Published at Pro Pakistan

On a quiet stretch of Pine Avenue in Lahore, a different kind of housing conversation is unfolding, one that reflects how Pakistan’s urban landscape is slowly, but decisively, changing. As land prices climb and cities grow denser, developers are rethinking what “home” looks like for the country’s expanding middle class.

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Ahmed Saljouk, Director of Finance & Development at Alif Holdings, sees this shift firsthand. “Pakistan’s real estate market may appear slow on the surface,” he says, “but beneath that is a strong undercurrent of opportunity.” According to him, demand for housing has consistently outpaced supply for years, creating structural pressure that continues to shape development patterns.

Urbanisation, Saljouk explains, is no longer just about population growth, it’s about how people want to live. Younger families are forming earlier, household sizes are shrinking, and expectations around security, maintenance, and connectivity have evolved. “The idea of owning a large, standalone house is becoming less practical for most buyers,” he notes. “Affordability and manageability now matter more than sheer size.”

This recalibration has pushed developers toward vertical living and compact, community-driven formats like apartments and townhouses that optimise land while offering modern amenities. Projects emerging along corridors like Pine Avenue illustrate this shift. Once considered peripheral, such areas are now attracting attention due to improved road connectivity and proximity to established neighbourhoods.

At Alif Holdings’ 19 Pine Avenue Townhouses, the focus is deliberately modest: two-bedroom homes designed for efficiency, priced from around Rs79 lakh. “The objective is not luxury for the few,” Saljouk says, “but access for the many.” For first-time buyers and young professionals, he believes, such pricing offers a realistic entry point into homeownership at a time when traditional 5- or 10-marla houses have moved well beyond reach.

Beyond affordability, compact developments also ease pressure on infrastructure. Horizontal expansion, Saljouk argues, requires vast land parcels that are increasingly scarce and expensive near city centres. “Sprawl strains roads, utilities, and public services,” he says. “Vertical and clustered housing allows better planning, shared infrastructure, and lower per-unit costs.”

While economic uncertainty has made buyers more cautious, Saljouk believes it has also made them more discerning. Today’s investors, he says, are less speculative and more focused on credible developers, transparent documentation, and long-term usability. “Real estate remains one of the most trusted asset classes in Pakistan,” he adds. “Not because of quick gains, but because it provides stability in an inflationary environment.”

Industry observers note that Pakistan still faces a housing shortage estimated in the millions, with the widest gap in small to mid-sized urban units. Without sustained development in this segment, the deficit is expected to deepen. Compact housing, once seen as a compromise, is increasingly being recognised as a necessity.

As projects like 19 Pine Avenue quietly take shape, they signal more than just another real estate launch. They reflect a broader adjustment in how cities grow upward rather than outward, efficient rather than expansive. For developers like Saljouk, the future of housing lies not in excess, but in thoughtful design aligned with the realities of modern urban life.