On this forum, I have noticed many doomsday scenario painters who believe that property is expensive even today and therefore prices should fall further; and based on my little exposure to the outside world, I believe that property in Pakistan is cheap and affordable. Many of you will still disagree with me and I would like to listen from you but before that, let me put forward my arguments and share my experiences:
1) I visited Mumbai in 2004; Owning a small flat there was a luxury. Owning a house was simply out of question. Only Shahrukh Khan owned a 1 or 2 Kanal bunglow and he bought it for 42 crore Indian rupees at that time. Every bollywood star, even Tendulkar could only afford a luxury apartment. The quality of life in Mumbai is comparable to Lahore if not worse. A 2-3 bedroom apartment in C-class areas would cost at least 2 crore Indian Rupees. Owning a Banglow is just unthinkable.
2) In US, I know some friends who have to pay around 5000 US Dollars per month in mortgage and that too for a small house which they will own after 25 years. It costs them nearly half of their salary (both members earning). In Western Europe, a small 1/2 bed room starts at 500,000 Euro (PKR 6 crore). I know some of you will disagree with a comparison to the developed world and thats why i gave example of Mumbai. And in West, even with higher salaries, people find it extremely difficult to own a shelter for themselves.
Here in Pakistan we discuss 500 sq yard plots and in the most posh localities with all infrastructure which are a luxury for the west.
DHA phase 9/10 (500 sq yards) costs 15000 Euros (which is equivalent of 5 months rent you would pay for a small apartment in Europe)
DHA 7 plot (500 sq yards) for 1.8 million Indian Rupees. Trust me you can't even get a toilet for that amount in Mumbai
I am strongly against speculative buying as it is haram and it fosters greed. But I do believe that we should see the brighter side of our existence and thank Allah that quality living is still affordable in Pakistan.
Please comment...
Ahsan replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 01:33 PM
While Comparing it with India rememer the following.
1.15 Billion population, with middle class almost 350million (twice the population of pakistan). 1.15billion people have three main cities where they want to live Bombay, Calcutta & Dehli. For pakistan's small population we also have three cities Karachi, lahore, Islamabad. This mismatch is drivig the price so high. Regarding europe/US comparison, there toilet clenar earn more than our average White coller person. If you have to compare then compare what percentage of salary goes to rent then compare it with pakistan situation. Such comparisons are done on the total income to disposable income. you cannot compare apples with oranges. |
Khawar replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 02:35 PM
> Regarding europe/US comparison, there toilet clenar earn more than our average White coller person (...in Pakistan)
Dear brother Ahsan, AOA. I hate to wake you up but most people living in Pakistan's posh areas like Defence are earning MUCH MUCH more than average White coller person in the west. Just go to Pakistan and count the BMWs and Land Cruisers on Defence Main Boulevard, and then ask yourself how many average White collar persons in the west can afford such luxurious life with 4+ average cars per house and 5+ average servants per house. Everyone enjoying latest models of mobiles and other luxuris. I get inferiority complex looking at the luxury my relatives can enjoy in Pakistan. Even some beggars and small shop keepers in Pakistan make more money than average Pakistanis working very hard abroad.
Pakistan is a huge country with huge population. Posh areas are for most elite class which is financially self sufficient. They are minority around 2 to 5 percent of the population but mind you 5 percent of the population is 9 million people. That is 90 Lakhs. And the total posh areas built are way less in proportion to support this population of 90 Lakhs.
In short there are at least 9 million people in Pakistan who can afford and enjoy much better life than your average White coller person in the west who along with his spouse has to work very hard to make ends meet, pay the mortgage, send kids to good schools and to make any savings have to limit any luxuries they come across. I hope you will no longer wonder how so many people in Pakistan can afford such high property prices. In fact these properties in posh areas are still very very cheap for 90 Lakh or 5% richest people of Pakistan.
Regards, |
Khawar replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 02:49 PM
And don't you worry about the upper middle class, middle class, lower middle and even poor class. Each class can buy property in their budget. On my recent visit to my parents in Pakistan. Their servant bought a 10 marla residential plot in a small town near his village around Sahiwal for just 30 thousand rupees (may parents paid 50% as advance). If you can afford more you can buy more expensive property. For 5% (90 Lakh) rich people their is still shortage of great real estate that they can very easily afford. |
tzk replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 04:00 PM
by the way garbage collectors here make close to doctors. Their income is in 6 figures |
Ahsan replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 06:04 PM
Why you think that whole pakistan lives in Deffence? Mostly people living in posh areas are business men not white coller. Regarding white coller earning more in pakistan u may be right. But like most pakistani europeans are are not show off type people niether they get jealous from seeing posh cars. Their system is such that they provide lots of benefits and in return they pay taxes. Even in Europe average earning people live in suburbs not in main cities to USD 5000 rent. |
Jameel replied on Monday, May 10, 2010 06:44 PM
I also think the property in Pakistan is cheaper at this time, In last 5 ys almost every ting has doubled but property is about same price in Down town and 50% cheaper in out skirts. This is human nature when its investment is not growing in months and at max year scale he becomes gloomy. |
Khawar replied on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 04:38 AM
> Why you think that whole pakistan lives in Deffence?
Please learn to read and then read my post again. I never said or implied that whole Paksitan lives in Defence. Answer the logic by logic, not by putting your words in others mouth. My point is very logical that top 5% populatin of Pakistan is very well off and that is not a small number.
