High-rise Buildings
Mixed-use Developments
Gated Communities
Low-cost Housing Schemes
Villa-style Homes
Hotel/Serviced Apartments
Townhouses
Pakistan is now home to some of the fastest and most rapidly growing property markets in the world. Many of the country’s major cities have now turned into hotbeds of property investments. Following the footsteps of other developed countries, Pakistan is working on strategies to adopt sustainable infrastructure models in its key metropolitan areas to prevent sprawling.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of vertical cities is absolutely in line with the sustainable development strategies. It emphasises the need for intelligently planned high-rise developments to make the most optimal use of the available land in a crowded city, preserving the natural environment in its surroundings.
All these developments have triggered a major real estate investment shift from plots to high-rises and other sustainable housing projects, paving the way for new and well-planned property trends that are going to modernise the cities we live in.
Top Real Estate Trends in Pakistan in 2022
Here are going to list down and discuss the most popular real estate trends in Pakistan that have also been approved and warmly welcomed by property investors and stakeholders of the development industry.
High-rise Buildings
If you want to take an up-close look at some of the tallest buildings in Pakistan, you need to head over to the country’s largest city, Karachi. It is a coastal metropolis that has recently transformed into a concrete jungle, where almost every other apartment project is now a 20- or 30-storey building. It is also home to Bahria Icon Tower—Pakistan’s tallest skyscraper that has 62 floors and a height of 273 metres.
Since development authorities in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad—Pakistan’s three most economically active cities—now allow high-rise construction, the skylines of these metropolises are rapidly transforming. The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) issued new guidelines favouring the construction of high-rises in the urban centres. It was followed by another major development when Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) issued similar amendments for its jurisdiction.
The city centres of these cities are now capable of providing housing to more people than ever before. It is because of these developments that a posh commercial and business centre in Lahore like Gulberg is drawing the attention of investors from all over the country. Another very prominent factor behind the growing popularity of high-rise buildings is that a majority of millennials in Pakistan prefer living in apartments. It is because apartments are cheaper than houses and also far easier to maintain, which naturally makes them a more attractive option.
An increase in high-rise construction has also benefited the construction and development sector. People who deal in raw materials are getting more business and labourers, architects and engineers are getting new employment opportunities. The property sector of Pakistan is also gearing up for the development of skyscrapers. Buildings crossing the height of 150 metres require ingenious construction and design solutions.
As discussed, Karachi’s skyline is dotted with many high-rise buildings and it is the very first city of Pakistan to host multiple completed and under-construction skyscrapers. To learn more about some of the tallest residential and corporate towers in Karachi, read our detailed blog on them.
Mixed-use developments
The concept of mixed-use construction has also been one of the most famous real estate trends in Pakistan in recent years. As the name suggests, it is a type of real estate development that hosts intelligently planned commercial, residential, and sometimes even corporate complexes under one roof.
Mixed-use complexes are usually found in vast and bustling urban centres of major metropolitan areas in the country. Another very prominent reason behind the immense popularity of this property trend in Pakistan is the availability of indoor facilities and a secure environment.
Lahore, which is the second-largest city in Pakistan, has become a hotspot for mixed-use construction. As of now, there are dozens of mixed-use buildings under construction in the city. To get more information on the best mixed-use projects in Lahore, read this blog.
Making the best and most intelligent use of the concept of mixed-use construction, Zameen Developments has launched a groundbreaking project in the capital city of Pakistan by the name of Zameen Ace Mall. Located at an ideal location of DHA Phase 2, it has become the most awaited project in Islamabad.
The construction of a large-scale project like Zameen Ace Mall is a strong indicator of the fact that the concept of mixed-use development has become one of the most promising property trends in Pakistan that will help us work on sustainable urbanism for the future of our cities.
Gated Communities
Along with high-rise apartments and mixed-use developments, the concept of gated residential communities is also thriving in Pakistan. Housing projects of Bahria Town in different parts of the country have converted the deserted suburbs of some of the major cities into serene yet ultramodern residential settlements. It won’t be wrong to say that Bahria Towns in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have (to some extent) laid the foundation of an ultramodern gated community living in Pakistan.
