TITLE: Tallest buildings in Pakistan (3 towers 1 shopping complex)
PROJECT: Sheikh Zayed Business / Shopping Complex
LOCATION: Ferozepur Road, Lahore
COST: $250 Million (Rs 15bn)
AREA: 91 Kanals
JOBS: 30 Thousand People
INVESTORS: Dhabi Group UAE
CONSTRUCTION START: May 2005

Watch the Video - http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Shaikh-Zaid-Twin-Towers

CM directive to construct SZ Complex
By Our Staff Reporter

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, has directed the concerned officials to implement the project of construction of a big commercial center, Sheikh Zayed Complex, over an area of about 91 Kanals at Ferozpur Road Lahore.

Chief Minister passed the instructions while presiding over a high-level meeting here on Monday.

The foundation stone of the project will be laid in May this year, after which construction activities would immediately be started.

An agreement between the Punjab Government and Dhabi Group and Associates of UAE is expected to be signed shortly after which a company will be formed in the name of Taawan. The Punjab government and Dhabi Group will have representation in the board of directors of the company, which will give a practical shape to the project. The chief minister said that the project would play an important role in the promotion of trade and recreational activities in the city besides creating 30,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.



Elahi okays Shaikh Zayed Commercial Centre

* Centre will be built on Ferozepur Road, cost Rs 15 billion
* Groundbreaking for Pakistan’s tallest building in May

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has approved the construction of a commercial centre, Shaikh Zayed Complex, on Ferozepur Road. The centre, consisting of a basement and three towers, will house a shopping mall, hotels, corporate offices and mini cinemas. Its construction will start next month.

The DHABI Group of United Arab Emirates will construct the tallest building in Pakistan over an area of 91 kanals at a cost of Rs 15 billion.

Chairing a meeting on Monday, the chief minister said that the centre would promote trade and recreational activities in the provincial metropolis and generate around 30,000 jobs.

The meeting was informed that the centre’s banquet hall would have a seating capacity of around 5,000 and its four parking basements would have space for around 4,000 vehicles.

The chief minister said that the Punjab government and the DHABI Group would soon sign an agreement to form a company, named Taawan, to execute the project. He said that the company would have directors both from the Punjab government and the DHABI Group.

Elahi said that Shaikh Zayed Complex would play an important role in generating economic activity in the province and would improve the living standard of the people.

Bashir Tahir, the DHABI Group chief executive, Kamran Rasool, the Punjab chief secretary, Salman Siddique, finance secretary, Sibtain Fazal Haleem, communication and works secretary, and Pervaiz A Shahid, the Bank Alflah executive incharge, attended the meeting.

Tahir said that his group was launching several projects in telecommunication, banking and other industries in Pakistan. He said that Shaikh Zayed Complex would give an impetus to trade and business activities.

construction is going to begin in a month!

wat is that tunnel for/

Entrance or something I guess!

Ferozpur Road was an interesting choice...

And I thought PC Lahore would be the tallest in Pakistan; looks like it's lost it's title even before its construction...

its the same site were the 5 star hotel was ment to be made right, by the dubai royal family, so i guess that gold tower at the back must be the 5 star hotel.

Never thought I would ever see such massive infrastructure projects in Pak. Will it have a five star hotel?

Never thought I would ever see such massive infrastructure projects in Pak. Will it have a five star hotel?

Seems like you dont know much about Pakistan.

This is just the start, just wait till KPT and LRR are completed.

5 star hotel is'nt a very rare thing in Pakistan, 5 star hotels are common in every major city, we are moving towards 6 start now (Please do not say that there is no such thing as a 6 star because we do have a standard above 5 star).

the towers are 55 stroyes.


UAE investment is endorsement of Musharraf’s vision: Elahi

Staff Report

LAHORE: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Friday praised United Arab Emirates’ investment in Pakistan as an endorsement of President Pervez Musharraf’s economic policies.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for Sheikh Zayed Centre, a 55-storey building near Gaddafi Stadium on Ferozepur Road, Elahi said President Musharraf’s policies had given the nation hope for peace, progress and prosperity.

He said that the project was a joint venture between the Dhabi Group of UAE and the Punjab Government and cooperation and teamwork between the UAE and the Pakistani government would flourish in future.

He said that a new era of investment had begun in Pakistan and reflected enduring faith that the country was safe, secure and stable.

He said that Pakistan was now marching towards economic growth, prosperity and development in every sphere of life.

He said that the project was a symbol of determination and collective commitment to a better standard of living for the people of Pakistan. He thanked the Dhabi Group and Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan for their devotion for the welfare of the people of Pakistan.

The chief minister said that the centre would create 25,000 jobs. He said that late Sheikh Zayed had played a sterling role in Pakistan’s history in education, healthcare, farming, housing and aviation.

He said the UAE was a time-tested friend of Pakistan and this relationship was pivotal to the socio-economic well being of Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, the UAE education minister, greeted the Pakistani government, especially President Pervez Musharraf, for ensuring friendly environment for foreign investment in Pakistan. He said that the Dhabi Group would invest more in Pakistan and take full advantage of incentives offered to foreign investors.

“I want to see Pakistan an economically strong nation,” said Sheikh Mubarak and added that the Dhabi Group would help Pakistan develop. He thanked the Punjab chief minister for his government’s cooperation in the project.

Punjab Governor Lt Gen (r ) Khalid Maqbool, provincial ministers, MPAs and senior officials were also present.

ceromony picture
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/14_5_2005_DCP_6474.jpg

Now the two towers aren't exactly twins... I'm not even sure if they're of the same height. I'll try my very best to get the pics of the new renderings.

wen are these two tings gona pop up.

http://www.salman2002.150m.com/3.JPG

http://www.salman2002.150m.com/4.JPG

http://www.salman2002.150m.com/1.JPG

you cant see them,

check if they work below.

http://img276.echo.cx/my.php?image=117qz.jpg

http://img276.echo.cx/my.php?image=333cp.jpg

construction site
http://img276.echo.cx/my.php?image=22er.png

we have launched a $210 million project with Shaikh Al Mubarik Al Nahyan in Lahore. An entertainment complex will be constructed which will also house four cinemas. Then we will introduce for the first time IMAX cinema in the country at another entertainment complex under construction on MM Alam Road," Pervaiz said.

http://www.nation.com.pk/magazines/nationplus/2005/31-may/page4.htm

I pray Allah make this dream a reality! We have been feeling really proud to have very huge, attractive and expensive advertisements, in Karachi's newspapers, about different tallest n highest buildings and other projects, even news of ground breaking ceremonies and inaugration ceremonies. Some are launched by private companies and some by Punjab govt.But, really painful thing is that whenever I visited Lahore I couldnt find many of these even under construction even local people are not aware of such projects. And sudenly we found , last year, MCB Tower, without any advertisement and with only 26 storyes, the highest in the country.Will anybody , living in lahore, inform me about what happened to Parco project of the highest building of the country in Lahore? Allah Hafiz!

PARCO building will now be 20 storeys tall (not official) LINK (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_27-1-2005_pg7_21)

And PC tower has been given the green signal and its construction will start soon (It may have already been started).

There are doubts about The Sheikh Zaid towers. The tallest in the complex looks like 30 storey but many news papers and Nazim Lahore (addressing IAP) said it would be 55 storeys tall.

"He informed that two high-rise buildings of 40-storey and 55-storeywere being conducted in the City."
LINK (http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/jun2005-daily/09-06-2005/metro/l3.htm)

