Defence Housing Authority, Karachi

Defence Housing Authority

A Mosque in DHA Karachi
Location	South Karachi
Status	Completed
Opening	1980
Use	Residential
Website	www.dhakarachi.org
Companies
Owner	Government of Pakistan
Technical details
Buildings	13,868 Residential 2,805 Commercial
Size	8,852 acres (35.82 Sq km)
No. of residents	660,931

The Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, also known as the Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority or DHA, is an upscale real estate and property development organisation administered by the Pakistan Army which develops housing for current and retired military personnel. It is a suburban Housing development in metropolitan Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

DHA Karachi was originally established by retired servicemen from the armed forces in the mid-fifties as a cooperative housing society. The office was inaugurated by Rear Admiral Haji Mohammad Siddiq Chaudhry, the first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of the Pak Navy. In 1981, under the orders of then President of Pakistan Gen Zia-ul Haq, it was taken over by the government and was put under the control of the Corps Commander Karachi. The The Authority came into existence through Presidential Order No.7 of 1980 and was later approved by the National Assembly of Pakistan. The Authority is spread over 8,852 acres (35.82 km²) and provides civic facilities to millions of residents. The efforts to develop DHA have been fruitful, signified by growth oriented high class living values The housing projects are planned to cover every aspect of healthy living and contain parks, educational institutions and clubs. The organizational matters are attended by Secretary, Chief Engineer, Directors and a committed and work force to ensure smooth running of the organization.

The functioning of the Authority is vested in the two bodies: the Governing body headed by Secretary Ministry of Defence and Executive Board Headed by the Corps Commander Posted at Karachi. The Executive Board exercises all administrative, executive and financial powers and does all acts and things which may be exercised or done by the Authority. The Administrator is the Executive Head of the Authority and exercises all executive powers, delegation or otherwise, in accordance with the policy laid down by the Governing Body and the directions or decisions of the Executive Board.

There are six main systems of streets and lanes in DHA: the normal streets and lanes, found in Phase IV, V, VI, VII and VIII; the commercial streets and lanes, found in Phase IV; the Gizri streets and lanes, found in Phase IV; the Zamzama streets, found in Phase V; the South/Central/North streets, found in Phase I, Phase II and Phase II extension; and the Sunset streets and lanes, found in Phase II and Phase II extension.