Times Square in Lahore: Hydra of Abu Dhabi teams up with DHA Lahore on $1.4B project

Sep.05, 2009 in Economy, Infrastructure, Living in Pakistan

A preliminary design shows Lahore's upcoming Times Square - 17 skyscrapers between 29 and 42 stories tall!

Let the good times roll! The KSE is rocketing north once more, foreign exchange remittances by Pakistanis abroad are hitting all time highs and property deals are happening left, right and center. The Pakistani economy is booming, baby!

I was thrilled to see a recent announcement by the much respected Defence Housing Authority, Lahore, concerning their partnering with the now-famous UAE based property development group, Hydra. They are embarking on a massive undertaking that will contribute positively to Lahore’s rapid development, and to jobs and economic opportunities in the city.

The two groups will be developing a nearly 50-acre commercial cum residential area with 17 high-rise office buildings from 29 to 42 stories tall, a 21-story five-star hotel, a massive mall and thousands of apartments. Parks, roads and a commercial area will round out the project.

“A central feature of Time Square will be a tree-lined retail avenue with food and beverage outlets and small bazaars. The joint-venture plans to build a luxury hotel complex with 600 rooms in the third phase and to add a seven-floor shopping mall in the final phase. Pal Group expects to pay for the project using its own funds and by pre-selling some of the units and borrowing from banks, he said.”

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Tags: Abu Dhabi, defence housing authority, DHA, dubai, five star hotel, Foreign Investment, hydra properties, Investment in Pakistan, Lahore, lahore hotels, lahore real estate, pakistan real estate, real estate in lahore, times square, times square lahore, UAE

Comments (12)

Omer

Why the hell are the Arabs so bent on imitating and calling their projects by famous European names?!

Can we the Pakistanis tell them that we want originality? Or better still propose a name of our own?

Another Times Square in Lahore? like we don’t have our own monuments and locations to celebrate…bloody desi mentality of always FOLLOWING!

Why not Call it Chowburji, or ShahAlami or Lakshmi Chowk or something…
Cuz it aint cool enough for the rest of us?

CuriousInvestor

Excellent point, Omer. Re-name the project!

http://www.itbuzz.co.cc Imran | IT Buzz

This project seems to be awesome. Hoping things go on as decided.
kaya

After reading this blog I think I have a plethora of questions for you, since i’d like to hear your perspective…
How do you see the relationship between India and Pakistan keeping in mind the ludicrous govt. in Pk.?
How do you view the situation of religion in Pk. and the fact that it goes hand in hand with constitution?
What are your thoughts on the radicalism taking place in Pk., the extent of it and how it’s going to/is effecting the present day?
How do you view India’s successes and what are the major differences you see between the two nations?
What are you opinions on Jinnah and the furore the book by Jaswant Singh created in India? And how do you view the decision of partition? Was it right in your eyes?

I’d so appreciate it if you took the time to answer these questions, it would be appreciated. Having said that do so whenever you can

Take Care,
Have been enjoying reading this blog ) It’s refreshing.

techlahore

1) One doesn’t normally start a friendly, decent discussion by using words such as ludicrous etc. But I will resist the urge to share adjectives that I could easily and more justifiably ascribe to the Indian government… I think the government in Pakistan has turned out to be far more stable than what any observer could have predicted 2 years ago. There is always room for improvement, but Pakistan’s economy is continuing to improve at a very rapid pace, the stock exchange evinces a strong belief in this fact and the military is very supportive of the government. So I think that’s going along just fine. As for the relationship between India and Pakistan, it has nothing to do with a specific government in power in Islamabad or New Delhi. There are key issues like Kashmir that have to be resolved before the relationship can be fully normalized. In the absence of just solutions to these problems, there will continue to be ups and downs.

2) Pakistan is 95% muslim. That is just a fact. The constitution guarantees the rights of all, whether muslim or otherwise. As does Islam itself. Thankfully we have not have incidents like Gujrat where large scale violence was unleashed against a minority and then the sitting CM of the province where the violence occured was provided protection by the federal government and voted back into power.