CDG expresses ignorance about Zayed Complex

BY IQTIDAR GILANI
LAHORE - The City District Government has written to the Punjab Government expressing its ignorance about Sheikh Zayed Complex, which is to be constructed at Ferozepur Road.
The CDG has also raised the issue of a Rs 225 million commercialisation fee which the foreign investor of the mega-project contends is not payable.
The CDG High Level Design Committee (HLDC) has forwarded a note to the Punjab Chief Secretary expressing its ignorance about the details of Sheikh Zayed Complex and has sought future guidance for dealing with the project.
So far neither any government department or institution has any clue about the project nor has it been presented with the actual plan of the Complex.
According to the initial information about the project, it is the famous Dhabi Group of United Arab Emirates, which will execute Sheikh Zayed Complex, the tallest building in Pakistan over an area of 91 kanals at a cost of Rs 15 billion.
The Punjab government and the Dhabi Group have signed an agreement to form a company, named Taawan, with directors both from the Punjab government and the Dhabi Group. The Punjab chief minister, in a meeting with officials and representatives from Dhabi Group, had expressed hope that the project would play an important role in the promotion of trade and recreational activities in the city besides creating 30,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
The complex consists of a basement and three towers, which will house a shopping mall, hotel, corporate offices and mini cinemas.
The centre’s banquet hall would have a seating capacity of around 5,000 and its four parking basements would have space for around 4,000 vehicles.
According to the LDA sources, a ‘note for the chief secretary’ was forwarded about a fortnight back to seek guidance from the Punjab government which has provided 91 kanal prime-land at Ferozepur Road to a Dubai based company on 30 percent equity for the government.
Sources at the Civil Secretariat confirmed that the CS office had received a note containing observations about Sheikh Zayed Complex from the Chairman HLDC, DCO Lahore.
The CDG has yet to get any guideline from the Punjab CS about the project.
According to these sources, the Dubai based company has not submitted a building plan of Sheikh Zayed Complex to the Lahore Development Authority, despite formal laying of the foundation stone by the Punjab chief minister last month. The Punjab Road Transport Company (PRTC) previously used this highly prized and centrally located piece of land as its depot. It was later auctioned but was not handed over to the successful bidder and the sale was cancelled in an arbitrary manner. The same piece of land instead was allocated for the construction of I Max theatre but later its venue was shifted to MM Alam Road and the plot was given to Dhabi Group for the construction of Sheikh Zayed Complex.
The LDA wanted to evaluate the proposed project and desired collection of commercialisation fee amounting to a whopping Rs225 million from the Dubai based company for changing the status of the land.
As the company has not submitted a building plan, the LDA is clueless about the height and other necessary details of the proposed Sheikh Zayed Complex and as such it could not evaluate the project keeping in view the master plan for Lahore.
According to sources, LDA can allow construction of 200 feet high buildings at Ferozepur Road but the foreign company wanted construction of three - towers-one for a hotel and of the remaining two one for apartments and the other for a shopping mall.
The representative of the Dubai based company, in a meeting with government officials, has contended that commercialisation fee was not payable as the site was already used by the PRTC for commercial purposes. The LDA has however claimed that the commercialisation fee was payable. The LDA officials have made it clear that the proposed site is a part of its Garden Town scheme and it has the right to collect commercialisation fee and process the building plan of Sheikh Zayed Complex.
One LDA official said that according to the set procedure, the building plan of the Complex would be submitted to the HLDC through LDA. He maintained that it was the HLDC that could allow construction on Ferozepur Road but the building plan should be submitted to the LDA for its processing and further presentation to the Committee.
Nishtar Town Municipal Administration on the other hand claims that the venue of Sheikh Zayed Complex at Ferozepur Road is in its jurisdiction and the building plan should be submitted to it for presentation before the HLDC.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/june-2005/15/index3.php (http://)

:hm:

any update of this project

any update of this project

hey farhan~! i dont get one thing.....the twin towers u displayed in the 1st post doesnt resembles the rendering on the site....yeh kia chakar hay janiz....whch towers are those then...?

any update of this project

hey farhan~! i dont get one thing.....the twin towers u displayed in the 1st post doesnt resembles the rendering on the site....yeh kia chakar hay janiz....whch towers are those then...? :weirdo:

CDG expresses ignorance about Zayed Complex

the LDA is clueless about the height and other necessary details of the proposed Sheikh Zayed Complex and as such it could not evaluate the project keeping in view the master plan for Lahore.
According to sources, LDA can allow construction of 200 feet high buildings at Ferozepur Road but the foreign company wanted construction of three - towers-one for a hotel and of the remaining two one for apartments and the other for a shopping mall.


^WTF, LDA will allow only 200ft tall buildings? This bites.

i just realized that thing about jobs it says thirty thousands jobs any one can tell me what the F*ck are they gonna do with 30 thousands people.

http://www.upknews.com/images/project_renderings/twin_towers1.jpg

20th June

The Zayed Commercial Centre already referred to above. It will be a magnificent project in keeping with international standards. A 45 storey edifice, it would be the tallest and largest in Pakistan. It will comprise apartments and a shopping area. The second, a 25 storey edifice, would house a five star hotel. The third would be a 20 storey building comprises offices. It would also boast a banquet hall for 5000 persons, an amusement park and a parking lot for 4000 cars.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/july-2005/4/bnews1.php

Why are these guys comign up with really awful designs. Be creative. Get out of the cubes and coem up with something spectacular. I dunno man. Theses guys need to come up with better renders.

^ The picture above is not the real design. That design was only proposed but never approved. No design will be the final design until LDA approves it.

3 Other Highrises


Lahore Development Authority (LDA) approves Highrise plans
Date: Thursday, January 27
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) approves Highrise plans LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has approved building plans of three buildings comprising 40-50 floors in the provincial metropolis. District Nazim and Chairman LDA Mian Amer Mahmood revealed this while addressing a function held to award confirmation letters to 40 work-charged employees of the LDA here at Court Street on Wednesday. Amer said that two buildings would comprise of 40 floors each, while one building would have 50 floors. Against the target of Rs 180 million, the LDA has collected Rs 290 million under the head of commercialisation fee during the first six months of the current fiscal year. He expressed the hope that recovery target of commercialisation fee would exceed to Rs 500 million this year

Under the district government system, the financial position of LDA has significantly improved. The pending developmental works including supply of gas and electricity to the LDA housing schemes would complete by the end of this fiscal year, he added. He said that LDA governing body has approved three percent quota of LDA employees in all housing schemes in future. He said that LDA School would be established at 32-kanal land in Johar Town where O-level classes would be introduced and scholarships would be given to the children of LDA employees.

every week we have a new huge and colourful add or EOIs from different public or private sector companies and departments. All claim that there building would be the tallest in the country and LAhore. Some are even by the government but there isnt any construction despite a long period. Some of the govt plans are;A technology tower (40-story) in expo centre , johar town by Punjab govt , A business district with many huge buildings in Johar Town by LDA, Flatttes' Hotel (50-story)by Punjab govt and private sector near Assembly hall, 6 star hotals by Punjab govt on ferozpur road and Jallo. Recently Governor Khalid Maqbool was given briefing abouit Parco Tower with a model having 41-story building. this project was publicised in Karachi Dawn on 9th March 2004 with 35 story and tha tallllest in the country. The site is still not mentioned anywhere.Land mark group is also claiming to build the tallest of the country(in gulberg area).There isnt a single kilometre Ring Road till my last visit to Lahore in 2nd week of July, despite months work.It seems Punjab is developing in the media only

Well, Huma according to the process first they published rendering then booking and after that the construction begins which takes time
I dont know about Lahore but if u travel to Karachi u will see a lot of construction is going on every where but the speed of construction here in khi is very slow

If anyone is ignorant it's the LDA; why in the world do they have a 200ft height restriction? What the heck are they trying to protect?

If anyone is ignorant it's the LDA; why in the world do they have a 200ft height restriction? What the heck are they trying to protect?

I dunno, but I did come across some news on the internet which said that LDA has abolished the height limits.

Really so then these towers will be +200 ft as proposed?

Really so then these towers will be +200 ft as proposed?

The 200ft Limit means you can build upto 200ft without having to pay any kind of HEIGHT CHARGES. It does not mean that no one can build any thing taller than 200ft, if you want to build taller than 200ft you have to pay for each foot you construct above the 200ft limit, Amer Mahomood did say that LDA had abolished the height limits but no official statement was made by LDA.

Recently Governor Khalid Maqbool was given briefing about Parco Tower with a model having 41-storey building

^Whats the source of this interesting news?

move to projects forum

Done....

After it's much awaited inauguration almost now three months back no construction activity has been started yet. Now the conflicting news started appearing that LDA has'nt received any plan for approval and also demanding the commercialization fees from the contractors, which they are hesitant to pay and similar kind of stuff in news sections. Unfortunately no one out here completes the homework completely before initiating a step ahead which clearly speaks of poor planning ability.

These days their is absolutely no talk about the construction of the said project from any quarter. I hope they are not planning to shelve the project like so many during the past years.

^ let's hope that doesn't happen...

(After it's much awaited inauguration almost now three months back no construction activity has been started yet. Now the conflicting news started appearing that LDA has'nt received any plan for approval and also demanding the commercialization fees from the contractors, which they are hesitant to pay and similar kind of stuff in news sections. Unfortunately no one out here completes the homework completely before initiating a step ahead which clearly speaks of poor planning ability)

Shiekh zayed tower construction has started.The project will built on ferozpur road lahore near daewoo bus terminal.

There are three towers of shiekh zayed complex.One Highrise is 200m high and will have 50 floors.You can see by following link below.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/...bt=2&ht=2&sro=1

Shiekh zayed tower construction has started.The project will built on ferozpur road lahore near daewoo bus terminal.

There are three towers of shiekh zayed complex.One Highrise is 200m high and will have 50 floors.You can see by following link below.
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/...bt=2&ht=2&sro=1


^Emporis has been reporting the building underconstruction for the last 3 months. Have you actually been to the site? Have you seen some activity yourself? Emporis isnt very credible.

The link could not be opened and from this we can guage the reliability of the source. Also I happened to visit the subject location almost a month back and there was nothing which depicts that some construction activity is underway on the subject location.

