Bahria Icon Tower
Skyscraper in Karachi, Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bahria Icon Tower is a skyscraper complex in the seaside municipality of Clifton in Karachi, Pakistan. The complex includes a 62-storey tower, which at 896 feet (273 m),[2][3] is the tallest building in Pakistan and among the tallest buildings in South Asia.[5][6] The complex also includes an adjacent 42-storey building[7] and is owned by the Bahria Town Group. The construction of Bahria Icon Tower was started in 2009 and completed in March 2016. Further development of the complex has been on hold since 2021.[8]
| Bahria Icon Tower | |
|---|---|
بحریہ آئکون ٹاور | |
Bahria Icon in 2021 | |
 Interactive map of the Bahria Icon Tower area | |
| General information | |
| Status | Topped-out |
| Location | Bahria Town Icon Tower, #5, Block 4, Shahrah-e-Firdousi, Clifton, Karachi-75600, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°48′42.48″N 67°1′43.25″E, |
| Construction started | 2009 |
| Topped-out | 2017 |
| Completed | March 2016 |
| Cost | USD $162.5 million[1] |
| Owner | Bahria Town |
| Height | |
| Tip | 896 feet (273 m)[2][3] |
| Roof | 896 ft (273 metres)[4] |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 62 + 7 below ground |
| Floor area | 24,009,000 sq ft 551.171 acres (2,230,500 m2) |
| Lifts/elevators | 16 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Arshad Shahid Abdullah (Pvt.) Ltd. |
| Developer | Bahria Town |
| Structural engineer | BEG Associates, ESS.I.AAR. |
| Main contractor | Habib Rafiq (Pvt.) Ltd. |
| Other information | |
| Parking | 1,700 spaces |
| Website | |
| bticon | |
Bahria Town Icon
Bahria Town Icon is a 62-storey, 896-foot (273 m) skyscraper in the skyscraper complex, Bahria Icon Tower.
Bahria Hotel Tower
Bahria Hotel Tower is 42-storey, 656-foot (200 m) skyscraper in the skyscraper complex, Bahria Icon Tower.
Mall of Karachi
Mall of Karachi is a mall located in Bahria Hotel Tower and Bahria Town Icon, it is spread across eight floors.
Location
The complex is based on a four acre plot in the up-scale Clifton area,[9] and is immediately adjacent to the Bagh Ibne Qasim park, and shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi[10] - an 8th-century mystic who is widely regarded as the patron saint of Karachi.[11]
History
Construction began in 2009.[12] During its construction, excavations for the foundations caused inconvenience for traffic flow.[13] It was topped out in October 2017.[14] In November 2018, a small fire broke out at the site where a marriage hall and cinema were being installed.[15] Fireworks were shown on its completion.[16] Construction had been slow and marred by allegations of corruption against the owner of Bahria Group, Malik Riaz.[17]
In May 2025, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced plans to auction Bahria Icon Tower to recover due Rs. 26.46 billion in unpaid taxes, scheduling it for 19 June 2025 under section 138(2)(a) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.[18] However, on June 13, 2025, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a stay order, halting the auction process. This came after a petition filed by Bahria Town, asserting that it was not involved in the £190 million NAB Al-Qadir Trust case corruption case.[19]
Further development of the complex has been on hold since 2021.[8]
In May 2025, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) announced plans to auction Bahria Icon Tower to recover Rs. 26.46 billion in unpaid taxes, scheduling it for 19 June 2025 under Section 138(2)(a) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001
Details
The main building consists of 10 floors of serviced corporate offices and 40 floors of serviced apartments, Pakistan's highest located terraced restaurant, a double-decker high speed elevator, and a shopping mall.[20][21][22] The building will be serviced by 16 high-speed elevators.[14] It will have a carpark with 1,700 spaces,[23] and total area of 24,008,902 ft2 (2,230,500 m2).[23]
It has 62 floors above ground, and 7 below ground.[12] It is made of reinforced concrete with a glass facade.[12] Steel was procured by Cellpor,[24] and produced in conjunction with the Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal conglomerate.[25] It is expected to be complete by March 2023. Over the past three years, no progress has been built and the building is still not finished to this very day.
Honors and awards
The design won architectural design awards for efficient use of space and maximization of utility, including
- Highly commended high-rise architecture, International Property Award winners from Asia Pacific 2012[26]
Gallery
