Karachi Division Real Estate News and Land Insights

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Quantum Global Data Centre, a venture of the Gul Ahmed Energy Group, has announced plans to develop Pakistan’s largest Tier III data centre with an initial investment of $230 million, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure.
The company said commercial operations of the facility are expected to begin in 2027. According to QGDC, the project has the potential to attract total investment of up to $600 million over the next three to four years as the company expands its infrastructure to meet rising demand for digital services, cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications across Pakistan.
The announcement was made at the Q Summit, where QGDC also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Huawei Pakistan. Under the partnership, both sides will work on the development of the data centre as well as the establishment of a science and technology park aimed at supporting Pakistan’s broader digital transformation agenda.
QGDC Chairman Danish Iqbal said Pakistan is still in the early stages of artificial intelligence adoption, but the country is already spending between $700 million and $800 million annually on related technologies and services. He said demand for computing power is expected to grow rapidly as businesses, institutions and digital platforms increase their reliance on advanced technology.
Danish Iqbal warned that Pakistan could become increasingly dependent on imported computing capacity and foreign data services if local infrastructure is not developed at a faster pace. He said large scale investment in data centres is essential to support economic growth and ensure that the country is prepared for future demand in artificial intelligence, cloud services and advanced computing.
According to the company, demand for local data centre capacity is already significant and is expected to rise further as businesses, hospitals, educational institutions, financial institutions and digital platforms continue shifting their operations to cloud based systems.
The project is expected to help reduce reliance on overseas data infrastructure, improve local digital capacity and support the growth of emerging technologies across multiple sectors of the economy. Industry observers believe the development could become an important milestone for Pakistan’s technology ecosystem at a time when digital transformation is becoming central to economic competitiveness.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has finalized preparations to introduce a new tax on hotels, guest houses, marriage halls, Airbnb properties and other hospitality-related businesses across the city.
Under the proposed measure, KMC plans to impose a 1 percent tax on bills generated by hotels, guest houses, lodges, marriage halls, marquees, marriage lawns, banquet halls and Airbnb accommodations. The levy has been proposed under a new category titled “Entertainment Tax – City Tourism and Hospitality.”
According to KMC officials, the proposed tax is aimed at strengthening the financial position of the city’s tourism department and improving tourism and hospitality-related services in Karachi. The civic body maintains that revenue collected through the levy will help support municipal efforts linked to city tourism, hospitality management and related public services.
Municipal Commissioner Abrar Ahmed Jaffar has invited public objections and recommendations on the proposal. A hearing has been scheduled for June 10 at the KMC head office, where citizens, business representatives and other stakeholders will be able to submit their views on the proposed tax.
Officials said the new levy and its related bylaws are expected to be included in the upcoming municipal budget for approval. The proposal has been moved under the powers available to local governments through the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, which allows municipal bodies to impose taxes, fees, rates and tolls within their jurisdiction.
The proposed tax is likely to increase the cost of hotel stays, wedding events, banquet bookings and short-term rental accommodations in Karachi, as businesses may pass the additional charge on to customers through final bills.
The proposal has already attracted political attention within the City Council. Sources said opposition parties, including Jamaat e Islami, PTI-backed members and other council representatives, have started consultations on the issue and are expected to announce their formal position in the coming days.
Business circles connected with hotels, wedding halls and hospitality services are also expected to review the financial impact of the proposed levy before the public hearing. The final decision will depend on the approval process in the municipal budget and the response received from stakeholders during the consultation phase.

Karachi: [ReNews Pakistan]
The Sindh cabinet has approved development schemes worth Rs 11.198 billion for major road and bridge connectivity projects in Karachi, as part of a broader push to improve urban infrastructure and ease traffic pressure across the city.
The approval was granted during a cabinet meeting chaired by the Sindh chief minister. According to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s House, the approved schemes will be executed under the Karachi Mega Project and funded through the “New Development Initiatives” allocation of the Annual Development Programme for financial year 2025-26.
The projects include the rehabilitation, improvement and widening of several important roads and transport corridors in different parts of Karachi. These include Haji Ibrahim Essa Road, Haji Camp Road, Korangi Link Road and roads in Clifton connecting to Marine Drive. Development work has also been approved for Mehran Road and Pajero Road in Scheme 33, Korangi Creek Airbase Road, the extension of Jinnah Avenue in Gulzar-i-Hijri and Baldia Stadium Road, which connects Shahrah i Orangi with Hub River Road.
Officials said the road improvement schemes are aimed at strengthening Karachi’s internal connectivity, reducing travel time and improving access between residential, commercial and industrial areas. The selected routes are considered important for daily commuters, public transport movement and commercial activity.
In addition to road rehabilitation, the cabinet also approved the construction of two major bridges in the city. One bridge will be built at Power House Chowrangi in North Karachi, while the second will be constructed at 4-K Chowrangi in Surjani Town. Both locations are considered high-traffic points where congestion has remained a persistent issue for commuters.
To begin implementation, the cabinet sanctioned an initial release of Rs 560 million, which is around five percent of the total estimated cost of the approved Karachi infrastructure schemes. The amount will be released from the current ADP allocation to allow relevant departments to start preparatory and execution work.
The chief minister directed the concerned departments to ensure timely execution of all approved schemes and maintain quality standards during construction. He said development projects must be completed within the given timelines so that citizens can benefit from improved road infrastructure without unnecessary delays.
Separately, the Sindh cabinet also approved Rs 8.824 billion for water supply and drainage schemes across the province. Officials said the funds will be used for multiple projects aimed at upgrading water and sanitation systems in both urban and rural areas.
The cabinet also approved a new framework for receiving Sindh’s 12.5 percent natural gas royalty in kind on a field-to-field basis, instead of receiving it entirely in cash. Officials briefed the meeting that the proposed arrangement could generate an additional Rs 26 billion annually for the provincial government.