They have started digging the ground for underground parking.I have passed from the site of szt last days.

Construction of 40 storey pearl continental hotel has also started from the last month.
They have started to broken the tower of shopping mall of pearl continental.last two floors has finished.

^ they have! well that's good... thanks for the update!

sania can you take some pictures of the construction site please

The link could not be opened and from this we can guage the reliability of the source. Also I happened to visit the subject location almost a month back and there was nothing which depicts that some construction activity is underway on the subject location.

The link isnt working now but it was there, it said Sheikh Zayed Twin towers 50-Storeys, 200m and the entry was by Abu Dhabi Investment Company.

I havent been to the site for a month now. The tower cranes will be visible from my roof top. I hope it is finished within 3 years.

Tagga can you get some pictures please

Infact I work with PC-Lahore for three years therefore, this is submitted that the hotel authorities are now adding two more floors to old building of mall wing and as no such haven't made any progress for the construction of new tower proposed on the present location of Bukhara resturant. Also as per my knowledge many people are misguided by the excavation taking place in a plot next to the proposed under construction site of Sheikh Zayyad Center.

^As far as I think the construction going on includes the tower (or preparations are being made for the construction of the tower) because the government approved it and asked Hashoo group to get reports of whether the old building can take the load of two additional floors.

Also the tower is APPROVED not proposed.

What you are saying doesnt make any sense, you are telling me that Hashoo group tried incredibly hard for 1.5 years to get the approval and when they finally get the approval they are not going to build it, this isnt how things work, if you get the approval for a new building YOU HAVE TO BUILD IT you cant scrap the plan after approval.

I would rather suggest to go the site or talk to the chief engineer PCHL & you will get the clear picture. Right now they are adding two more floors to existing mall wing and haven't planned anything to start the construction of new executive tower immediately. The reason for this is that they already invested heavily for their upcoming properties located in Gwader & Muzaffarabad thus they are initially adding two more floors and later on may be after a couple of more years they go for the construction of this proposed tower.
Also I visited the location of proposed Sheikh Zayyad Tower but sorry to say their is nothing we could call the constuction activity going on.

When LDA approves a building it also gives a timeline to complete the project. Also a building gets approval when you pay all kinds of fees (Commercialization, Height etc.). Hashoo group has already paid the fee in 2004 (According to a LDA official).

Hashoo group had leased extra land when it decided to build a tower, they are paying for the land every year and I know that they will be very keen to start the project as soon as possible.

These projects are very complex you need trained labour and construction equipment that has to be imported from abroad, Sheikh Zayed Centre will take more time as we dont know whats going on between ADIA and LDA. Some people have said that digging has started, if that true than its possible that LDA has approved the buildings.

well my cousin has just come from pakistan and has told me construction has started on SZC and PC tower, still nothing about flatis thought.

^ Asad is right! SZC's construction has not started yet! A 2-3 Kanal plot next to SZC site is being dug up BUT it has absolutely nothing to do with SZC... SZC's plot (91-Kanals) is separated by a road...

Wow thats great, :okay:

^ Asad is right! SZC's construction has not started yet! A 2-3 Kanal plot next to SZC site is being dug up BUT it has absolutely nothing to do with SZC... SZC's plot (91-Kanals) is separated by a road...

Yeah I also noticed it, Huit when was the last time you went past the site?

^ I'm not in Pakistan these days but a friend told me about it. I'll be back in Lahore next week - will update you guys then.
btw, just to update you guys... they've fenced the Imax Theatre site on M.M.Alam Rd. just like SZC's site. They had already dug up the area, hopefully construction would start real soon or maybe it already started - will find out next week.

^Its construction has started, it has a new cost of Rs.800mn and it will have a huge paking lot and two giant screens one of them will be 92 feet.

^ then that's a very good news... at least one project has taken off!

well news is that, construction materals and truck loaders are on site of SZC, but no sign of construction.

also a huge basement for imax cinema has been completed and they are working on ground floor now, should be completed by summer next year, CM and and presidant have taken keenly interest to start there projects and finish them as quick as possible and are provinding more funds to do it, only now if private companies can do the same.

only now if private companies can do the same.

Yeah but I really do think that the problem which all the builders are having is that there are no firms in Pakistan that specialize in constructing skyscrapers, so they have highered foreign companies and the equipment has to be brought to Pakistan.

As far as I think, Faletti project is going fine because 4B Group was given complete ownership of the land on 20th July 2005 (The Lahore-Delhi bus terminal was shifted to Gulberg) and according to the contract they have to complete the project within 36 months.

does anyone know if there will be a shopping mall inside the imax complex.

does anyone know if there will be a shopping mall inside the imax complex.

Well no article says anything about a shopping mall but it will have parking for 800 cars so there is a possibility, on the other hand the project is by investors who also have stake in PACE and its constructing a shopping mall on M.M.Alam.

well the pace coming on mm alam road is smaller then my bedroom,

and it says that the imax center will be 6 storys, so if theres no mall then wat else would there be there.

well the pace coming on mm alam road is smaller then my bedroom,

and it says that the imax center will be 6 storys, so if theres no mall then wat else would there be there.

It will have a four storey parking lot.

can anybody post the pictures of the towers again? the previos ones dont seem to be showing up.

http://gim.gupshup.org/gal/H/1126042_4890332.JPG

Nice.....

Cool Towers! :D

What happened to the cool tower? I think it has now been reduced to graphic display only.

its construction would start before end of the year, probly delayed because of earthquake.

finally construction will begin...i hope it begins when they have said. this time. :sleepy:

Lets hope

Today Chief minister of Punjab held a meeting to finalise the design of the project. It will 55 storeys inshallah.

^ thanks for the update!

hmmm...i think ill only be satisfied once i see the construction pics ;)

i saw the new design that have been approved by the CM and dhabi group its very cool have a very modren look and intstead of 2 towers there will be only one tower of 55 stories..

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Pakistan’s tallest trade centre to provide 20,000 jobs: CM

* 55-storey quakeproof building features hotel, banquet hall, apartments
* Rs 20b PAK-UAE joint venture to aid economic development
* CM awards PP-33 ticket to Anwar Khursheed

Staff Report

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said the Rs 20 billion Sheikh Zayed Trade Centre to be constructed on Ferozepur Road would be Pakistan’s tallest quakeproof building and said it would play an important role in economic development and provide over 20,000 jobs.

Presiding over a meeting to review the pace of the project’s implementation at Chief Minister’s House on Friday, he hoped the Dhabi Group-Punjab government joint project would aid economic cooperation between UAE and Pakistan, provide local and foreign products to consumers and uplift the living standard of the masses.

He said the 55-storey building would have a five star hotel, luxury apartments, a shopping mall, a 5,000-capacity unique banquet hall and parking basements for 4,000 vehicles, and would provide quality recreation.

He said the buildings would be constructed by Turner International, a company that recently completed the tallest construction project, while the HOK would be responsible for architectural planning and project design. The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Secretary Salman Siddique, Dhabi Group Chief Executive Bashir Tahir and Pervaiz A Shahid, the head of Ta’awun, a company constituted by the Dhabi Group and the Punjab government.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi announced that the PML ticket for provincial assembly by-elections in Sargodha City’s PP-33 had been given to Anwar Khurshid. He was addressing a high level meeting at Chief Minister’s House on Friday.

He said Anwar Khurshid was the most suitable and urged PML office bearers and workers to make sincere efforts for his success. He hoped Anwar would play his due part for the area’s development. Earlier, Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Shafaatullah called on the chief minister at Chief Minister’s House to discuss issues including Punjab’s development projects. Elahi informed the corps commander about health, education and social development projects, and congratulated him on assuming charge.


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2005\11\12\story_12-11-2005_pg7_13

Seems like you dont know much about Pakistan.

This is just the start, just wait till KPT and LRR are completed.

5 star hotel is'nt a very rare thing in Pakistan, 5 star hotels are common in every major city, we are moving towards 6 start now (Please do not say that there is no such thing as a 6 star because we do have a standard above 5 star).

I totaly agree with you my friend you got to the point befor I did welldone :)

http://gim.gupshup.org/gal/H/1126042_4890332.JPG

Now I like this something cool very nice and intersting design dos anyone knows when it's going to be compelted ?

Now I like this something cool very nice and intersting design dos anyone knows when it's going to be compelted ?

the desihn has been changed and its a single tower no more twin towers and the new design has a very modren look

i would have really prefered twin towers instead

Sheikh Zayed Trade Centre to be instrumental in uplift

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE (November 12 2005): Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed hope that Sheikh Zayed Trade Centre would play an important role in the provision of employment and promotion of economic activities.

He said the project would be completed at a cost of approximately rupees 20 billion and would be the tallest building in Pakistan.

