DHA, the Defence Housing Authority, is a large planned residential area in Lahore’s south-east. It is organised into numbered phases, with wide roads, parks and dedicated commercial strips, and it feels noticeably more spacious than the older parts of the city.
Day-to-day life centres on the commercial areas in each phase, where cafés, restaurants, gyms and shops cluster. Y Block is one of the best-known commercial areas. Golf and green spaces, including the Raya golf course, add to the district’s outdoor appeal.
DHA is large, so check which phase a place is in before you set off. Distances between phases can be longer than they look on a map, and a car or ride-hailing is the practical way to get around.