The final master plan of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) City Karachi, an upcoming residential-cum-commercial project along the Superhighway, was unveiled in a special meeting of the DHA Executive Board, chaired by its president, Lt Gen Zahirul Islam, on Monday.
According to a statement issued by the DHA, the Executive Board appreciated the DHA City Karachi’s master plan and the development strategy, prepared by a consortium of leading national and international firms including Doxiadis of Greece, RMJM of the UK and the local Osmani and Company, according to international engineering and architectural standards.
The project is spread over an area of 11,640 acres and was conceived in 2005. The balloting for more than 27,000 residential and commercial plots was held in end 2009.
The master plan was prepared in a record period of 12 months and it comprehensively caters to the needs and aspirations of its prospective residents.
The DHA City Karachi model showcases high quality of living for its residents that would potentially serve as a model Pakistani city of the 21st century, the DHA said in the statement.
DHA Administrator Brig Aamer Raza Qureshi informed the Executive Board that the city will be ready in three or four years and a development strategy has been formulated including an immediate action plan to make the project’s site operational by 2012. The short-term development plan including primary infrastructure and facilities development would be implemented by 2015. The mid-term development plan will by executed by 2020 and the long-term development plan including complete development and consolidation of area would be carried out by 2030.
DHA Executive Board President Lt Gen Zahirul Islam commended the efforts of the experts of the consortium of town planning firms for completing the master plan model in a professional manner.
DHA City Karachi Chief Concept Adviser Dr Spyridon Pollalis presented the sustainability features of the master plan including sector-level planning (residential, commercial and community facilities), details of downtown and gateway district and infrastructure plans (transportation, water, energy and other plans).
“A holistic plan for sustainable energy has been developed, emphasising on energy conservation and efficiency, along-with use of renewable energy sources including solar, wind and bio mass etc,” he added.
DHA City Karachi Project Team Leader Arif Osmani said that project has been planned as the first sustainable and green city of the country.
“Ingredients such as mixed use districts, neighbourhoods, green spaces, community level facilities, educational centres together with sports centres, theme parks, efficient transportation system and sustainable housing etc constitute the quality that will weave DHA City Karachi’s urban tissues,” he added.
He also elaborated project’s transportation strategy that includes development of dedicated walk, cycling and mass transit track in addition to an Aashto based road network to support and promote a sustainable transportation system.
DHA City Karachi Project Director Brig (retd) Muhammad Rafique said that security of the area is an integral feature of master plan that includes physical as well as digital security measures including electronic surveillance of the area.
“A number of options for minimising the distance of DCK to the metropolis including provision of direct fastest possible access from DCK to Karachi including rail access are on the anvil,” he added.
