Bahria Town

Bahria Town Private Limited.

Type	Private
Industry	Real estate, Gated community, Hospitality
Founded	Bahria Town Foundation
Founder(s)	Malik Riaz Hussain
Headquarters	Pakistan
Products	Town Commercial area Plots House Villa Restaurants Hotel Golf clubs Hospitals
Total assets	US$10.00 billion (2011)
Employees	21,000 (2011)
Website	http://www.bahriatown.com/

Bahria Town officially Bahria Town (Pvt) Ltd. is the largest real-estate developers and Investors in Pakistan and the largest private housing society in Asia.^[1] Bahria Town has establishments in Islamabad (Phase 2 to 7 and enclave) , Rawalpindi (Phase 1 and 8), Lahore, Murree and Karachi.^[2] Bahria Town is a mega gated community, worth $6 billion only in twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi where it is the original community with nine phases, which has a capacity of a planned residential city for 1 million people. The Town's offers amenities (24-hour armed security, schools, hospitals, a fire department, retail shopping, restaurants and entertainment centers).

Given the Pakistan's security issues, Bahria Town remain the safest place to live with a lower crime rate than other developments. Rival Pakistani developer, Defence Housing Authority, have built similar gated communities in the suburbs of major Pakistani cities such as Karachi. Bahria Town operate's Pakistan’s largest private sector fleet of heavy earth moving equipment and the service workshops. Bahria is also building the First Formula 1 racing track with full proof safety provided to Bahria Town residents. It employs over 20,000 workforce with. Recently Bahria Town announced its collaboration with Starwood Hotels for the opening the Sheraton Golf & Country Club, which would be the first of its kind in Pakistan. Malik Riaz Hussain, Founder and Chairman, is the force behind Bahria Town, started in the 1980s as a small-time contractor. As competitors targeted the rich, he built for the emerging middle class, becoming one of the wealthiest Pakistanis alive.^[3] In May 2012, Bahria Town won five awards at the Asia Pacific International Property Awards.^[4][5]

Bahria has been featured by international magazines and news agencies, refereed as the prosperous face of Pakistan. According to Emirates 24/7 Bahria Town is 'where Pakistan's new middle class takes refuge from the Taliban attacks and endless power cuts that plague the rest of the country.'^[6] GlobalPost claimed that in 2013, Bahria houses some 100,000 people in total.^[7] Newsweek calls it as Pakistan's Gateway to Paradise.^[8] On October 6, 2011, Los Angeles Times refereed Bahria as 'functioning state within a non-functioning one'.^[9] Regardless of that Bahria has been subject to controversies, it is refereed as a symbol of inequality, blamed for illegal encroachment of forests and unholy alliance with military.^[9]

Criticism

Eiffel Tower replica in Bahria Town Phase 8, Rawalpindi

Ayesha Siddiqa, a civilian military analyst and author of "Military Inc: Inside Pakistan Military Economy,"^[10] alleges that those links have allowed him to acquire land, in some cases returning a percentage to senior officers as developed plots.^[11] Chief Executive of Bahria Town, Ali Riaz Malik has submitted his statement regarding the Arsalan Iftikhar (son of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) suo moto case in the Supreme Court of Pakistan that Bahria Town was not behind any allegations against Arsalan and that the court’s proceedings were not aimed at investigating the affairs of Bahria Town. The written reply also said that if any statement were made against Bahria Town or against its administration, then the organisation would have the right to respond to it.^[12]

SECP Scrutiny

After concerns were raised about the operations of the company Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has started examination of accounts from the Bahria Town for examination and sought further details . The commission planned to scrutinise accounts of all the real estate companies and process would be started with the Bahria Town, largest housing construction concern in the country. An examination letter seeking details of accounts was already sent to the Bahria Town. Bahria Town being un-listed company is also required to submit details of its accounts to ensure transparency in business transactions, explained the sources. Examination of accounts of selected companies is under taken by SECP but due to lack of staff all the companies could not be covered every year. ^[13]

Flagship Projects

Bahria Town Karachi

Bodha Island City

On March 11, 2013, Bahria Town signed a joint venture by the companies of Thomas Kramer. To sign the country’s first ever safe city – Bodha Island City –, a team comprising Thomas Kramer, his legal advisers and other experts has landed in Islamabad in the night between Sunday and Monday by Etihad Airlines. The two sides discussed details of the agreement for the project, they have formally signed an agreement at Bahria Town.^[14] Sunday Bodha Island City would be developed 3.5 km off the coast of Karachi on Bodha Bundal Island at a cost of $15–20 billion. A spokesman for the Bahria Town said the project called Bodha Island City would be developed within a period of five to 10 years.^[15] He said the project would comprise, Net City, Education City, Health City, Port City and other infrastructure projects. He said the worlds’ most modern shopping mall would also be built on the Island City, which would deal with international brands. According to reports, the Island City would be linked with Karachi through a six-lane bridge. According to the agreement the safe city will have its own water and power. He said sea water will be made drinkable through a modern treatment plant and the safe city will generate energy for its 100 per cent needs on its own. Also 2.5 million jobs will be created by this Bodha island project and the island will have 125,000 houses and its population will be one million.^[16] The global attractions of the project also comprises world's tallest building.^[17] 12,000 acres of land has been acquired to develop the city.^{[18] [19] [20]}

