The Defence Housing Authority, Islamabad (DHA Islamabad) ( ur, ) is an affluent residential neighbourhood or a

gated community A gated community (or walled community) is a form of residential community or housing estate containing strictly controlled entrances for pedestrians, bicycles, and automobiles, and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fence ...

located within

Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area The Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area (Urdu:) is 3rd largest metropolitan area of Pakistan after Karachi and Lahore. It consists Pakistan of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, along with several gated suburbs include Chaklala Ca ...

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

. The neighbourhood is divided into five parts and straddles the

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprisin ...

provincial border. This neighbourhood was primarily established for military personnel in 1992 by the Armed Forces of Pakistan Welfare Department, however, currently both civilian and military families reside there. Today, DHA, Islamabad serves as one of the

twin cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...

' most posh residential neighbourhoods.

Subdivisions

Administration

Defence is headed by a serving brigadier of the

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the Partition of British India, which occurred as a result ...

under the Welfare and Rehabilitation Directorate.

Locations

Defence Phase I

Defence I is located within the

between

N-5 National Highway The N-5 or National Highway 5 (Urdu: ) is a 1819 km national highway in Pakistan, which extends from Karachi in Sindh to Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Route The N-5 is the longest national highway in Pakistan and serves as an import ...

and Bahria Town Phase VII & VIII. This subdivision on its southwest abuts

Soan River The Soan River ( ur, ), also referred to as the Swan, Sawan, or Sohan, is a river in Punjab, Pakistan. Location and geography The Soan River is a stream in the Pothohar or North Punjab region of Pakistan, and drains much of the water of Pot ...

. A larger area acquired by the Defense Housing Authority just southwest of Phase I is named Phase I Extension and covers a total of 16,750 Kanals (8.47 sq km).

Defence Phase II

Located in Islamabad near the Kahuta Triangle, with

on its south end and

Islamabad Expressway The Islamabad Expressway ( ur, ), sometimes Islamabad Highway) is a major north-south expressway in Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan. The expressway provides quick access between Islamabad and Rawalpindi, connecting the national capital w ...

on its North. The project was commenced in February 1994.

Defence Valley

Launched on 18 August 2008, it is located adjacent to Defence Phase II.

Commercial zones

All phases have commercial zones.

Real estate

DHA is regarded as one of the most expensive communities in the twin cities of

Islamabad Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital T ...

and

Rawalpindi Rawalpindi ( or ; Urdu, ) is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad, and third largest in Punjab after Lahore and Faisalabad. Rawalpindi is next to Pakistan's ...

. Real estate in Pakistan underwent a boom during the early and mid 2000s when

Overseas Pakistani Overseas Pakistanis ( ur, ), or the Pakistani diaspora, refers to Pakistani people who live outside of Pakistan. These include citizens that have migrated to another country as well as people born abroad of Pakistani descent. According to th ...

s started sending substantial amounts of their savings back home after 9/11. As of 2019, statistics reveal that an average 500 yards plot in ''DHA Islamabad'' is priced between ₨''20-25'' million. Pakistan's leading property portal " Zameen" reported in February 2013 that property for rent and sales in Defence have performed phenomenally well.

References

External links

DHA Islamabad official website

Habib Rafiq (Pvt.) Limited official website
{{Neighbourhoods of Islamabad Islamabad Populated places in Islamabad Capital Territory