Presiding over a high level meeting held to review the pace of implementation on Sheikh Zayed Trade Center project to be constructed at Ferozepur Road here on Friday, the CM disclosed the design of the Center was approved by Dhabi Group of UAE and the Punjab government.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Punjab Salman Siddique, Chief Executive of Dhabi Group Bashir Tahir and Head of the company "Ta,awun" constituted between the Dhabi Group and the Punjab government Pervaiz A Shahid.

Pervaiz Elahi pointed out that Sheikh Zayed Trade Center was a joint project of Dhabi Group of UAE and the Punjab government, which would provide job opportunities to over 20,000 people. He hoped the project would prove to be an excellent example of trade and economic co-operation between the UAE and Pakistan. He disclosed that 55-storey Trade Center would house a five star hotel, luxury apartments, shopping mall and separate parking basements to accommodate as many as 4,000 vehicles. He said a banquet hall, with a capacity of 5,000 people, would also be constructed in that unique project of its kind in the history of the country.

He made it public that "Turner International" a company completing the tallest construction project, would give the project a practical shape while the 'HOK' company would be responsible for the architectural planning and designing of the project.

hawaas, where did you saw the rendering?

I THINK THEY HAVE PUT UP NEW POSTERS ON THE SITE, OR WILL SOON.

I SAID IT BEFORE, THAT AT THE END OF OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER THIS PROJECT WILL BE LAUCHED.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2005/11/12/20051112_01.jpg

it looks quite funky.

more details will be coming up shortly with a new board which will be put up on the site which will give construction start and end date and more details with more renders.

cant wait for construction to start...

WOW! The building looks cool! Kinda looks like the proposed Karachi's Port Tower Complex.

hawaas, where did you saw the rendering?


well i saw it on tv (apna channel news) :weirdo:

yea its has a very cool design man

JST CANT WAIT TO SEE A BIGGER RENDERING....by the way this is the final design guys right!!!!
i dnt want them to delay the project further and then another design. this is already the third rendering.

construction better start now

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/images/2005/11/12/20051112_01.jpg

it looks quite funky.
wowwwwwwwww thats sick :eek2: :eek2:

Nope, not liking it. Looks like a shi++y version of the Burj Dubai. Only more ugly. The earlier design looked much better and was more refined.

Nope, not liking it. Looks like a shi++y version of the Burj Dubai. Only more ugly. The earlier design looked much better and was more refined.




I already know that u will not like this.but man u should seem to know punjab government and dhabi group has better thoughts than you.they dont need ur poor remarks.these are ur traditional remarks against lahore.You dont like any project in lahore.

due to my aspiration new design is very modern and beautiful

^Hey take it easy,everybody has his own taste and he has a right to express his views.

I already know that u will not like this.but man u should seem to know punjab government and dhabi group has better thoughts than you.they dont need ur poor remarks.these are ur traditional remarks against lahore.You dont like any project in lahore.

due to my aspiration new design is very modern and beautiful
Is there is something going on between you and swerveut in real life? that we all are unaware of? quit fighting all the time guys :bash:

I already know that u will not like this.but man u should seem to know punjab government and dhabi group has better thoughts than you.they dont need ur poor remarks.these are ur traditional remarks against lahore.You dont like any project in lahore.

due to my aspiration new design is very modern and beautiful

Are you a spokesperson for the Dhobi group or the Punjab Govt? I dont give a shiz if you like my remarks or not, I stand by my opinion that the older design with the twin towers was much more elegant and refined as opposed to this cheap knock-off design off Burj Dubai which seems like its been pulled out of an Xbox video game. The older design even had a nice plaza which would have been a nice public place in Lahore.

If there is a spire on top, this building might make it to 250m.

Aregional skyline is developing SZC, the 33 storey on MB, PACE towers,proposed IT Tower, LDA Tower, MCB and proposed Bank of Punjab towers all in the same area.

Why does that remind me of the Port Tower?

When SZC was twin towers its estimated cost was 15 billlion RS but now its only one tower and cost is 20 billion. Why? Will anybody shed light? I would like to see MCB Lahore pics. Anybdy in Lahore plese post them and others available pics also

^^^^ Lets wait till the project gets completed. Currently the finishing work is goin on on the facade.

When SZC was twin towers its estimated cost was 15 billlion RS but now its only one tower and cost is 20 billion. Why? Will anybody shed light? I would like to see MCB Lahore pics. Anybdy in Lahore plese post them and others available pics also

MCB's design isnt very good. Its a big wide box.

When SZC was twin towers its estimated cost was 15 billlion RS but now its only one tower and cost is 20 billion. Why? Will anybody shed light? I would like to see MCB Lahore pics. Anybdy in Lahore plese post them and others available pics also


its taller obviously, look at the old redering and see how short the buildings were.

I have a picture of the complex submitted by HOK to the respected authorities in Pakistan. Im new to this stuff so let me know how to post a picture. thanks and im sure you'll like it

Goto photobucket.com, get registered user, they will allocate you quota of space. Goto your profile and make the setting of access by Public user. Upload the picture and give the IMAGE link in your posting on this forum and the picture will appear in your posting. If that does not work simply send me the picture at shahidabbasi@gmail.com and I will do the rest.

Regards

STAY PUT

^ imageshack is far easier to use! one doesn't need to register there.

http://www.imageshack.us/

just go there and upload it then post the link in here.

Much has been said & written about about the SZ twin towers complex since last may 2005 other than than it's inauguration in terms of ribbon cutting. Practically not even an inch of civil work has been started as yet. Same is the case with Expo Centre also. I think investors probably have lost interest in these projects.

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1125/sheikhzayed5im.th.jpg (http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sheikhzayed5im.jpg)

I understand that this picture has been seen by all of us before, but the quality was of no good (the one with CM Elahi). Anyhow, there will be single and multi-tenant apartments, parking space for approx. 3000 vehicles and a 5-star hotel. The rest we know already, i.e. a shopping mall, cineplex, office building. I assure you that this will be a landmark. A lot of effort will be put in to make it the symbol of Lahore. The Dhabi Group (group behind Sheikh Zayed Centre) currently has a lot of operations in Pakistan and is the single largest foreign investor group in Pakistan, owning major institutions such as Bank Alfalah, United Bank Limited (UBL), Warid Telecom, Wateen Telecom (www.wateen.com) and will soon bid for PSO. Just in case you were wondering why it has been delayed, the main reason behind it is that Emaar is no longer associated in any way whatsoever. However, to the best of my knowledge, HOK and Turner have been mentioned in the recent past. Any developing news would be greatly shared. So just keep your fingers crossed.

how many towers are they...??
previously i think there were 3 of them.....!

are you assoicated with the project shiek saab.

are you assoicated with the project shiek saab.

To some extent, yes. Ok so I have some more news just coming in from Pakistan.

The project is 70% owned by the Dhabi Group and the rest will be owned by the Government of Punjab. The joint group name is "Ta'avun". HOK will be the designers and Turner will act as the project management company.

The main tower will not be 55-storeys high, rather, it would be a 60-storey tower. Thats some news isn't it. There will be a grand shopping mall, details of which are confidential at this point in time. A 5-star hotel will be built, containing 400-500 bedrooms. Again, the name of the hotel will not be disclosed as yet. As mentioned earlier, there will be apartments and office space. Other than the 60-storey tower, there will be 3-4 more buildings surrounding it.

Furthermore, 5-6 cineplex theatres will be built. In addition to that, surprisingly, an ICE RINK will be built too. So we'll have ice in the middle of hot Lahore. I shall also be talking to Tim Horton's (competitor of StarBuck's) which is based in Canada.

Construction of the "ZAYED CENTRE" will begin this year.

So I guess that sums up some of the information that you may require. Let me also point out that a similar but smaller project is being implemented in Islamabad by "Bismillah Group" of Faislabad. Islamabad will also have something to cheer about.

Wish you all the best, and any suggestions/comments would be of great help.

Thanks very much and Pakistan Zindabad,

Mohammad Sheikh

good news thanks shiekh
anyone know what is the website of dhabi group?

good news thanks shiekh
anyone know what is the website of dhabi group?

You can visit the following websites for more information on the group's shareholders, management and investments:

www.waridtel.com
www.wateen.com
www.bankalfalah.com
www.ubl.com.pk

Essentially, the group is headed by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the UAE education minister. To read an article on him written by a leading Pakistani Journalist, Humayun Gauhar, visit:

http://www.bluechipmag.com/pi/1104/mstory.php?PHPSESSID=15806daddd00f5fa983d95035320aa55

great update m2sheikh! The rendering that you've posted looks exceptionally cool... by the way, don't you think 91 Kanals is a bit on the lower side for such a huge project?

cheers shiek saab.

but forget about tim hortons and bring starbucks to pakistan.

and do you know when around this year the construction will being and end.

also do you have any information how to book shops in there.

and what happened to emaar why did they leave it,

and lastly do you know anything about the 30,000 acre city in north east lahore dhabi group and emaar announced last year.

