Defence Housing Authority, Lahore
Encyclopedia
The Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Lahore is a housing society located in southern Lahore
, Pakistan
. It was originally built for army officers, but is now a popular destination for potential residents and businessmen. DHA is a popular residential area, mainly for the affluent of Pakistan.
The Defence Housing Authority is one of the most developed and high-end living areas in the country. Since the late 1990s, this once army-controlled area has attracted various 'elite' residents, such as celebrities, top military officials, politicians and many foreigners of Pakistani descent. It is also the home of LUMS University (Lahore University of Management Sciences
), a prestigious institution of higher learning with international recognition. The community also hosts many Western amenities including a number of McDonald's, Subways, Dunkin Donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, which have served as a convenience for many foreign visitors.
Often deemed "The New Rich", the Defence Housing Authority is a community known for its upscale shops, corporate offices, vibrant social life, and literate elite. Residential homes in the area start at around Rs 20 million (UK £150,000) and go up' to Rs 25 crore (UK £2,000,000) and above. Private school tuition rates have increased in recent years. The area is maintained by private developers and the park upkeep has become the sole responsibility of the DHA management.
Furthermore, the area has also undergone extensive gentrification, bringing in a more wealthy base.
During the past five years, developers have claimed extraterritorial land, which has increased new development in the area. New developments include a world-class golf resort in partnership with Bandar Raya
of Malaysia and a shopping and office complex in partnership with Global Haly of the United Kingdom.
DHA encompasses two famous shopping centres, known as the 'Y-block' market and the 'H-block' market, which hold all kinds of Western to Continental food shops, cafes, hospitals, fitness clinics, gyms and gift shops.
Two international standard sports complexes have been planned in the area and construction has started on the projects as of 2011.
, Hardees , Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut
to upper-scale restaurants specialising in Pakistani and Western cuisine. The 'Food Street' situated in the 'H-Block' market is home to many local small-scale restaurants and takeaways providing countless cuisines; the famous ones are Cock & Bull (famous for its chicken cheese shewarma) and Karachi Hot'n'Spicy (for Pakistani cuisine). Besides the larger restaurants, DHA is full of small cafes which offer a nice atmosphere to chill out, such as Jammin Java, The Hot Spot, Masoom's Pancake Lounge and Gloria Jean's Cafe.
DHA is home to various educational institutes, including LUMS University
(Lahore University of Management Sciences) and the Lahore School of Economics
(LSE). Other institutes in the DHA include Ibn-e-Sina College (named after the philosopher
), the Lahore Alma School, and Lahore Grammar School
, which has branches all over Lahore. The Beaconhouse School System operates a branch here.
An elite Kids Campus, DHA Kindergarten and Defence Degree Colleges for boys and girls are also present.
Constituency PP-155
and National Assembly Constituency NA-125. The sitting Member of NA-125 is Khawaja Saad Rafique
(PML-N
); the sitting MPA of Constituency PP-155
is Mian Naseer Ahmed (PML-N
).
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It was originally built for army officers, but is now a popular destination for potential residents and businessmen. DHA is a popular residential area, mainly for the affluent of Pakistan.
The Defence Housing Authority is one of the most developed and high-end living areas in the country. Since the late 1990s, this once army-controlled area has attracted various 'elite' residents, such as celebrities, top military officials, politicians and many foreigners of Pakistani descent. It is also the home of LUMS University (Lahore University of Management Sciences
Lahore University of Management Sciences
The Lahore University of Management Sciences, usually referred to by its acronym LUMS, is a university located in Lahore, Pakistan. LUMS was established in 1984 by a group of industrialists and people belonging to Pakistan's leading private and public sector corporations, to provide rigorous...
), a prestigious institution of higher learning with international recognition. The community also hosts many Western amenities including a number of McDonald's, Subways, Dunkin Donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, which have served as a convenience for many foreign visitors.
Often deemed "The New Rich", the Defence Housing Authority is a community known for its upscale shops, corporate offices, vibrant social life, and literate elite. Residential homes in the area start at around Rs 20 million (UK £150,000) and go up' to Rs 25 crore (UK £2,000,000) and above. Private school tuition rates have increased in recent years. The area is maintained by private developers and the park upkeep has become the sole responsibility of the DHA management.
