CBD Commercial (Central Business District) – DHA City Karachi

What You’ll Find in CBD Commercial

The CBD Commercial District in DHA City is a key urban core area, divided into distinct zones with specific functions and plot types.

Northern Triangle: District Business (DB) & District Culture (DC)

This is the triangle-shaped portion located in the northern part of the CBD, situated directly above the District Market (DM) zone.

Key Features

• Main Roads: Bounded by Main Boulevard (West PA-20D and East PA-20C).

• Bounded By Sectors: Adjacent to Sectors 5C, 5D, 6A and 6B.

Subdivision

• District Business (DB): Plots are numbered 1 to 124 in this area. Pakistan’s future tallest building, Burj Quaid, is located in the District Business.

• District Culture (DC): Located towards the bottom triangle of the map, featuring cultural, green, and recreational lands.

District Business (DB) Details

• Purpose: Designed for compact commercial plots suitable for business offices and towers.

• Building Types: Allows for mixed-use buildings where both residential and commercial functions are possible.

District Culture (DC) Details

• Purpose: Dedicated to cultural, art, or civic institutions, public parks, greenbelts, museums, galleries, and auditoriums.

• Key Plots: Includes plots labeled 214, 215, and 216, identified by specific colors representing their use:

  • 🟥 Red: Culture/Art or Civic institutions.

  • 🟩 Green: Public parks or greenbelt.

  • 🟪 Purple: Special uses, likely museums, galleries, auditoriums, etc.

Southern Spine: District Market (DM)

This is a long, vertically aligned stretch that forms the central retail and commercial zone of the CBD.

Key Features

• Main Roads: Runs along Main Boulevard (West and East PA-20).

• Bounded By Sectors: Adjacent to Sectors 8C and 8D (in Sector 8), 9A (in Sector 9), 11B, and 12B.

• MARKET STATIONS: Features 4 clearly marked stations (Market Station 01 to 04), likely focal points for retail activity.

Color Coding / Land Use on Map (DM Zone)

• 🔴 Red: Commercial plots.

• 🟧 Orange: Commercial Mixed Use.

• 🟩 Green: Parks and green space.

• 🟦 Blue: Special (Education, Healthcare).

• 🟪 Purple: Special (Other – likely civic/utilities etc.).

• ⬛ Grey: Special (Utilities & Installations).

• 🟫 Beige: Piazza/Pedestrian zones.

Layout of the District Market (DM)

• Features compact grid-style blocks optimized for high-density business activity.

• Surrounded by residential sectors, providing a direct customer base.

• Accessed via multiple cross streets, ensuring easy connectivity.

• Appears to serve as the primary retail-heavy spine of the CBD.

How They Fit Together

• The District Business & District Culture (DB & DC) zone acts as the northern hub, providing a mix of business, civic, and cultural facilities.

• The District Market (DM) zone functions as the southern spine, focusing on retail, commerce, and pedestrian-friendly areas.

• The Main Boulevards (PA-20) connect and unify both parts of the CBD, ensuring seamless movement and access.

• The transition from cultural/institutional uses in the north to retail-heavy activities in the south creates a comprehensive and integrated urban core model.

Breakdown of Plot Types

Based on the visual information and descriptions, here is an estimated breakdown of plot types within the CBD:

Commercial Plots (Red)

• District Market (DM): Contains the highest concentration of red plots, estimated at approximately 85–95 individual commercial plots, particularly around the Market Stations.

• District Business (DB): Features smaller, compact red plots, with around 60–70 plots specifically marked for purely commercial use out of the numbered plots up to ~124.

• Total Estimate: Approximately 145–165 commercial plots across the CBD.

Mixed Use Plots (Orange)

• District Market (DM): Located primarily on the outer edges and intersections of the market grid, with around 10–15 mixed-use plots visible.

• District Business (DB): Orange plots are very limited and mostly integrated with red plots, with only a handful (2–3) visually confirmed.

• Total Estimate: Approximately 12–18 commercial mixed-use plots across the CBD.

Special (Education, Healthcare) Plots (Blue)

• District Market (DM): Only 2–3 blue plots identified, likely intended for smaller clinics or schools within the commercial area.

• District Business / Culture (DB/DC): Around 3–4 blue plots located toward the edges, potentially for larger educational or health institutions.

• Total Estimate: Approximately 5–7 special use (education/healthcare) plots across the CBD.

Projects