Bahria Icon Tower, Karachi

Bahria Icon Tower is a skyscraper under construction in Karachi by Bahria Town. The skyscraper after its completion, would be the tallest building in Pakistan. The project was initiated in 2008 after the approval of KBCA and the excavation. Creation of haul routes and foundation works have been undertaken. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The Bahria Town Icon Tower is a multi use commercial building project. It will be 853 ft. tall and is being constructed on a 1.45 hectares (3.58 acres) area plot located opposite to the Bin Qasim Park in Clifton, Karachi. The structure has been designed as a skyscraper with seven basement parking floors, split upper and lower ground floors and 59 office tower floors. ArcelorMittal provides sections, decking and their expertise in steel construction. Around 2000 tn of W sections and 72 000 sqm of decking will be supplied by ArcelorMittal for this iconic skyscraper in Pakistan’s largest city.^[21]

Opal 225 Karachi

Located opposite Avari Towers Hotel, located between Raja Ghazanfar Ali Road and Dr. Daud Pota Road. Opal 225 is a complex of modern mix-used buildings including residential and commercial facilities. It will include apartments, office spaces, shopping mall and a five star hotel, along with movie theater and a spa. It will have 45 stories and will be complete by 2017.^[22][23]

Hoshang Pearl Tower, Karachi

On January 18, 2013, 42-floor Hoshang Tower project was approved by Sindh High Density Development Board. The tower, which costs an estimated Rs 2 billion, is under construction on Hoshang Road. It will be 2.24 million square-feet wide and around 130 meters tall. The building will have three basements and nine parking floors. Bahria Town owns and is building the structure.^[24][25]

Bahria Enclave Islamabad

Bahria Enclave Islamabad is a housing scheme launched by Bahria Town in July 2011. It is located approximately 8 km (15 minutes) drive from Chak Shahzad, the Park Road & the Kuri Road with access from Kashmir Highway, Lehtrar Road & Islamabad Highway. On January 31, 2012, Capital Development Authority approved the plan for development of Jinnah Avenue in Zone-IV.^[26] The construction project of four-lane road would link main Kuri Road to Kuri Model Village and is awarded to Bahria Town.

Islamabad, May 2, 2013: Bahria Town has signed an MOU agreement with PTCL. As per this agreement PTCL would deploy fiber optic cables in Bahria Enclave within three months time, providing each resident of Bahria Enclave with high speed internet with a bandwidth of 100mb and value added services like telephone, smart TV and VOIP.^[27]

Mall of Lahore

The Mall of Lahore is a large, state-of-the-art multi-purpose shopping mall complex in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan consisting of a wide range of designer brand outlets. With an area of 650,000 square feet, and over 70 stores, it is the largest shopping complex in Lahore and also one of Pakistan's largest. The shopping centre is a project of the real estate company Bahria Town.^[28] The Chief Executive Officer of this mall is Ali Ahmad Riaz Malik. The location of Mall of Lahore is central. It is conveniently accessible by people of Lahore. The presence of various domestic and international brands make it an attraction and a 'must-visit' by visitors from other cities. Security is tightly maintained and that is a driving place for families to stop and shop, unlike open shopping areas in other parts of Lahore.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34][35]}

Electricity

Unlike other housing societies in Pakistan Bahria produces its own electricity and sells it to its resident through the Bahria Town Electric Supply Company. Bahria Town projects in Rawalpindi and Lahore were running respectively 12 and 9 megawatts of generation units of their own. Bahria Town also has constructed 3 grid stations with its own resources and also provides underground lines to its residents.There is no load shedding in Bahria Town projects.^[36]

All Bahria Town projects: Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Completed Projects

On-going Projects

• Bahria Golf City
• Sheraton Golf & Country Club^[37]
• Sheraton Hotel Islamabad
• Bahria Garden City, Rawalpindi
• Bahria Hamlets
• Awami Villas 3,5,6

All Bahria Town projects: Lahore

Completed Projects

• Executive Lodges
• Canal View Residency
• Mall of Lahore

On-going Projects

• Bahria Orchard^[38]

Future projects

• Bahria Garden City
• Bahria Paradise
• Bahria Nasheman
• Bahria Golf City
• Sheraton Golf & Country Club
• Sheraton Hotel
• Ahram-e-Misr
• Oasis

See also

• Bahria Enclave Islamabad
• Developments in Islamabad

References

External links

• Bahria Town official site
• Bahria Town Lahore: Bahria Orchard
• Bahria Town Lahore: Overseas Enclave
• Bahria Town wins five international property awards