Furthermore, the area has also undergone extensive gentrification, bringing in a more wealthy base.
During the past five years, developers have claimed extraterritorial land, which has increased new development in the area. New developments include a world-class golf resort in partnership with Bandar Raya
Bandar Raya Developments Berhad
Bandar Raya Developments Berhad is a prominent property developer company in Malaysia.-Commercial Centres:*Bangsar Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur*CapSquare, Kuala Lumpur...
of Malaysia and a shopping and office complex in partnership with Global Haly of the United Kingdom.
DHA encompasses two famous shopping centres, known as the 'Y-block' market and the 'H-block' market, which hold all kinds of Western to Continental food shops, cafes, hospitals, fitness clinics, gyms and gift shops.
Two international standard sports complexes have been planned in the area and construction has started on the projects as of 2011.
Health care
The main hospital situated in the heart of DHA is one of the best hospitals in Lahore; it is a private hospital called The National Hospital. Alternative hospitals within easy reach of DHA can be found on the Defence Main Boulevard (the road leading to the main DHA entrance). In addition to the hospitals, small clinics can be found in markets all over. Many pharmacies can also be found scattered throughout.Food
DHA, like the rest of Lahore, is overflowing with food lovers and has a lot of variety of foods on offer, from fast food chains such as McDonald'sMcDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, Hardees , Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
to upper-scale restaurants specialising in Pakistani and Western cuisine. The 'Food Street' situated in the 'H-Block' market is home to many local small-scale restaurants and takeaways providing countless cuisines; the famous ones are Cock & Bull (famous for its chicken cheese shewarma) and Karachi Hot'n'Spicy (for Pakistani cuisine). Besides the larger restaurants, DHA is full of small cafes which offer a nice atmosphere to chill out, such as Jammin Java, The Hot Spot, Masoom's Pancake Lounge and Gloria Jean's Cafe.
Education
Lahore University of Management Sciences
The Lahore University of Management Sciences, usually referred to by its acronym LUMS, is a university located in Lahore, Pakistan. LUMS was established in 1984 by a group of industrialists and people belonging to Pakistan's leading private and public sector corporations, to provide rigorous...
(Lahore University of Management Sciences) and the Lahore School of Economics
Lahore School of Economics
The Lahore School of Economics was established in 1993 and chartered by the Government of Punjab in January 1997, through The Lahore School of Economics Act 1997 . It is based in the city of Lahore, Pakistan....
(LSE). Other institutes in the DHA include Ibn-e-Sina College (named after the philosopher
Avicenna
Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sīnā , commonly known as Ibn Sīnā or by his Latinized name Avicenna, was a Persian polymath, who wrote almost 450 treatises on a wide range of subjects, of which around 240 have survived...
), the Lahore Alma School, and Lahore Grammar School
Lahore Grammar School
Lahore Grammar School is a group of private fee-paying group of academic institutions based in city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The system was established, in January 1979, at its 55 Main Gulberg campus. The institution provides education to both boys and girls until A Level...
, which has branches all over Lahore. The Beaconhouse School System operates a branch here.
An elite Kids Campus, DHA Kindergarten and Defence Degree Colleges for boys and girls are also present.
Politics of DHA
DHA houses 32,000 registered voters and a large part of Provincial AssemblyProvincial Assembly of the Punjab
The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the province of Punjab, which is located in Lahore in eastern Pakistan...
Constituency PP-155
Constituency PP-155
-Brief introduction:There are 9 union councils in the Provincial Assembly Constituency.Each union council consists of 15,000 to 20,000 registered voters...
and National Assembly Constituency NA-125. The sitting Member of NA-125 is Khawaja Saad Rafique
Khawaja Saad Rafique
Khawaja Saad Rafique is a Pakistani politician hailing from Punjab. He is an active central leader of PML-N. He has been elected as Member of the Pakistan National Assembly since 2002 and was reelected in the Pakistani General Election in 2008...
(PML-N
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
); the sitting MPA of Constituency PP-155
Constituency PP-155
-Brief introduction:There are 9 union councils in the Provincial Assembly Constituency.Each union council consists of 15,000 to 20,000 registered voters...
is Mian Naseer Ahmed (PML-N
Pakistan Muslim League (N)
The Pakistan Muslim League is a conservative political party in Pakistan, affiliated with Western conservatism...
).