Thanks Sheikh Saab. Great info and great pic. I'll repost it in the larger format:

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/1125/sheikhzayed5im.jpg

Tim Hortons to Pakistan is great news but like Pakboy I would prefer Starbucks. What is the estimated completion date of this project and approximately when will construction begin?

I believe there will be A Hyatt Regency hotel and office tower near the Islamabad Convention center. The design has been done and its waiting for approval by the CDA.
(One green blue all glass 30 story highrise and one white aluminium and steel , glass 20 story high wider building.) 2 office towers in back. I have the rendering but am not allowed to show it until its approved. $450 million (and im not with the group but just did some research)

tim hortan's is way better!!!

^^
i have never heard of it, theres none here in london anyway.

^^^yeah its not in the UK. I think its only in Canada. But they have more stuff than starbucks. I mean you can get coffee, bagels, subs, etc. whereas all starbucks has is coffee and chips (and the regular like muffins, etc.).

tim hortons has good sandwiches and deserts. more than just coffee

hey people, if it's some coffee shop that you'd like to discuss then make a new thread! this one's about SZC!

I believe there will be A Hyatt Regency hotel and office tower near the Islamabad Convention center. The design has been done and its waiting for approval by the CDA.
(One green blue all glass 30 story highrise and one white aluminium and steel , glass 20 story high wider building.) 2 office towers in back. I have the rendering but am not allowed to show it until its approved. $450 million (and im not with the group but just did some research)

Malpensa this 30 storey building you are mentioning is not near Convention Centre but instead it is in front of PIMS.Work on the project was supposed to be started after Eid ul Azha, but I think its waiting for the new building code of CDA to be promulgated.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/Abbasia/PIC000167.jpg

Sorry Abbasia but this is designed by Atkins UK, im talking about The project designed by Woodhead Austrailia. I do keep up with the latest and both these projects can be confused. theseare 2 different projects

Malpensa this 30 storey building you are mentioning is not near Convention Centre but instead it is in front of PIMS.Work on the project was supposed to be started after Eid ul Azha, but I think its waiting for the new building code of CDA to be promulgated.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/Abbasia/PIC000167.jpg


WHICH NEWS PAPER IS THAT N OF WUT DATE!!!

You can see the marking of December on left top of the page and i think it was around 16th December, the Gulf construction company representative met Shaukat Aziz and showed this model, they said they will do ground breaking of the project after Eid-ul-Azha, but me and many others are waiting.May be building code has something to do with delay(just a guess).

hey guys today i went pass the zaid center site and i saw a new hoarding on the site... which shows the new rendering of the project...the new design is very cool... once completed it gonna rock...it got around 1 main tower and 2-4 other building and small tower...its awsome rendering

can you please take a picture of the board.

and also does its say anything about construction start date and end date on the board.

well k i dont promise but i will try to get it in 2-3 days inshallah

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4623/zayedcentre7hi.th.jpg (http://img46.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zayedcentre7hi.jpg)

Ok guys here's another picture for you to see. There are quite a lot of changes in the old rendering and the new one.

Also, can someone repost the image in full size.

Cheers.

^^ WOW!! :eek2:

Amazing project for Lahore! The architecture is befitting Chicago or Houston. I would love to actually see it finished!

Mr. Shek, is there a website for this project?

Heres reposting it in bigger size:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4623/zayedcentre7hi.jpg

final design has come now they should start this project.
Anyone know about when it will start?

amazing.

i take it that all those buildings in the picture would be made.
any info when construction starts

Beautiful! Let's hope they keep this design and actually complete it.

Awesome is this how Sheikh Zaid tower is going to look like? if yes when is it expected to be complete?

Man, when is this project starting and when finishing. Please post if you have any info.

:eek2:

Can't wait 4 it to be built. It gonna look awesome!! I can't find anything that i dislike about this building.

When the construction work will start to take place. Enough of building design graphics have been shown since the time of it's inception.

Some additional YET REPETITIVE information about Zayed Centre:

In addition to the main tower, Zayed Centre will have 3 residential apartment buildings of 20-25 floors each, professionally managed by Hyatt Residency; and one of the biggest and most exclusive shopping / entertainment complexes in the region.

The main tower will also host a 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel, the largest reception(marriage)/conference halls in the country, plus offices for Multi-National Companies and Large Local Private and Public Corporates.

There will also be exclusive, high-end residential suites in the main tower, again managed by Hyatt Residency. Also, parking space will be provided for over 4,000 cars and Zayed Centre will be connected to the Gaddafi Stadium Sports Complex by a covered, over-head bridge.

The 'Project' is being carried out as a Joint Venture between the Abu Dhabi Group and the Government of Punjab. The two investors have formed a holding company for Zayed Centre called TA`AVUN (Pvt.) Ltd. which will be responsible for managing the project. Turner International (one of the largest construction companies in the US have been hired as contractors/builders; whereas HOK - a firm that designs buildings for Donald Trump, has been retained as Project Consultants & Architects).

The total cost of the project is not known as of yet. However, it is approximated at US$ 500 Million +.

Pakistan will have the unique honour of hosting the tallest building in the
Middle East, Africa, Central, & South Asia, by the time of completion,
January 01, 2010 (if im not wrong, since burj dubai will be completed in 2012?). Zayed Centre's main tower is expected to have
approximately 60 floors and will be visible from across the border in
India.

2010, WOW, that is a long time, the original tower when first purposed was supposed to be completed in 2 years which would have completed in april next year, this ones gona take long.

I passed by the site today... they have a really huge billboard placed there with this new rendering. They've also taken down all those Emaar signs/fences. No sign of construction though.

well according to salman taseer of pace, who won the plot A of 5 acres near the airport, says he will be building a 350 room hyatt and lahores tallent office tower.

you can read it in the article here
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=7702625#post7702625

its probably the same project as dhabi group. i doubt a skyscraper would be allowed so close to the airport.

which company is TAAVUN.they have mentioned TAAVUN as a leading group of SZC.Anyone know about information or any website of TAAVUN.

When the construction activity is expected to take place? It's almost over a year that we are listening drum beats about SZC, LDA tower, PC tower, Parco tower & so many others but on ground nothing happening.

I think SZC construction will start in few months.little kind of activities are looking there from this month,like they have downed boards of emaar and a huge billboard of new rendering has placed there.Also there are 3-4 trucks are working on land.I m not sure about which kind of work they are doing.

which company is TAAVUN.they have mentioned TAAVUN as a leading group of SZC.Anyone know about information or any website of TAAVUN.


Yes you are right, Ta'avun is basically a collaboration between the following groups:

1) Dhabi Group
2) Punjab Government

As we know, SZC is partially funded by the government too, i.e. 30% is owned by the government.

As far as construction is concerned, yes I have heard some activity is taking place. But major construction will start sometime in June or July.

When the construction activity is expected to take place? It's almost over a year that we are listening drum beats about SZC, LDA tower, PC tower, Parco tower & so many others but on ground nothing happening.
I agree most of the projects are all talk and no action.

They're putting up new blank white fences around the site. No sign of any constructio + material though.

yes I also heard about fencing and barb wiring taking place. I guess they're warming up for some action that will be taken pretty soon.

There has been too much talk of projects. Deeds not words.

write my words, excavation should start in the next few months and then the construction'll start in the 3rd quarter of this year....

Dhabi Group to build $400m 60-storey tower in Lahore

BY JAVED MAHMOOD

LAHORE - Chief Executive Bank Alfalah and Dhabi Group of UAE Bashir A. Tahir has said that his group was making another investment of around 400 US million dollars to build a 60-storey centre in Lahore.

“It will be a unique and state-of-the-art high-rise building in this country having spacious shopping mall, offices, three basements for parking and residential apartments,” Bashir A. Tahir disclosed while talking about the upcoming ambitious mega venture of his group.

Elaborating concept of the project before newsmen on Friday, he said that after making a sizeable investment of about one billion dollars in Pakistan, his group was now venturing into the construction of the tallest center at Ferozepur Road, Lahore.

“The digging work on this project had already been initiated and in the first week of April we will sit with the officials of the Punjab government, city administration and contractors to discuss the schedule of completion of the project,” he added.

“We will complete the project in phases and intend to first finish the commercial part of the project”. Giving background of his group, Mr Tahir said that Dhabi Group is representing Abu Dhabi Group of the UAE, which is a consortium of seven leading investors in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Tahir said that a few years ago his group had purchased the loss-oriented Habib Credit and Investment Bank, renamed it as Bank Alfalah and converted it into profit-making and Pakistan’s 5th largest bank in last few years. He disclosed that more than six thousand people were not working with Bank Alfalah while the network of its branches had expanded to 150 throughout the country.

Bank Alfalah, he further said, was in the process to offer latest facilities and modern services to its customers with the aim to increase clientele in Pakistan.