5% of Pakistans population is 90 Lakhs. For that huge number the posh areas like Defence are still small. Even upper middle class and middle class which is another 300 to 400 lakhs can afford housing in decent areas like Bahria Town. And the lower middle class and poor can also afford housing in small towns and villages around big cities. Only problem is if you are poor and want to live inside of big cities. Even then you can easily rent in your budget at minimal rent. Rent is cheap because most people in Pakistan like to own and do not like to rent. They think renting as insult and only do it temporarily until they can make their own home.
Pakistan is a very worthy and resource rich country. If a few problems are solved there it is paradise on earth and only place on earth that Paksitanis can truly call Home. |
Apples v Oranges replied on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 04:34 PM
Dear Salman,
It is useful to compare like with like. As far as Mumbai is concerned it is the financial hubb of india. It makes more movies than the Hollywood. Its stock exchange is quoted in the Bloomberg. Phase 7 is in the development phase which means roads are being constructed on the agricultural fields. There are areas still occupied not just in phase 7 but also in phase 6.
As far as phase 9/10 is concerned a direct comparison would be not with the rent of downtown Madrid or London but with a comparaple field (which phase 9/10 is at this stage) in the remote areas of European countries. You can get agricultural land in uk for £2000 per acre. Agricultural acre in UK is 4840 sq yards which is more than 8 kanals.
Any sensible comparison should compare like with like and not apples with oranges!
KG |
kali cult replied on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 06:32 PM
This is why we made Pakistan.
India sucks. Have look at the quality of life of one of top Indinas who could actually afford being living in Bombay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlMFUUHjAtM |
PhD replied on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 01:37 AM
@ KG or Apples v Oranges
By your own notion it is stupid to compare on ground developed plots only 5 to 10 minutes away from the heart of Lahore Cantt and Mall road with remote agricultural lands of Europe that will remain agricultural lands for next hundred years. (Post edited by Moderator. Please mind your language.) |
Sarmad replied on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 06:36 AM
I agree that property is cheap in Lahore considering the buying power of elite class and upper middle class and also cosidering huge population, population growth rate and influx of people from smaller cities towards Lahore (and for that matter other big cities too). For example Lahore is a metorpolis with population of approximately 8 million people. In one or two decades it will be well over one crore.
I remember in early 2000s the area of Wapda Town Lahore and DHA Lahore phase 4 were deserted areas and now both are densly populated (look in Google earth, enen old images will show you number of houses). I also think that any average level businessman or tajir can easily afford to buy a 10 marla or one kanal house in any decent areas. In fact many people I know have more than one houses. And that not on 25 years mortgage they buy it on lump sum payments which shows that property is still cheap and quite in the reach for most people. I believe very few people in west can afford to own multiple houses with lump sum down payments. Most people who own their house have just one small house or condo on 25 or 30 years mortgage. |
ammadY replied on Monday, July 12, 2010 08:58 AM
wellll...
you people are only espying the elite one's and the established personnels.
did someone noticed about the LEFT 95%.
they would still not get able to buy a house in lahore in any way to live area not the posh one for many years.i am not including the rural rype suburbs of lahore but still the places for instance,where in tajpura cannt, a few years back,a number of children were drowned in a rain pool-plot just the sole rate for the 5 marla plot is 2million.i dont compare it from nowhere,but if you want to buy something cheaper you would have to go beyond jallo where there is no secuirity,facility and you would travel for the half of your life to reach your business spot or your office,do refer me someone who affords to pay 30000 monthly rent when the salary secured would be around 20000 which a white color men hardly makes to earn. |
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Omer replied on Friday, April 24, 2026 11:31 PM
Interesting perspective. You’re right that compared to cities like Mumbai or parts of Europe, Lahore property can look “cheap” on paper. But the bigger issue is local affordability, not just global comparison.
For most people in Pakistan, incomes are much lower, and financing options (like mortgages) are limited. So even if a plot looks inexpensive compared to abroad, it can still be out of reach for the average local buyer. That’s why many people feel property is expensive.
Another factor is speculation. Even if you’re against it, it has played a big role in pushing prices up, especially in areas like DHA. So prices don’t always reflect real demand or affordability.
In simple terms,
👉 Globally → looks cheap
👉 Locally → often feels expensive
Both views are valid depending on how you look at it.
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Aleena amair replied on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 11:50 AM
The comparison with Mumbai, the US, and Western Europe makes the post an interesting look at how property affordability was being viewed in Lahore at the time. I also found the distinction between genuine home ownership and speculative buying useful, since the author is not simply arguing that property should keep rising but is discussing affordability and quality of living. For readers in Pakistan also following education updates, <a href="https://12classresults.com/">BISE Bahawalpur 12th class result 2026</a> is a useful reference for board results and announcements. |
Aleena amair replied on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 11:50 AM
The comparison with Mumbai, the US, and Western Europe makes the post an interesting look at how property affordability was being viewed in Lahore at the time. I also found the distinction between genuine home ownership and speculative buying useful, since the author is not simply arguing that property should keep rising but is discussing affordability and quality of living. For readers in Pakistan also following education updates, <a href="https://12classresults.com/">BISE Bahawalpur 12th class result 2026</a> is a useful reference for board results and announcements. |
