KARACHI: “Bahria Town may serve as some competition but DHA City is in a league of its own,” said Defence Housing Authority's (DHA) public relations officer and spokesman retired Col Rafat Naqvi at the Sunset Club here on Tuesday.

He was replying to questions from the media at his farewell lunch. Having joined in Sept 2002, he is retiring after over 11 years. Former DG Rangers PRO Major Orangzeb Unar will take over from him while Ayesha Chaudhry and Narjis Sultan will also be part of the new team. Col Naqvi will continue to be associated with the DHA Central Library till April.

“The DHA is the largest residential area of this country. It is also the most sought-after place to live. We have always tried to launch new projects that would provide the best facilities to our residents. We have 400 cameras installed all over the DHA along with having an active vigilance team. Still security remains a grey area as in the rest of the city. It is after all the responsibility of the police,” he said.

About the shortage of water, he lamented that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) was not giving the DHA its complete quota. “But that is looked after by the Cantonment Board Clifton, by the way. We hope that things will improve after the K-IV project is completed by the KWSB,” he said.

He declined to speak about the DHA Cogen Plant other than that it was still workable as per the findings of two tests provided they sorted out the financial, legal and technical issues associated with it.

“Our two major projects at the moment are DHA City and development of Phase VIII. About DHA City, it is the most modern city with the best planning. It has zones such as the Education City, too. It will be Pakistan's first smart city and self-sufficient city as far as energy is concerned. So having a wind corridor and ample sunlight, it will have wind energy as well as solar energy.” Col Naqvi said.