Karachi Division

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Karachi is set to witness a major addition to its skyline as DHA City Karachi and ABS Developers have finalized an agreement for the development of Burj Quaid, an 82 storey high rise project planned within DHA City.
According to project details, Burj Quaid is expected to rise 941 feet above the ground, which would make it the tallest building in Pakistan once completed. The project will spread over nearly six acres and is expected to be completed within six years.
Officials associated with the development believe the project has the potential to strengthen Karachi’s commercial landscape, attract local and foreign investment, and support the growth of modern urban infrastructure in the city. The tower is being viewed as a landmark project that could further establish Karachi as a major centre for high rise and mixed use development in Pakistan.
The announcement comes at a time when interest in vertical development is increasing across major Pakistani cities, particularly Karachi and Islamabad, where land pressure and expanding commercial needs are pushing developers and public institutions toward high rise projects.
Earlier, the Pakistan Airport Authority revealed plans to construct what could become Islamabad’s tallest building in Blue Area. The authority intends to develop a multi storey aviation and commercial complex on its 9,000 square yard plot.
According to documents submitted to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, the proposed Aviation Complex will include airline headquarters, Pakistan Airport Authority offices, conference facilities, banks, food courts, hotel accommodation, an aviation museum, fitness and recreational facilities, and an art gallery.
Islamabad is already home to several prominent high rise projects. These include the under construction Garden Residential Apartment Project in F 10 Markaz, which is expected to stand 470 feet tall with 42 storeys. Other major towers in the capital include The Centaurus and One Constitution Avenue.
The planned Burj Quaid project, however, is expected to place Karachi at the forefront of Pakistan’s high rise development trend, marking a significant milestone in the country’s evolving real estate and urban infrastructure sector.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has directed all relevant civic and administrative authorities to accelerate coordinated anti-encroachment operations across the city, with a focus on clearing government land, improving traffic movement, and preventing further illegal occupation of public spaces.
The directives were issued during a review meeting on Thursday, where the commissioner instructed Deputy Commissioners, Town Municipal Administrations, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Anti Encroachment Department, police, traffic police, and other concerned agencies to work jointly against encroachments in different parts of Karachi.
According to an official statement, Commissioner Naqvi emphasized that encroachments on government land and public roads not only violate the law but also create serious traffic problems for citizens. He ordered authorities to remove existing illegal structures and roadside setups while ensuring that cleared areas are not occupied again.
He further directed officials to take legal action against those involved in encroachments and to strictly enforce relevant laws against repeated violations. Deputy commissioners from various districts also presented progress reports on ongoing anti encroachment operations during the meeting.
As part of the continuing campaign, Assistant Commissioner Shah Faisal Colony Abdul Sami carried out an operation at Badal Goth near Shahrah e Bhutto, where four illegally constructed houses were demolished. The operation was conducted jointly by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Anti-Encroachment Department, local police, traffic police, and operational staff from K-Electric to ensure smooth execution and avoid traffic disruption.
In District Korangi, Assistant Commissioner Model Colony Nade Ali led another operation from Malir Halt to Kala Board on the National Highway. With the support of municipal officials and police, authorities removed more than 15 fruit carts, juice stalls, and other roadside setups that were obstructing traffic flow.
Officials also warned encroachers that strict action would be taken in case of future violations, including fines and possible arrests.
Commissioner Karachi reiterated that anti-encroachment operations would continue across the city as part of a broader effort to protect government land, improve urban management, and ensure smoother movement of traffic for the public.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
Concerns have been raised over the design, traffic capacity and operational safety of Karachi’s newly opened Karimabad underpass, with transporters and urban planning experts warning that the project may face congestion and traffic management challenges despite being built to ease movement in the area.
The Karimabad underpass, constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.46 billion, stretches approximately 1,080 metres and is being described as Karachi’s longest tunnel-type underpass.
The project has been opened for traffic, but questions are now being raised over whether the structure can effectively handle the volume and type of traffic expected on the corridor.
Officials from the Karachi Development Authority said delays in the project were mainly caused by utility shifting work involving K-Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation. According to officials, relocation of utility services remained one of the key reasons behind the prolonged completion timeline.
However, representatives of the transport sector have warned that the project may not fully resolve traffic pressure in the area. Muhammad Ilyas of the Karachi Transport Alliance said congestion could worsen near Musa Colony and APWA Girls College due to narrow roads, roadside encroachments and the movement of Qingqi rickshaws, particularly along the Route 7C corridor.
Urban Resource Centre Joint Director Zahid Farooq also criticized the design of the underpass, saying the structure lacks an emergency lane despite its unusual length. He warned that even a single vehicle breakdown inside the underpass could block traffic completely and cause serious inconvenience for commuters.
KDA engineers acknowledged that only two heavy vehicles can pass through the underpass at the same time. They also confirmed that no dedicated emergency lane had been included in the design, citing limited available space as the main reason.
The concerns have sparked debate over the planning and long-term functionality of major urban infrastructure projects in Karachi. Transporters and urban experts argue that while underpasses and flyovers may provide short-term relief, poor design, encroachments, narrow approach roads and weak traffic management can undermine their effectiveness.
Experts said proper monitoring, removal of encroachments, regulation of slow moving vehicles and emergency response arrangements would be essential to ensure smooth traffic flow through the Karimabad underpass and prevent future gridlocks.