featured_mode: card | illustrationIn 2026, 1 crore in Lahore buys a 5 marla plot in many established societies such as Bahria Town, DHA Prism IX or LDA Avenue 1, or a 10 marla plot in newer schemes such as Al Jalil Garden or LDA City; budget about 2.5–3.5% extra for filer taxes and fees.
Key takeaways
- 1 crore is a plot budget, not a house budget, in most of Lahore. Houseplot's indicative data shows few houses below about 1.1 crore.
- At 1 crore you are choosing between a 5 marla plot in an established society and a 10 marla or larger plot further out.
- Keep around 3–3.5 lac aside for a filer's buyer taxes and fees on a 1 crore deal. A non-filer pays 10.5% advance tax alone.
- Gross rental yields in Lahore averaged about 5.7% in early 2026, but plots earn nothing until you build.
Quick answer
If you have 1 crore in October 2026 and want Lahore property, the realistic choice is a plot. Houseplot's indicative price data (Jun–Aug 2026) shows 5 marla plots in several established societies sitting at about 75 lac to 1.1 crore, and 10 marla plots in outer schemes near the 1 crore mark. You keep 3–4 lac back for taxes and fees, and you accept that a plot pays no rent.
If you need monthly income from day one, 1 crore buys very little built property in the data we have. That changes the question to "which plot holds value best" or "should part of this go somewhere else".
Plot vs flat vs shop for 1 crore
| Option | What 1 crore buys | Income | Liquidity | Data we hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plot | 5 marla in established societies; 10 marla to 1 kanal further out | None until built | Moderate; depends on society | Yes, 25+ societies |
| House | Very little; the lowest averages in our data start at roughly 1.1 crore (Sui Gas Housing Society Phase 2, 5 marla house) | Rent | Better in built-up areas | Yes |
| Flat | Depends on tower and location | Rent | Lower for new towers | No indicative data |
| Shop | Depends on market and frontage | Rent | Varies widely | No indicative data |
We do not hold verified flat or shop prices, so we will not give ranges for them. If you consider either, get the building's approval, the completion certificate and recent sale receipts for similar units in the same building.
Societies with growth potential
"Growth potential" is a forecast, and we have no reliable price-history source to back any society's future returns. What we can show is where 1 crore currently sits, so you can judge stage and location yourself.
| Society | Size | Houseplot indicative range (Jun–Aug 2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahria Town Lahore | 5 marla plot | about 74–85 lac | Built-up, established |
| DHA Phase 9 Prism | 5 marla plot | about 86–99 lac | Possession opened in stages in 2026 |
| DHA Phase 8 | 5 marla plot | about 83–96 lac | DHA administered |
| LDA Avenue 1 | 5 marla plot | about 90 lac–1.04 crore | LDA's own scheme |
| Canal Gardens | 5 marla plot | about 85–98 lac | |
| Eden City (wider Eden area) | 5 marla plot | about 80–92 lac | Data not split for Eden City alone |
| Etihad Town | 5 marla plot | about 0.99–1.13 crore | Raiwind Road |
| Lake City | 5 marla plot | about 1.07–1.23 crore | Just above budget |
| Al Jalil Garden | 10 marla plot | about 95 lac–1.09 crore | Outer scheme |
| Khayaban-e-Amin | 10 marla plot | about 1.10–1.26 crore | |
| LDA City | 10 marla plot | about 89 lac–1.02 crore | |
| Lahore Motorway City | 1 kanal plot | about 93 lac–1.07 crore | Outer scheme |
Two things stand out. First, the same money buys roughly double the land in outer schemes. Second, DHA's Prism IX moved from files to physical plots in 2026: DHA opened possession for Sectors A and C on 5 May and Sectors J, L and M on 18 May (DHA Lahore). Possession usually brings building activity, and building activity is what eventually supports rent.
