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Defence Housing Authorities (DHAs) operate as semi-autonomous corporate bodies created under federal and provincial statutes. While DHAs operate under the governance of local Army Corps Commanders and the Ministry of Defence, their plot allotment system differs from standard civil government housing schemes. The Friday Times+ 1

1. Army Allotment Quotas & Tier System

• Service-Based Points: Officers accrue entitlement points throughout their military career based on years of service, promotions, and gallantry awards.
• Tiered Master Plans: In new DHA developments, a fixed percentage of total plots (typically 15% to 30%) is reserved for military personnel, martyrs' families, and defence civilians. The remaining majority of plots are auctioned to the general public.  Wikipedia
• Subsidized Purchase Costs: Allotments to officers are not outright gifts; they are granted as subsidized allocation options. Officers pay heavily discounted base development fees (often ~50% of the civilian market or ballot price) via structured monthly/annual salary deductions over their service.   Dawn

2. Allotment File Flow & Secondary Market Operations

• Exemption & Allocation Certificates: When an officer reaches an entitlement milestone (e.g., promotion to Brigadier or Major General), GHQ’s Welfare and Rehabilitation (W&R) Directorate issues an Allocation File.
• Commercialization & Transferability: Officers can hold these files until DHA completes land acquisition and infrastructure development, or sell their allocation files on the open market immediately. Because DHA plots carry high market value, selling these files in the secondary market provides substantial capital gain. DHA Gujranwala
• Commercial Plots: High-ranking generals often receive options for commercial plots along major boulevards within DHA schemes. These yield significantly higher market prices than standard residential land.

3. Financial Self-Sustaining Model

• Cross-Subsidization: DHAs generate revenue by selling open-market residential and commercial plots to civilians and overseas Pakistanis at market rates. The profits from these civilian sales and commercial leases fund the infrastructure, utility networks, and the subsidized costs of the land allotted to military officers.
• Self-Financing Infrastructure: DHAs do not receive direct funding from the national defense budget; instead, development costs are financed through real estate sales, file transfers, and civic management fees collected from all residents.

Generals Are Special!

Land allotment for senior military officers in Pakistan is determined by rank, length of service, and gallantry/meritorious service awards through General Headquarters (GHQ) and Border Area Committees.

Typical Allotments by Rank

• Major General: Typically accumulates 2 residential plots (10 marla to 1 kanal each) in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) schemes or major cantonments over their career, plus 25–50 acres of agricultural land in border or rural belts.
• Lieutenant General: Typically receives 2–3 prime residential plots (1 to 2 kanals each) in major DHAs (Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Karachi), commercial plots, and 50–75 acres of agricultural land.
• General (COAS / Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee): Receives the highest tier, including multiple prime DHA plots (residential and commercial) alongside 90 acres of prime agricultural land.

Notable Generals & Allotment Details

Under military policy, all 4-Star Army Chiefs qualify for max-tier land benefits. Below are prominent examples of Generals, their reported retirement dates, and notable awards/allotments: