DHA Karachi Guide: Phases 1 to 8, DHA City and How Leases Work

DHA Karachi, formally the Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority, is the city's best-known address: eight phases of planned streets, commercial areas and seafront between Korangi Road and the Arabian Sea. It began in the 1950s as a cooperative society of retired servicemen and became a statutory authority under Presidential Order No. 7 of 1980 (background). Today most residents are civilian families. This guide explains how the phases differ, who administers what, and what to check before buying. It was written in October 2026 and does not quote prices; see current asking prices on our Karachi property prices page.

The phases at a glance

Development started in Phase I and spread east and south to Phase VIII. Each phase is divided into blocks or streets around its own commercial area and parks. The authority covers about 8,850 acres.

Phase	Character
Phase I and II	The oldest, fully built phases near Korangi Road; Masjid-e-Tooba is in Phase II
Phase IV and V	Established residential phases; Zamzama, the upscale shopping and dining street, is in Phase V
Phase VI	A large, central phase and DHA's busiest commercial hub
Phase VII and its extension	Newer residential blocks; the Phase VII extension is a separate block from Phase VII itself
Phase VIII	The sea-facing phase and the last to be developed, so it still has more open plots

Browse live listings by phase: houses in Phase 6, flats in Phase 8, or all houses for sale in DHA Karachi.

DHA City Karachi is a different place

DHA City Karachi is a separate, newer DHA project in Malir District on the M-9 motorway, north of the city and close to Bahria Town Karachi. It is not part of the established phases, and its development and possession status are on a different timeline. Some listings shorten both to "DHA", so check which one an ad means before comparing prices. Our Bahria Town Karachi guide covers the same corridor.

Who runs what: DHA, the Cantonment Board and the MEO

The phases sit inside Clifton Cantonment. The Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) handles municipal services and charges, while DHA is the development and administrative authority. Built properties move from DHA's Sub-Lease 'A' to a 99-year 'B' or 'C' lease executed by the Military Estate Office (MEO). That is why a transfer of a leased house in DHA passes through the CBC, the MEO and then DHA, each with its own fees and a no-demand certificate for dues. Our guide to leased vs non-leased property in Karachi explains the documents.

Plot sizes in square yards

Residential plots in DHA Karachi range from about 1,361 sq ft to about 10,890 sq ft. On the market you will mostly see these sizes, quoted in square yards (gaz):

• 300 sq yd houses in DHA
• 500 sq yd houses in DHA (one kanal at 225 sq ft per marla)
• 1,000 sq yd houses in DHA (two kanal)

Use the area converter to switch between square yards, marla and square feet.

Checks before you buy in DHA Karachi

1. Confirm the lease stage. Is the property on Sub-Lease 'A' (usually an empty plot) or a 'B'/'C' lease (built)? It changes the transfer route and fees.
2. Get dues statements from DHA and the CBC; the transfer needs a no-demand certificate.
3. Check approved building plans for any extensions or extra floors, especially in older phases.
4. For flats in high-rises, confirm the building's completion and that sub-leases are being registered.
5. Make sure the listing is DHA Defence, not DHA City, if that is what you are paying for.

Comparing areas? See Bahria Town vs DHA and the best areas to invest in Karachi.