Secure investment: Property prices boom in ‘safe’ Lahore

Migration from Karachi, other cities on rise.


Shahram Haq August 29, 2011

LAHORE:


The real estate market, particularly in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), is booming again as worried citizens of Karachi and tax evaders are buying property in the city.


The price of a one-kanal plot in DHA has risen by up to Rs3 million in the last two months, real estate agents told The Express Tribune. They attributed the increase to two factors: one, people in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, concerned about deteriorating law and order, are moving to Lahore as it is perceived to be safer; and two, tax evaders trying to hide their assets from the Federal Board of Revenue’s increased scrutiny are shifting their money to the poorly regulated property market.

Lahore’s real estate market had been performing poorly since the end of the last boom in 2005. There had been price rises, but only artificial ones fuelled by speculators looking to make a quick profit on properties by selling them on after a few months. “Artificial rises are driven by investors who buy on small advance payments and then sell shortly after. Now we’re seeing a lot more regular transfers,” said one agent.

Mian Talat, president of the DHA Dealers Association, said that there had been major investment in the housing society from Karachi and other areas where the security situation was poor. “The law and order situation in Lahore is still better than other parts of the country. Eighty per cent of people who choose DHA do so because it is safer here and the infrastructure is good, especially after the Northern Loop of the Ring Road was finished. Other housing societies have not had as much interest,” he said.

Talat said that Lahore was undergoing the most significant investment in real estate since 2005 and it would continue until the elections. He said that the government should give the real estate sector the status of an industry, as more than 120 industries, like construction, depended on it. Mian Oneeb, another real estate agent, said that many tax evaders were also shifting their assets to real estate as the sector was badly regulated. “The investor can transfer their plots to a relative so it is not listed as their asset and they are not taxed on it,” he said.

He said the demand for rented accommodation had also increased as families from other parts of the country were shifting to Lahore, he said. “The city will see a huge increase in population in the coming years because of migration,” Oneeb added.

Nisar Ali Memon, who ran a successful wholesale shoe business in Karachi for several years, sat in a real estate agent’s office in DHA on Saturday. “It’s becoming harder and harder to survive in Karachi,” he said. “I decided to shift to Lahore because of pressure from my family. I have business links here so it shouldn’t be too difficult for me.” Memon said he had bought a plot in DHA Phase 6 on which he would build a house. He was now looking for some land on the outskirts of Lahore to set up a factory and for a rented house so his family could shift to Lahore immediately. “There are many other industrialists looking to move from Karachi,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th,  2011.

COMMENTS (2)

Mobeen | 12 years ago | Reply

All transactions are recorded, and hefty fees for transfer is paid to DHA, FBR and Punjab goverment. Buyer and seller complete information is provided to all federal and government departments. Photographs and electronic thumb prints are taken of the buyer and seller.

There is nothing hidden. Real estate is very regulated specially in DHA There is wrong perception that black money is moving into this segment.

Unregulated industries are sugar, broiler flocking, wheat, rice, etc , where hoarders are milking the economy, thousands of investors purchase delivery orders, there is no record, no evidence of such transactions, the result of which is high tax evasion and high inflation.

The fact is everyone living in Pakistan is living for themselves and not for Pakistan.

All governments past and present had/have the opportunity, capacity, capability to fix things, but none had/had the desire , will , urge or even think on these lines,

Instead of holding others accountable, we should hold our self accountable each day we live

R. Khan | 12 years ago | Reply

Only Kidnapers & Kidnapee will stay back in Karachi!

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