Rental yield
If income matters, look at yield before price. Global Property Guide, updated March 2026, puts Lahore's average gross rental yield at 5.74%. Its figures for one-bedroom units in Gulberg and Iqbal Town reach 10.83%, while three-bedroom units in Askari areas sit around 4.5% (Global Property Guide). It estimates net yields run about 1.5–2 percentage points lower after costs.
Those are built-unit yields. A plot's yield is zero. To earn rent you must build, and construction in Lahore was quoted at about Rs6,500–7,500 per sq ft for essential to standard complete houses outside DHA in September 2026 (Avenir Developments). On a 5 marla house that alone is more than your 1 crore.
For pure income on small money, listed REITs are one alternative. The SECP approved a public offer of JS Rental REIT units in April 2026 and said it would take listed REITs to six (SECP).
Taxes and costs
Taxes fell for filers in the FY2026-27 budget. Here is a 1 crore plot purchase at current rates.
| Item | Filer | Non-filer | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance tax 236K (buyer) | 1.25% = Rs125,000 | 10.5% = Rs1,050,000 | FBR fair market value |
| Stamp duty | 1% = Rs100,000 | 1% = Rs100,000 | DC value |
| PLRA e-registration | 0.1% = Rs10,000 | 0.1% = Rs10,000 | Min Rs3,600 |
| TMA/local fee | reported 1% = Rs100,000 | same | Confirm locally |
| Society transfer via PTS | Rs3,000 | Rs3,000 | Per transaction |
Sources: FBR rate card, The News on stamp duty, APP on PLRA charges. The 1% TMA charge appears in Daily Pakistan's July 2026 example but we could not confirm it officially. Society transfer fees are extra.
When you sell, a filer pays 2.75% advance tax under 236C, and gains on property acquired since 1 July 2024 are taxed at 15% for filers whatever the holding period (Profit). The Finance Act 2026 also removed section 7E, the deemed-income tax on unused property (Mettis Global), which helps plot holders.
Risks
- Approval. The LDA acted against more than a dozen illegal schemes in July 2026 (ProPakistani). Check the LDA lists (LDA).
- Files without land. Islamabad's ICHS case involved about 42,000 files against land for roughly 6,000 plots (ProPakistani).
- No income. A plot costs you opportunity while it sits empty.
- Exit. A sale costs a filer at least 2.75% plus any gains tax, so short holding periods eat returns.
- Interest rates. The SBP held the policy rate at 11.5% in September 2026 (ARY News). Bank deposits are the benchmark your plot must beat.
What we'd do
We would put 1 crore into a single physical, possession-ready 5 marla plot in an approved, established society, rather than two files in launch-stage schemes. Then we would keep the tax money separate, become a filer before buying, and decide upfront how long we can hold without needing the cash.
This guide is general information; confirm current rates with FBR/the bank/a lawyer before you pay.
Sources
- Possession Opening Ceremony Phase IX Prism — DHA Lahore — 2026 possession dates
- Pakistan rental yields — Global Property Guide — Lahore gross yields, March 2026
- House Construction in Lahore 2026 — Avenir Developments — build cost per sq ft
- SECP opens new REIT investment avenue — SECP — REIT offer
- FBR Withholding Tax Rate Card 2027 — 236K and 236C
- Governor signs stamp duty amendment ordinance — The News — 1% stamp duty
- PLRA revised service charges — APP — e-registration and PTS
- Taxes on Rs20 million property FY2026-27 — Daily Pakistan — TMA charge example
- FBR removes holding period for property CGT — Profit — 15% CGT
- Commentary on Finance Act 2026-27 — Mettis Global — section 7E omitted
- LDA takes action against 14 illegal housing schemes — ProPakistani — illegal schemes
- Lahore Development Authority — scheme lists
- 42,000 plot files sold for 6,000 plots — ProPakistani — file risk
- SBP retains interest rate at 11.5% — ARY News — policy rate
- Budget 2026-27 and real estate — Brandsynario — source-of-income declaration