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Defence Housing Authority, Karachi
Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority (PDOHA) Karachi ڈیفنس ہاؤسنگ اتھارٹی کراچی | |
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| Nickname: DHA | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Sindh |
| City | Karachi |
| Administrative town | Clifton Cantonment |
| Government | |
| • Constituency | NA-241 Karachi South-III |
| • National Assembly Member | Mirza Ikhtiar Baig (PPP) |
| Website | dhakarachi |
The Pakistan Defense Officers Housing Authority (Urdu: ڈیفنس ہاؤسنگ اتھارٹی کراچیCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content; PDOHA) in Karachi, previously known as the Pakistan Defense Officers Cooperative Housing Society, is a residential area situated within Clifton Cantonment. According to the 2017 Census of Pakistan, the population of Clifton Cantonment, which includes the Defense Housing Authority, stands at 305,938, with a significant portion of the residents being Muhajirs.
Initially developed in the mid-1950s as a residential community for retired military personnel by the Armed Forces of Pakistan Welfare Department, the neighborhood is now predominantly inhabited by civilian families.
While it is part of Karachi City, the governance of Defence is overseen directly by the Clifton Cantonment Board, with the DHA serving solely as the administrative authority.
History[edit]
The Defense area was founded as a cooperative housing society for retired armed forces personnel in the mid-1950s, with its office inaugurated by Rear Admiral Haji Mohammad Siddiq Chaudhry, the first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. In 1981, following directives from President Gen Zia-ul-Haq, the government assumed control, placing it under the jurisdiction of the Corps Commander Karachi. The authority was established through Presidential Order No. 7 of 1980, which received subsequent approval from the National Assembly of Pakistan. Covering an area of 8,852 acres (35.82 km²), the authority offers civic amenities to millions of residents, reflecting successful development efforts that have led to high-quality living standards.
The authority operates through two main bodies: a governing body led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and an executive board headed by the Corps Commander stationed in Karachi. This executive board holds all administrative, executive, and financial powers, while the Administrator serves as the executive head, executing powers in alignment with policies set by the governing body and the directives of the executive board.