3) The ‘radicalism’ in Pk is foreign funded, localized to the Afghan border and to a large extent, has been stamped out. The Army has whipped some serious tail in Swat, killing hundreds of infiltrators and nihilists who were creating trouble with foreign money and foreign arms. They have achieved in a few months what other – larger – countries have not been able to achieve in similar situations over a period of years or even decades. Pakistan’s growing economy, strenghthening reserves, increases in real estate prices, continued military development and growing international support should be evidence enough that anyone who matters already knows that the myth of radicalism in Pakistan is just that. A myth.

4) How do I see India’s successes? I am not sure which successes you are referring to, but in general, good luck to India. Pakistan has its own destiny and India has its. There are too many differences between both countries to list out here. In general, I think Pakistan has less than half the population density, a more homogenous populace and is part of a community of countries from Morocco to Indonesia that fundamentally identify with the same ideology. I think India is very different in all the above. These are far more fundamental differences, but in the area of more minor differences, there is of course a completely different foreign policy outlook. Pakistan supports China as the dominant player in Asia because we feel it has always been and its size and mass create a natural justification for that position. India obviously doesn’t see things this way. Similarly, the view India has of Israel is in marked contrast to the view Pakistan and all other muslim states – and frankly, the majority of the UN general assembly – have on that country. So like I said, there are many, many differences.

5) Jinnah was the greatest leader produced by the Sub Continent in at least 500 years. As Stanley Wolpert said, Jinnah’s achievements in creating a nation state were singularly distinguished. Jaswant Singh is correct in stating that Jinnah initially did not want partition. It is what every child in school has been taught in Pakistan since 1947, so this came as no surprise to us. This fact is well documented. Unfortunately, Jinnah’s overtures for friendship fell on deaf ears. He was confronted with a radicalized congress that was influenced by a right-wing hindu clique that wanted to impose a hindu identity on all of India. Examples of this imposition include the plan to teach Sanskrit on a mandatory basis in all schools and so on and so forth. Jinnah realized that once the British left, the rights of muslims would be trampled by this right wing clique and he fought bravely to ensure this did not happen. Thus was born Pakistan. Tragically, Gandhi fell prey to the dark side, and unfortunately realized it too late. I do believe that Gandhi became aware of the magnitude of his mistake after partition, which is why he was killed by a right-wing Hindu, eventually. Nehru, on the other hand, despite opposition from many within the Congress, continued the policy of confrontation and made Kashmir into an issue even when it did not need to be. The only reason he unfairly hung on to kashmir despite its muslim majority was the fact that he himself was Kashmiri. His personal agenda has defined relations between Pakistan and India for 60 years. Very unfortunate.

6) Yes, I think partition was for the better given the state of affairs that existed. Had the Congress and right wing Hindu elements been open to a more balanced approach where the rights of all were guaranteed, it may not have been necessary. but clearly, that was not so. This is what Jaswant Singh sahab also believes. And I agree.

Thank you for visiting!

kaya

*your* opinions..
kaya

I apologise first and foremost for any offense any of my words for that matter may have caused. Only after re-reading my questions and then your replies, did I realise that that was perhaps not the best way to begin the conversation. I do apologise once again. At the time I penned the questions out I wrote informally and quickly, that is the reason the message may have come across as improper. My intent was not for it to be that way.

Now, to clarify, I am seventeen and am not well versed with the overall situations of Pakistan or India for that matter. My Intent for putting forward these questions to you was to learn from you since I had appreciated and found resonance with your perspectives on this blog.

My questions were firstly casually written and were based on the very first thoughts that come to mind instinctively in regards to Pakistan and the Indo-Pak relationship.

I am actually from Karachi and not from anywhere in India as you may have possibly felt. Although I’m born and live in NYC.

When I view Pakistan in general whether it’s Television, Newspapers, media in general,
I say media because it’s a huge representative of a country and one of it’s most integral institutions, I cease to find much I relate to or find of a certain standard or maturity.

I from where I stand right now find it to be simple logic that if a country is aspiring for a certain place in the world forum, on the world’s stage and if the government has a vision for the country and institutions are in place. The basic institutions, media being just one of them. Then that starts reflecting and strengthening the people of that country and in turn gives them confidence in their identity.