He was proud to mention that his bank had introduced new trends of banking and services in Pakistan. He also disclosed that Bank Alfalah has expanding its operations to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and now entering Bahrain.

Mr Tahir also said that his group had entered into telecom business in this country and launched Warid Telecom that is offering countrywide cell phone network. He said that his group was making 200 to 300 million dollars further investment in next six months in the telecom sector in order to expand the operations of the company.

Chief Executive Bank Alfalah and Dhabi Group said that his group was interested in buying Pakistan State Oil. He said that Abu Dhabi Group is one of the three existing bidders for the PSO.

To a question about delay in PSO bidding, he said that the Privatisation Commission had not completed the homework properly before offering PSO for privatisation. He pointed out that the bidders were seeking guarantees about payment to PSO from government departments after its privatization.

Mr Tahir also made a startling disclosure that there was no proper record of some of the contracts of PSO with different parties and groups and the bidders were worried about this situation.

The federal government and the Privatisation Commission must have completed the homework before taking PSO to market for its strategic sale, he added.

About rising mark up, he said that there must be a balance in the existing interest rate. He admitted that the rising mark up had restricted the growth of consumer financing and home loans.

He also regretted that the country lacked an adequate industrial policy. “An action plan and a proper industrial policy is needed to boost the industrial sector,” he further said.

He said that the existing industrial estates lacked the required infrastructure that was proving an impediment in the way of the growth of local industry.

He cited the example of Chunian, where neither electricity, nor gas nor water are available and how the local industry would grow in Pakistan if these basic facilities are not provided to investors and industrialists.

Bashir A Tahir had received Sitara-e-Imtiaz from Pakistan government on March 23. He had thanked the government for giving this honour.

http://nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2006/25/bnews1.php

Great news! Ferozpur road is gona rock!

m2sheikh,

do you know anything about dhabi groups houseing project in lahore, last year i heard they are making a state of the art housing scheme by bank alfalah.

^ Housing scheme by Bank Alfalah? In Lahore or somewhere else?

yes in lahore, i heard they brought land near dha, to build a state of the art housing project like bahria, lake city.

i passed the site for the construction of the tower but there was no digging work going on i could only see few labor putting the fence around...but one thing is sure the construction is goin to start within 1-2 month

good news!!
plz post such news in the progress thread in future!!

damn this is gona be great...really wana see this building get constructed...pakistan needs these type of developments to come on the face of the earth as a prosperus and developed economic power...

Yes my friend pakboy, there certainly is such a project and the plots will be distributed in the following order: 0.75 kanals, 1.5 kanals and 3 kanals. As far as I can recall, one kanal is priced at approximately PKR 6,600,000. Later on, once construction starts, there will be a development charge which honestly speaking I do not know of. The land has been procured and it is located in Bedian. Bad thing is that this society is not for investment purpose at all, and there will be a holding period of 7 years. Furthermore, plots will be allocated on an invitational basis and you would be knowing the reason for that.

I don't know when construction will start but I can certainly find that out for you guys. As far as SZC's construction is concerned, it will start in the 3rd quarter. Check this out, all of this will be available in Alfalah Society since Wateen and Warid is owned by the same Group:)

LAHORE: The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore and Wateen Telecom (part of Warid Telecom International) have signed an agreement for ‘DHA Lahore Hybrid Fibre Optic Telecom Project’ on Friday, making DHA the first digitally connected smart community and digitally enabled real estate. The fibre line includes an independent cable network and installation of closed-circuit cameras. This multi-million dollar venture will be the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region providing fixed and wireless quad play services including voice, internet and video through digital connectivity. DHA Administrator Brig Fazal Nawaz Khan and Pervaz Shahid, chief executive officer Wateen Telecom, signed the agreement. Corps Commander Lieutenant General Shafaat Ullah Shah was the chief guest and members of Warid Telecom, Wateen Telecom and DHA attended the ceremony. Briefing the press, Brig Fazal Nawaz said that on the completion of the network, DHA residents would have access to 21st century telecommunication and media services through fibre optic and Wimax wireless hybrid connectivity that would provide services such as innovative telephonic calling plans, national and international calling, video conferencing, broadband internet (fixed & wireless), high definition (HD) TV reception including video-on-demand and video security surveillance with interactive gaming. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\03\25\story_25-3-2006_pg13_5

www.wateen.com

By the way, Parvez Shahid is NOT the CEO of Wateen Telecom. He is the Director of both Warid and Wateen Telecom and the CEO of Ta'avun (collaboration between Dhabi Group and Punjab Gov't), the group that is making Zayed Centre.

Cheers

Can someone merge this topic into Sheikh Zayed Centre's topic. I'd like to add that Bashir Tahir is not the CEO of Bank Alfalah. He's a member of the Board Advisory Committee.

Great News! Any CG renders of the project?

Dhabi Group to build $400m 60-storey tower in Lahore


BY JAVED MAHMOOD

LAHORE - Chief Executive Bank Alfalah and Dhabi Group of UAE Bashir A. Tahir has said that his group was making another investment of around 400 US million dollars to build a 60-storey centre in Lahore.

“It will be a unique and state-of-the-art high-rise building in this country having spacious shopping mall, offices, three basements for parking and residential apartments,” Bashir A. Tahir disclosed while talking about the upcoming ambitious mega venture of his group.

Elaborating concept of the project before newsmen on Friday, he said that after making a sizeable investment of about one billion dollars in Pakistan, his group was now venturing into the construction of the tallest center at Ferozepur Road, Lahore.

“The digging work on this project had already been initiated and in the first week of April we will sit with the officials of the Punjab government, city administration and contractors to discuss the schedule of completion of the project,” he added.

“We will complete the project in phases and intend to first finish the commercial part of the project”.
Giving background of his group, Mr Tahir said that Dhabi Group is representing Abu Dhabi Group of the UAE,
which is a consortium of seven leading investors in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Tahir said that a few years ago his group had purchased the loss-oriented Habib Credit and Investment Bank, renamed it as Bank Alfalah and converted it into profit-making and Pakistan’s 5th largest bank in last few years.

He disclosed that more than six thousand people were not working with Bank Alfalah while the network of its
branches had expanded to 150 throughout the country.

Bank Alfalah, he further said, was in the process to offer latest facilities and modern services to its customers with the aim to increase clientele in Pakistan.

He was proud to mention that his bank had introduced new trends of banking and services in Pakistan.
He also disclosed that Bank Alfalah has expanding its operations to Afghanistan, Bangladesh and now entering Bahrain.

Mr Tahir also said that his group had entered into telecom business in this country and launched Warid Telecom that is offering countrywide cell phone network. He said that his group was making 200 to 300 million dollars further investment in next six months in the telecom sector in order to expand the operations of the company.

Chief Executive Bank Alfalah and Dhabi Group said that his group was interested in buying Pakistan State Oil. He said that Abu Dhabi Group is one of the three existing bidders for the PSO.

To a question about delay in PSO bidding, he said that the Privatisation Commission had not completed the
homework properly before offering PSO for privatisation. He pointed out that the bidders were seeking guarantees about payment to PSO from government departments after its privatization.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2006/25/bnews1.php

^ I passed by that site yesterday... there's absolutely NO sign of digging!

i like this building...its nice..theres nothin else like it in pakistan

Latest image from construction site

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6501/szt3tf.jpg

any signs of construction starting?

good show. can't wait for construction to start and see this thing completed in 2010.

News, reports etc about this project appear to have fizzed out. Anybody have any status updates on this?

currently they are trying to get more land to extend the project.

from edawn
LAHORE, April 27: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday ordered speedy completion of all legal requirements and the process of approval of Lahore’s Sheikh Zayed Complex, saying such mega projects will help accelerate the pace of social development in the province.
He was presiding over a meeting which reviewed Sheikh Zayed Complex and other mega projects.

The meeting was attended among others by Chief Secretary Salman Siddique, P&D Chairman Suleiman Ghani, Lahore Nazim Mian Amer, BoR Senior Member Safdar Javaid Syed and Pervaiz A Shahid, chief executive of the company, TAAWUN, formed jointly by the UAE’s Dhabi Group and Punjab Government.

The chief minister said the government was executing many mega projects for improving the socio-economic condition of the people.

He said the SZC was a unique project which would help enhance trade and recreational activities. The best environment had been created in the province for local and foreign business, and Dhabi Group’s huge investment in the trade complex was an example of it.

The complex is being built over 91 kanals of land on Ferozepur Road, and it will provide employment to thousands of people.

The building of the complex would be the tallest in the country and all arrangements had been made to protect it from earthquakes, he said.

The chief minister said the 55storey building would have a five-star hotel, luxury apartments and a parking area having a capacity of 4,000 cars in its basements. It would also include a banquet hall for 5,000 people, and play an important role for the provision of local and foreign products.