Keeping in view the increasing popularity of the concept of gated housing societies in the country, many investors and stakeholders have now shifted their focus towards this new and rapidly emerging property trend. Etihad Town in Lahore and Etihad Garden in Rahim Yar Khan are two of the finest examples in this regard. Like other large-scale housing developments in the country, these up-and-coming projects have also been equipped with all modern-day facilities and amenities. They are envisioned to offer you all the pros of living in a gated community.
Low-cost Housing
Owing to the immense population growth in recent years, Pakistan is now home to some of the most populous cities in the world. This has created a serious imbalance in the demand and supply of housing units in the country. In order to tackle the housing shortage, the government of Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan launched Naya Pakistan Housing Project (NPHP).
This government-funded affordable housing project has been launched nationwide. It aims to construct five million housing units and mostly targets people belonging to labour class, lower-middle-class, and middle-class families. Along with addressing the shortfall of housing units in the country, there are other many economical benefits of affordable housing schemes, read this blog to learn all about them.
Another very important development in this regard is the introduction of prefabricated homes. Also known as modular houses, these residential units are constructed in factories and are then transferred to their actual site. Pakistan has also launched a prefabricated housing plant recently, which will build housing units for NPHP.
“We are working on using prefabricated housing technology which has met quality standards and, apart from this, international contractors from China, Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are also showing interest because we need large scale manufacturers who will use the latest technologies to build houses in a short time,” said Mr. Zaigham Mehmood Rizvi to express his views on prefabricated houses while talking to Zameen Interviews.
Note: To learn about all the latest updates on Naya Pakistan Housing Project (NPHP), take a look at our detailed blog on this grand-scale development.
Villa-style Homes
Gone are the days when only large mansion-type living spaces were categorised as villas. Paying heed to sustainable development and construction practices, the size of homes has shrunk in recent years. Making the most intelligent use of living space, villa-style homes are now being constructed in almost every other housing scheme across the nation.
To ensure world-class and aesthetically pleasing urban arrangements, most of these housing units in a particular residential scheme have the same size and are uniformly designed with contemporary layouts.
It could be a one-level or a multiple storey structure surrounded by state-of-the-art neighbourhood amenities. In some of the major Pakistani cities, small-sized villas are now being included in well-planned gated communities to offer a luxurious and modern-day living experience on a budget.
Being developed across the country, villa-style homes are now among the hottest property trends in Pakistan — and rightfully so. From a highly secure environment to plush living experiences, you can have it all without spending a fortune while investing in modern-day villas.
Hotel/Serviced Apartments
Do you want to actually experience a five-star lifestyle? If your answer is yes, then you are in luck. In Pakistan, another rapidly emerging real estate trend is the development of hotel apartments and serviced apartments. Like other types of properties, they are now also found in almost every other major metropolitan area in the country.
There are many differences between hotel apartments and residential apartments. Well, the most prominent one among them is that hotel apartments are planned and designed to offer you an exquisite and well-facilitated lifestyle. You’d get a fully furnished living space with top-of-the-line concierge services. Sounds like a resort-like living experience with all modern-day conveniences, doesn’t it?
There are many different property developments taking place across the country that feature hotel apartments and serviced apartments that are envisioned to be managed by world-famous names in the hospitality industry, such as Radisson Hotel Group, Ramada Hotel & Suites, and the Swiss International Hotels & Resorts, to name a few.
Townhouses
The concept of a townhouse, which is often referred to as a townhome, is not new. There are many different countries around the world that have been building townhouses for centuries. However, this property trend is relatively new for our country.
The very basic concept of a townhouse goes perfectly in line with sustainable urban development. This type of property basically has a small footprint but to offer more living space, it features multiple storeys. Many new housing developments in the country are now introducing townhouses.
They not only give a residential scheme an ultramodern look but also promote the concept of community living. For instance, there could be dozens of such small-sized housing units on a single street, resulting in a more connected and socially active neighbourhood.
Townhouses planned with today’s architectural techniques feel no less than villa homes, especially if they boast grand layouts and contemporary finishes. Budget-friendly yet comfortable, a townhouse in a secure gated community could be a perfect abode for a small family.
Now that we have rounded up all the latest real estate trends in Pakistan, it’s time for us to wrap up. We hope this post has provided you with all the useful information on the subject. So, how do you think the aforementioned property trends in Pakistan will impact the national real estate sector? Share your thoughts with us by emailing us at blog@zameen.com.
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