internet access to their consumers. They are also among the top breakfast places in DHA Karachi.
WHY DHA KARACHI IS A POPULAR AREA TO INVEST IN PROPERTY
Modern infrastructure and facilities in DHA Karachi have made it one of the most searched areas to buy property in Karachi, according to the popularity index on Zameen.com.
Those looking to invest in real estate in DHA Karachi have an option to buy houses, flats or plots.
The price of 120 sq yd houses for sale in DHA Karachi ranges from PKR 3.1 crore to PKR 5.5 crore. Meanwhile, you can buy a 250 sq yd house in the area between PKR 4.6 and PKR 6.5 crore. The buying trend of 500 sq yd houses in DHA varies from PKR 5 crore to PKR 16 crore, depending on the area.
However, if you are looking for flats for sale in DHA Karachi, a 1-bed option costs between PKR 38 lakh and PKR 2.8 crore. Meanwhile, a 2-bedroom apartment in the area is priced somewhere around PKR 45 lakh and PKR 4.5 crore. Those with bigger families can look into buying 3-bed flats. The buying trends for these range from PKR 70 lakh to PKR 7 crore.
Furthermore, investors can buy a 120 sq yd residential plot in Defence within the price range of PKR 2 crore and PKR 4 crore. On the other hand, the prices of 500 sq yd residential plots for sale in DHA Karachi vary from PKR 3 crore to PKR 9.5 crore.
As for those seeking to rent out a property in DHA Karachi, the rent of a 250 sq yd house ranges between PKR 1.3 lac to PKR 1.8 lac per month on average. You can rent out a 500 sq yd house in the area for PKR 90 thousand to PKR 5 lac.
Moreover, the monthly rents of 1-bedroom flats in Defence range between PKR 20 thousand to PKR 50 thousand. The rental trend for 2-bed apartments varies from PKR 22 thousand to PKR 80 thousand, depending on the project.
For more updates on the real estate trends in other areas, head over to Zameen Blog – the top lifestyle and property blog in Pakistan.