Mr Shahid claimed provision of the best trade and recreational facilities would be ensured in the complex which would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

the construction site.

http://www.pakcafe.com/suhaib/SZC.jpg

^^^Thanks for the update. This project is a masterpiece and has jawdropping (:eek2: ) beauty.

Good to see some news in a leading paper of Pakistan. I am aware of the fact that excavation work will start very very soon. Most probably in the next couple of weeks you will see some movement in the area. So by the 15th of May, get your camera's ready so that we can also get a taste of what is going on in Lahore.

There were some othere precious spaces on Ferozpur road between model town and canal bank. what abt other projects announced bt Punjab Govt on open space near garden town?anybdy has information? please inform from lahore

They've erected new fences around the site... I did see two trucks moving inside the site... it seems they're setting up things for another groundbreaking.

i guess we should change the title as its not twin towers any more.

Gate is being built at the site of Sh Zaid Center at very high speed. Which ndicates that some will happen there soon inshallah

PROJECT: Sheikh Zayed Business / Shopping Complex
LOCATION: Ferozepur Road, Lahore
COST: $ 400-500 Million
AREA: 91 Kanals
JOBS: 30 Thousand People
INVESTORS: TA`AVUN
CONSTRUCTION START: May 2006
FLOORS: 20-25(3 Residential Towers) 60(Main Spire)
Completion Date: January 2010


In addition to the main tower, Zayed Centre will have 3 residential apartment buildings of 20-25 floors each, professionally managed by Hyatt Residency; and one of the biggest and most exclusive shopping / entertainment complexes in the region.

The main tower will also host a 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel, the largest reception(marriage)/conference halls in the country, plus offices for Multi-National Companies and Large Local Private and Public Corporates.

There will also be exclusive, high-end residential suites in the main tower, again managed by Hyatt Residency. Also, parking space will be provided for over 4,000 cars and Zayed Centre will be connected to the Gaddafi Stadium Sports Complex by a covered, over-head bridge.

The 'Project' is being carried out as a Joint Venture between the Abu Dhabi Group and the Government of Punjab. The two investors have formed a holding company for Zayed Centre called TA`AVUN (Pvt.) Ltd. which will be responsible for managing the project. Turner International (one of the largest construction companies in the US have been hired as contractors/builders; whereas HOK - a firm that designs buildings for Donald Trump, has been retained as Project Consultants & Architects).

The total cost of the project is not known as of yet. However, it is approximated at US$ 500 Million +.

Zayed Centre's main tower is expected to have
approximately 60 floors and will be visible from across the border in

Images:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4623/zayedcentre7hi.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6501/szt3tf.jpg

Edit Kbboy:

PROJECT: Sheikh Zayed Business / Shopping Complex
LOCATION: Ferozepur Road, Lahore
COST: $ 400-500 Million
AREA: 91 Kanals
JOBS: 30 Thousand People
INVESTORS: TA`AVUN
CONSTRUCTION START: May 2006
FLOORS: 20-25(3 Residential Towers) 60(Main Spire)
Completion Date: January 2010


In addition to the main tower, Zayed Centre will have 3 residential apartment buildings of 20-25 floors each, professionally managed by Hyatt Residency; and one of the biggest and most exclusive shopping / entertainment complexes in the region.

The main tower will also host a 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel, the largest reception(marriage)/conference halls in the country, plus offices for Multi-National Companies and Large Local Private and Public Corporates.

There will also be exclusive, high-end residential suites in the main tower, again managed by Hyatt Residency. Also, parking space will be provided for over 4,000 cars and Zayed Centre will be connected to the Gaddafi Stadium Sports Complex by a covered, over-head bridge.

The 'Project' is being carried out as a Joint Venture between the Abu Dhabi Group and the Government of Punjab. The two investors have formed a holding company for Zayed Centre called TA`AVUN (Pvt.) Ltd. which will be responsible for managing the project. Turner International (one of the largest construction companies in the US have been hired as contractors/builders; whereas HOK - a firm that designs buildings for Donald Trump, has been retained as Project Consultants & Architects).

The total cost of the project is not known as of yet. However, it is approximated at US$ 500 Million +.

Zayed Centre's main tower is expected to have
approximately 60 floors and will be visible from across the border in

Images:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/4623/zayedcentre7hi.jpg

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6501/szt3tf.jpg


dervash's post continue

I have just passed the site. Digging has started. dontt know for what purpose. The gate is being made at the site.

Hey have any of you guys counted the number of storeys in the image, Im getting 77 right to the tip, If that is correct this building is going to be atleast 900ft tall (~275m) if you consider the height per floor to be 11ft (first 6 floors have high ceilings) and can be a 1000ft tall (300m) if height per floor is 12ft.

Here are the number of storeys that can be interpreted from the image.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3426/estht2ri.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=estht2ri.jpg)

But I dont get it all the papers and the media has been reporting it to be 55 storeys tall but if you see the image its no where near that number.

shiek saab on this forum says 60 storys.

ahhh tricky question matey. It was a 55 storey building when announced, then it changed to 60. Could be more, could be less, keep guessing fellas.... I'll confirm the exact # of floors when the time is ripe. Good work tagga...Cheers

Digging work for the basements of different buildings of the project has started. The work is at full swing without formal inaugrattiom ceremony. I remained at the site for a while yesterday.

Digging work for the basements of different buildings of the project has started. The work is at full swing without formal inaugrattiom ceremony. I remained in the site for a while yesterday.



so finally some practical thingy happenin :cheers: :weirdo:

can someone please take pictures and post them in this thread. it would be good to see what exactly is happening. Thanks

WOW! Go Lahore!

its probly foundation works not basements.

CHEEEEEEEEEEEEERS!!!!

we need pictures for sure....and techo, our leading expert to view the site and provide good technical information on this

i just passed the project site around 11:20 pm and they were still working... so they are putting some pace in the construction.

yeah, I want to see pictures of the project too. can someone please post them?

Digging work for the basements of different buildings of the project has started. The work is at full swing without formal inaugrattiom ceremony. I remained at the site for a while yesterday.

Proper work with excavators or shovel digging work?

need dervash or haawas to take a few pics. cmon guys, you can do it.

mashallah...a great project for lahore there

need some construction pictures

no work pictures? :(

well iam havin my exams so dont have time to go.. i cant do it before 31 if no body posted pics before tha time i will inshallah get pics of this project and other projects updated pic after 31

Thanks in advance. Atleast we would see something in Lahore other than dominating and charming adds in countrywide newspaperes

One freakin' completed skyscraper is all that we ask for... I'm sure it'll cause a chain reaction in Pakistan and we'll certainly see tons of 'em coming up!

Anyhow, my exams are starting aswell so can't go there at least till 30th... will try my best after that!

well iam posting the picture they are not detailed pic but its better than nothing. i was passing the site so i decided to take some pic from my cell phone.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5371/image1131qh.jpg

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/3992/image1143uj.jpg

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4637/image1159tc.jpg

on the site there was only single crane present. no truck was there but lot of digging work is done

I AGAIN PASSED THE SITE AROUND 11PM. THEY ARE ONLY WORKING AT NIGHT TIME BECAUSE OF THE CITY GOVERMENT RESTRICTION OF NOT ALLOWING THE TRUCKS TO MOVE IN THE CITY IN DAY TIME. SO ITS GONE TAKE A WHILE WHEN THIS EARTH EXCAVATION IS DONE

looks like they are getting ready for a ground breaking inaugration ceromony.

Well the tower cranes are yet to arive (Building of this height cant be built the way we usually build 'em in Lahore).

HAWAS, where exactly is Sheikh Zayed centre on Ferozpur road?

HAWAS, where exactly is Sheikh Zayed centre on Ferozpur road?
Across the street from Daewoo bus station, about a mile from Kalma chock

Great for Lahore. It's right next to the Chughtai-museuem, heyna?

;-)

Peter K

Can't wait to see this beauty built...

Hawaas, thanks for taking out time during exams.

I'll try to get some more pictures by the end of this week. Hopefully there'll be something new going on. Pakboy was right, they are working on the foundation right now.

One of the design plans from October 2005 (I think Multifunctional centre was a part of the same competetion).

http://www.ssp-muc.com/englisch/projekte/detail.php?pid=62&kid=7

They call for towers of

1. 260 m

2. 210 m

3. 180 m

SO 250m for the tallest tower in the new design can be true :banana: .

The tallest tower is definitely around 250m tall

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=598

The site has lots of Info on the project.

Across the street from Daewoo bus station, about a mile from Kalma chock


What do u mean? Daewoo station is only about 100 yards from Kalma chowk. and IF SZC is across the street from Daewoo, It should be right in front of Daewoo, shouldnt it be?
by the way, I cant recall what did they use this land for before the project?

"In setting new standards of scale on the subcontinent and the attached prestige that goes with such a project, the question everyone is asking is, what will the rival India do in response? Can we expect the two countries to slug it out in skyscrapers like they do cricket?"
This sounds exciting :)

Final presentation of design will be made on during second week of June by HOK. Hopefully i'll be able to grab some stuff from that presentation and post it here.

