It seems that there is more to the centre of Pakistan besides being the second most beautiful capitals in the world; a glance on property prices across the biggest continent with hundreds of cultures and thousands of languages shows that property prices in Islamabad are still among the cheapest in the region.
The illustration shows the comparison of the approximate price of 500 square meter houses in some of the key capitals of Asia and parts of Middle East. While some Asian capitals are popular tourist destinations, others are sprawling with development, construction and lifestyles. It might surprise many that Islamabad is the cheapest among rising Asian capitals and the possible eye candy for investors among the other candidates of their investment destinations in the real estate sector.
A well-planned capital, Islamabad offers abundant urban experiences along with a refreshing brush of nature. And apart from the presence of the international and local corporate sector, it is also a pit stop for travellers and tourists heading north.
According to Pakistan's leading property portal Zameen.com, a 500 square meter house in Islamabad has an average price of $550,600 (Rs57,689,115); significantly lower than most Asian cities.
Low property prices should mean a push for higher property demand and infrastructure development. A key feature of most of the capital cities is the affordability and the rising income levels. And this presents the key lacuna for Pakistan; even though property prices are cheaper in Pakistan as compared to some of the other popular Asian capitals, the phenomenon of affordability is a striking in the country, raising the cost of living significantly. On the contrary, cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Dhaka offer low cost of living.