The Defence Housing Authority, Islamabad-Rawalpindi (DHAI-R) () 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 fences ...

located within

Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area The Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area (Urdu:) is the fourth-largest metropolitan area of Pakistan, after Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. It consists of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The area includes the Pothohar Plateau ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. The neighbourhood is divided into five parts and straddles the

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

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 stat ...

' most posh residential neighbourhoods.

Subdivisions

Administration

Defence is headed by a serving brigadier of the

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ), commonly known as the Pak Army (), is the Land warfare, land service branch and the largest component of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The president of Pakistan is the Commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the army. The ...

under the Welfare and Rehabilitation Directorate.

Locations

Defence Phase I

Defence I is located within the

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

Soan River Soan River (; ), also Sawan, or Sohan, is a river in Punjab, Pakistan. It originates from the Murree Hills and joins the Indus River near Makhad. Oldest evidence of human activity in Pakistan has been found in the Soan River valley. The Soan Va ...

. A larger area acquired by the Defense Housing Authority just southwest of Phase I is named Sector F (formerly Phase 1 Extension) and covers a total of 16,750 Kanals (8.47 sq km).

Defence Phase II

Located near the Kahuta Triangle, with Potohar Avenue on its south end and

Islamabad Expressway The Islamabad Expressway (), sometimes also referred to as Islamabad Highway, is a major north–south expressway in Islamabad, Capital Territory, Pakistan. The expressway provides quick access between the Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Punjab, co ...

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 (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...

and

Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, third-largest city in the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is a commercial and industrial hub, being the list of cities in P ...

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

Overseas Pakistani Overseas Pakistanis (), or the Pakistani diaspora, refer to Pakistanis who live outside of Pakistan. These include citizens who have migrated to another country as well as people born abroad of Pakistani descent. According to a December 20 ...

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 Geography of Islamabad Populated places in Islamabad Capital Territory