Cheers

India, doesnt really have to compete with us on that, Bombay has over 500 skyscrapers. 100s in Dehli and lots of them in smaller cities like Bangalore and Gurgaon too(Bangalore by the way is bigger than Lahore in population).
We are no competition to india atleast in skyscarapers. :) :runaway:

Mr. X-entric you are right. but i think the indian skyscrapers are not giving good look. they are ugly and their architecture is not good. whay do you say about that.

Haawas thanks for the pics man hope you can take more pics ... Mr X-entric why do you have to bring india in to this ? India has it's own forums you may post it there if you like..

I cant recall what did they use this land for before the project?

Khanabadosh (homeless) used to live there and construction companies used to dump debris there.

India, doesnt really have to compete with us on that, Bombay has over 500 skyscrapers. 100s in Dehli and lots of them in smaller cities like Bangalore and Gurgaon too(Bangalore by the way is bigger than Lahore in population).
We are no competition to india atleast in skyscarapers. :) :runaway:
Banglore bigger than lahore? Is there any new encyclopedia published? Lahore has 8 million official and 10 million unofficial population. only Calcutta and Bombay are bigger. Dehli is also bigger in full district and not metropolitan area.check Encarta or any other aythentic data. Banglore has never beem among metro politan cities. Lahore alongwith bombay , Calcuuta and Dehli has always beeen a metropolitan city of Subcontinent. Dhaka and Karachi , later after partition developed speedily and have become mega city also.

^^ no need to argue about the population, we are doing good, are'nt we? Our cities are booming. Lahore does'nt have a skyline of 80's and 90's buildings but I see that as a good thing, we can keep quality in perspective now and make modern glass & steel towers.

India, doesnt really have to compete with us on that, Bombay has over 500 skyscrapers. 100s in Dehli and lots of them in smaller cities like Bangalore and Gurgaon too(Bangalore by the way is bigger than Lahore in population).
We are no competition to india atleast in skyscarapers. :) :runaway:
And yet despite having so many sky scrapers, India still isnt known for its skyline... I mean, I have seen the Indian skyline, and while its ok, its really not all that great. Old buildings, spread far apart, and many resembling commie blocks..
Indian cities are charming in a rustic sort of way, but skyline leaves much to be desired.

Stay on subject!

Huma wrote.........Banglore bigger than lahore? Is there any new encyclopedia published? Lahore has 8 million official and 10 million unofficial population

Lahore pop is 2,952,689 in city where as Bangalore has 4,292,223 in city & Hyderabad pop is 3,449,878 in city & Karachi is around 5,100,000 according to Emporis (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/?id=100383). City population is more accurate scale of how large the city is &. It accurately tells you how many people actually "live" in the city and this is the true measure of city's largeness. Greater metropolitan area Pop is extremely inaccurate. The metro numbers can only be taken with huge pinch of salt because it is not covered under city municipal b/c of being much far away from city's demarcated outer limits. My point is Lahore is just not Metropolitan. Karachi is only true metropolitan of pakistan with whopping city pop of 5.1 million. If Lahore with 2.9 million is a metro than what about Hyd with 3.5 million and B'lore with 4.3 million & Dhaka with 3.4 million. They are NOT considered major metros.

X-entric wrote..........Bombay has over 500 skyscrapers. 100s in Dehli...

Dude. Where did you here that. Its just not true. Bombay has around 480 "HIGHRISES" NOT SKYSCRAPERS. Even Shanghai & Hong Kong does not have 500 Skyscrapers. I believe Skyscraper is something over 100 meters and thats tall but I'm not sure. Delhi barely has any skyscrapers but has few highrises. Check Emporis.

Your city populations are off...

Karachi is above 12 million for sure! and probaly around 7 million for Lahore.

Your city populations are off...

Karachi is above 12 million for sure! and probaly around 7 million for Lahore.

Like I said. True population is the "city" population that actually live in the "city" limits not 20 miles away from the city which is classified as "greater metropolitan area". Karachi metropolitan may bave 12 million no doubt but Karachi city's population is 5.1+ according to emporis. :)

If you take metropolitan area into account we come up with atleast 10 cities with over 10 million pop and atleast 15 cities from subcontinent with over 8 million pop but would not be accurate. :)

Like I said. True population is the "city" population that actually live in the "city" limits not 20 miles away from the city which is classified as "greater metropolitan area". Karachi metropolitan may bave 12 million no doubt but Karachi city's population is 5.1+ according to emporis. :)

If you take metropolitan area into account we come up with atleast 10 cities with over 10 million pop and atleast 15 cities from subcontinent with over 8 million pop but would not be accurate. :)


hey mate, your data from emporis is seriously outdated.we did a census in Pakistan a few years ago, and we know our population very well.
Lahore is over 7 million.(London is 7 million too.but if u account for only the CENTRAL LONDON, ie the city of wetminister, London wont be even 2 million people.so your idea that only central city's population should be accounted for is totally absurd)
Karachi is around 12 million.
and I have heard Bangalore is 7.5 million or so.
And pardon me, I meant high-risers rather than sky-scrapers in above post.
We are not as cramped of land as big indian cities like Bombay, so residential apartment complexes were never needed.The need is now arising in wake of high land prices over last 3-4 years.But most high-risers even now are of commercial nature.

^^ no need to argue about the population, we are doing good, are'nt we? Our cities are booming. Lahore does'nt have a skyline of 80's and 90's buildings but I see that as a good thing, we can keep quality in perspective now and make modern glass & steel towers.


Yeah, you have somehow extracted a positive out of that :)
lets hope all these new glassy projects do materialize.

I don't understand all the hype about being bigger...bigger cities means bigger problems...

do you guys actually think having MORE dwellers in your city is a good thing? Now kindly cut the crappy debate out! This topic isn't about the population!

mr hindustani you figures are over 30 years old. and i agree with cntower, especially in asia, more population = more wankers = more problems = more poverty

Th. Brinkhoff: The Principal Agglomerations of the World,
http://www.citypopulation.de, 2006-01-28:

Lahore: 7.550.000.
Karachi: 14.100.000.
Bangalore: 7.100.000.

(Metropolitan areas, from 2006).

Peter K

Thanks for the website TorontoCopenhagen. This website used to be me source, But for some reasons I wasnt able to find it on google.
Regards

Taavun, the group behind Zayed Centre Lahore, will be coming up with a website very soon. It will be www.taavun.com .

However, some info on Abu Dhabi Group can be found at Wateen Telecom's new website at www.wateen.com .

I've also requested some more information on Zayed Centre Lahore and Warid Telecoms new highrise that is currently under construction at Raiwind. The front part of it is almost completed and the rear part will be on its way. I have a picture of the design of Warid Telecom's office, so if you want to start a new thread I can forward the picture to a moderator.

Cheers

^ yes, please do that.

so finally we are having a website

do you know if taavun have anymore projects proposed.

m2sheikh i think everybody would want to have a look at warids telecom office...so why not post it

but why are they making the tower in raiwind, wat an awfull place to do such a thing, shouldnt they be making it in lahore,

but why are they making the tower in raiwind, wat an awfull place to do such a thing, shouldnt they be making it in lahore,
its on Rawind Road, close to Lake city/ defense road

m2sheikh..... post the pic man!

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9130/dsc004770kt.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc004770kt.jpg)

Sorry for the wait. Please mind the red spot in the middle of the picture. The red eye reduction light went crazy!

The front portion is 5 storeys high. The back portion is 25 storeys high. The site was commercialised a few months ago so maybe that supports the idea of making an office for the Technical Department at Warid Telecom. It wont be hosting other departments such as HR and Marketing. Its just for the Tech side.

Its only a kilometer away from Thokar and cost is around $70/sqft. Its designed by Architect Ahmad Mukhtar, the corporate architect of Bank Alfalah. His biggest achievement is the restoration of Shaahdin Manzil.

I'll post some more info later on this and Zayed Centre.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9130/dsc004770kt.th.jpg (http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc004770kt.jpg)

Sorry for the wait. Please mind the red spot in the middle of the picture. The red eye reduction light went crazy!

The front portion is 5 storeys high. The back portion is 25 storeys high. The site was commercialised a few months ago so maybe that supports the idea of making an office for the Technical Department at Warid Telecom. It wont be hosting other departments such as HR and Marketing. Its just for the Tech side.

Its only a kilometer away from Thokar and cost is around $70/sqft. Its designed by Architect Ahmad Mukhtar, the corporate architect of Bank Alfalah. His biggest achievement is the restoration of Shaahdin Manzil.

When is the construction going to start? Do you have anymore information?

It is already under construction. Details will follow soon, most probably in a few days or a weeks time.

need somethin like this on main bulevard gulberg

perfect for blue area isb oh well cool anyway whats the area like??