Defence Housing Authority, also known as DHA, is a housing scheme located on the southern side of Karachi, adjacent to Clifton. Real estate in Defence spans approximately 8,797 acres and houses around 81,489 members. Initially, the society was planned to house retired military personnel, exclusively. However, wealthy civilians have gained access to DHA’s property market over the years. This is one of the reasons why the price of rental property in DHA is comparatively higher than the rest of Karachi. You will find both high-rise and low-rise apartment buildings here.
DHA Defence provides you with several options to choose from when it comes to renting an apartment. Flats, here are mostly rented by those who can’t afford to buy property in this upscale area. Tenants can either get a flat in any of the older phases or can go for the newer, more luxurious, ones. DHA offers a wide variety in this regard; you just need to be sure of your budget. If your family is small, then you can start by exploring 2-bedroom rental flats. The bedroom count can increase to 3, 4 and, sometimes, even five.
The best thing is you can easily rent a property within your budget in Karachi, as the rent of flats depends on the condition and location of the unit within a particular phase. If the flat isn’t well maintained, then the price will be low. The rent of a 2-bedroom can be somewhere between PKR 20 thousand to PKR 70 thousand. The rent for 3 bed flats could vary from PKR 30 thousand to PKR 2.25 lakh and for a 4-bedroom flat, the rent price may vary from PKR 50 thousand to PKR 3 lakh.
All the facilities in the area are mainly handled by Cantonment Board Clifton. They are responsible for the roads, horticulture, mosques, parks, libraries and clubs in the area. The most famous parks in DHA Defence are Nisar Shaheed Park, Major Khalid Shaheed Park, Sea View Park, and Zamzama Park. Since a lot of important public figures reside in Defence, the police make sure residents are provided security round the clock. However, most of the building owners have privately-hired security guards. You might face water and electricity problems in some phases, but these issues can be resolved by ordering water tankers and buying electricity backups such as UPS and generators.
Access to good schools is one of the highlights of Defence Housing Authority. The most prominent schools in the area include British Overseas School, Beaconhouse School, Model Public School, The City School, and Lahore Grammar School. Universities in DHA also receive a large number of admissions every year. Some important names in this regard are DHA Suffa University, Greenwich University, and Iqra University.
In the healthcare sector, DHA provides top-notch facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to patients who visit hospitals in the area from across Karachi. The most-recommended names are Boulevard Hospital, PNS Shifa Hospital, Chinese Hospital, Sir Syed Hospital, and Arif Defence Medical Centre.
DHA is dotted with dozens of malls and local markets. Some feature high-end brands while others offer good bargains. The most famous malls of DHA are Defence Mall, Zamzama Mall, and Forum Mall. You can also head to Ocean Mall and Dolmen Mall located in Clifton. The food scene is also quite active in DHA, ranging from desi dhabas to expensive cafes. Yaki, Loco, Do Darya, Thyme, Rowtisserie, and Café Aylanto are a few of the most popular restaurants in Defence.
DHA is one of the country’s most affluent housing schemes with brilliantly planned facilities. The concentration of the city’s wealthy population resides in this area, which makes it one of the most exclusive housing schemes as well. The neighbourhood has a lot to offer in terms of amenities. You will find many of Karachi’s upscale restaurants, retail brands, parks, malls, and clubs here. Furthermore, schools and hospitals in the area are also some of the best in the city. This is why DHA is the dream destination for most homebuyers and tenants in Karachi.