Now I don’t know a whole lot at this stage about India or Pakistan given my age but I’ve been to Lahore,Karachi and Bombay,Delhi a reasonable number of times and see a vast vast difference in the people, there confidence in the country and there attitude. Do keep in mind I’m talking about the middle-class/upper middle class segments of society which are a relative minority and obviously cannot be reflective of the general populace. However they are the ones who will steer the initial change and the first ones any progress of the country will reflect in.

I mean if you just look at the difference of infrastructure of Karachi and Bombay or Delhi and Lahore. The difference in the middle class of both sides of the border. From where I’m looking wherever you look India is making leaps or to put it with more reservation: positive, steadfast steps. Whether it’s literature, advertisement, film, theater, sports, education, commerce, television, fashion, editorials/newspapers – whether online or on paper.. The list goes on..

(I would also just like to emphasize that I say all this from the perspective of someone who’s knowledge is very raw.(so bear with me!) And also as someone who views and feels for the people of India and Pk. in the same manner. And relates to them equally.)

I mean try and see what I’m saying, this is the overall reaction one gathers… Keeping in mind what i’m saying.. I’ve read allot of this blog, enjoyed this blog and found it to have a really unique and refreshing perspective. I can completely relate to where your coming from when you say what you say and what you feel for Pakistan as a nation.
Try and understand at this point, right now I don’t know what to feel about Pakistan as a country, as a whole, but regardless of that or how I feel it’s doing, it doesn’t takes away from how I feel about the people or the culture.

Thus, my feelings for India, I relate to an educated Indian exactly the way I do so to an educated Pakistani because what ties them irrespective of all factors is the intrinsic culture in them and that comes from an ancient civilization not two civilizations that are sixty odd years old. It’s far far more complex and far deeper. I find it ridiculously simplistic for the cultures to be thought different on the basis of Islam or Hinduism or the divide between the two countries but again an informed person does not do that either-way… so it does depend on the sector of society we talk of. It goes without saying that one does not expect and should not expect the common man in either nation to get into or understand this. The culture present today in an Indian or Pakistani is an amalgamation of so so much..

I find myself reading, watching and relating to Indian forums much more whether it be
a book like ‘The white tiger’, or listening to a journalist or reading there articles, or visiting a website like ‘India Today’ or watching channels like ‘cnbctv18′ or NDTV or watching films… or whether it’s leisurely editorials like Vogue or knowing and wearing Indian designers like Sabyasachi whatever it may be I connect to it wholly, simply because I connect to where it’s coming from and what the foundation for such thought is.
The key point here is that I feel that India undeniably has progressed well and thus I connect to this stuff because it’s what my value system is based on, my foundation is based on, it’s the same culture but it becomes refined when you bring education into the scheme of things. Now all the sources I mentioned above are obviously not the diet of the common man or thought process of the common man in India or Pakistan but I’m talking of educated sector of society, the one that can and has the power to bring some change, to make the difference required.. no?

Now with Pk. the reason I said ludicrous is because that’s what i find the govt. in power or for that matter the majority of governments that have been in power since ’47, am I incorrect? As for India I hope you can now gather what I was referring to earlier. And as for Pakistan the whole reason I’ve written o you and have wanted to hear what you’ve to say is because on the basis of your posts on this blog I’d like to learn more of what you’ve to say as I’m finding it credible.

Take care.

Hope to hear from you soon
Kaya

P.S: Pls. excuse anything i’ve written which sounds repetitive or lack of grammar/punctuation – I’m half asleep right now and don’t have it in me to re-read what i’ve written and correct it lol
kaya

Not planning on replying?

techlahore

I just noted one question in your post, which was “I said ludicrous is because that’s what i find the govt. in power or for that matter the majority of governments that have been in power since ‘47, am I incorrect?” – I would agree and would do so if you applied that statement to pretty much any country. Most countries progress despite their governments, not because of them.

kaya

All in all I respect your outlook.

techlahore

Thanks

shriq

I think it is a positive development. Let’s not take every thing with a pinch of salt.

I hope all cities of Pakistan develop to the highest level of it.

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