Are We Constructing Houses on Gold?

It is always a good idea to put your hard-earned money into investments that will help you gain financial independence in the long run. Fortunately, there are many investment opportunities in Pakistan through which you can grow your money.

In Pakistan, most commonly, people invest in gold, banks, and real estate. However, we have seen that people seem to be confused about these options. Some believe that gold investment is the best option whereas others believe that banking is the winner for sure. The same goes for real estate investment in Pakistan. When you think of the real estate industry in Pakistan, you think mostly about cities like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Multan, and Faisalabad. Or maybe even developing cities like Gujranwala or Gawadar. There are large projects being undertaken in these cities all massive, all gaudy, all ridiculously priced, and almost all full of fraud, scheming, and corruption. But as much as Pakistan seems to love grossly made housing societies with little planning and a lot of nauseating design choices, there is perhaps one place where housing societies could be done right up north.

Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world, with 220 million citizens, more than 60 million strong labor force, and a growing middle class. Out of the total population, 36.38% reside in urban areas whereas 63.62 lives in rural parts. There is a growing demand for houses due to a 2.4% annual population growth rate as per census 2017. The country’s construction industry accounts for 2.53% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to the Pakistan Economic Survey. The sector employs 7.61% of the employed Pakistani labor force. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has given a boost to the construction sector through the influx of infrastructural projects including highways, power plants, and dams.

The capital requirement is the amount of money or financial resources you need to purchase a specific asset or an investment usually, higher capital yields higher financial gains. When it comes to banks, you need less capital. Many savings accounts in Pakistan can be opened for just with Rs.500. Different savings accounts offer different interest rates in Pakistan. You can add little amounts of money every month to your savings account to get more returns. For investment in gold, you need moderate capital. For instance, in Pakistan, the current price of 24K gold rate in Pakistan is Rs.217598 per tola, and 10 grams of gold is priced at Rs.186560. In short, you need a fair amount of money to invest in gold. For real estate investment, you need high capital. But keep in mind that with high capital comes higher financial gains. To invest in good projects developed by top construction companies or any property in Pakistan, you may require Rs.15 Lac and above. Returns are the additional amount that you earn from your investment. Every investment opportunity comes with its set ratio of return. Banks usually pay lower returns to their customers because the risk involved in banks is low. Even if you are not making additional money, your original investment remains safe with the bank. The banks in Pakistan usually give returns of 6% to 8%. Globally, gold funds offer 11.43% returns in the last one month and 18.51% in three months. However, this rate fluctuates now and then. Real estate is one of the most lucrative investment opportunities in Pakistan because it not only gives you a tangible asset but also offers incredible estimated returns to you. To get more about real estate news and trends watch real estate’s top YouTube channels. Land is one of the few assets whose value always appreciates over time. It means the overall value of your property will always increase.

In our analysis of the Pakistani real estate sector which is notoriously difficult to find reliable data for we have found the following: first, that it has generally been a reasonable investment for most (but not all) people who have invested in it. Second, Pakistanis invest too much in it, and we have multiple measures to indicate that the investment in real estate is too high. Thirdly, we found that the over investment has consequences for real estate affordability, not just for low-income households, but for all households except the wealthiest. And lastly, we have found that all of the advantages of a real estate investment can be replicated using other, more economically productive investments as well. An 8-Marla house can cost anywhere from PKR 6,000,000 to PKR 10,000,000, depending on the location, materials, and design complexity. There are many expenses included in this estimate, including foundations, structures, brickwork, plasterwork, flooring, electrical wiring, plumbing, and fixtures. A swimming pool, intelligent home automation, or landscaping can increase the final cost if you choose high-end materials. Pakistan’s construction sector provides up to 380 billion PKR in GDP. According to the Association of Builders and Developers, pending cases pertaining to construction and housing add up to Rs.1.1 trillion in monetary value. Fitch Solution projects an industry value of Rs.2, 705.5 billion by 2028 representing the potential of the housing and construction industry. The construction sector has been declared an industry. This brings tax relief to firms in the industry through the amendments to the tax ordinance. Reforms to tax policies provide numerous incentives to builders and developers as well as contractors. These include lower tax rates and the removal of numerous taxes previously hampering the ease of doing business in the sector. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, construction output accounts for approximately 2 per cent to the GDP of Pakistan, with housing representing less than half of that total. Real Estate Agents play an essential part in the economic development of the country.

Due to the rise in population and the need for urbanization, residential properties are in high demand. This has led to more and more people, wanting to invest in real estate. The increase in demand is the reason why Pakistan is considered home to Asia’s largest real estate investors. Most of the revenue generated from the real estate business in Pakistan is gathered from within and overseas Pakistanis. The Real Estate sector has not yet delved more into the new technological and marketing advancements taking over the world. Ironically, there is not even a single housing society in Pakistan that has an office abroad. The government has taken a few steps to ensure that the real estate business in Pakistan continues to advance by introducing awareness campaigns through various methods to help the people understand the various terminologies of the real estate business and to assist them in solving the issues they face in the business across the whole country. Another step in the development of this sector is the introduction of expos and festivals. These festivals are not only a platform for people to sell and buy, but an opportunity for them to learn about the market and get knowledge about the real estate industry.