Defence Housing Authority became a society in 1953. A society under making is built on the principle of welfare with a limited number of facilities. If you are interested in expanding the number of amenities you provide, all you need is an authorization. The Pakistan Defence Officers Housing Authority had the purpose of providing welfare to the armed members. The land in DHA got allotted to the defense institution members. In 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq gained power while PDOHA started to get into problems. PDOHA had not a very smooth relationship with the Sindh government. Societies that have lived up to 3 decades or more had their goals jeopardized from their delivery. By 1980, Zia-ul-Haq passed an order for the creation of DHA. DHA had premium quality urban planning.

DHA received a governing body comprising the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff. The chairmen formed the secretary of defense. After the governing body came an executive board with serving officers.  The executive board had a duty to take care of development, planning, and housing. They had to report to the governing body every day. The governing body looked if DHA is fulfilling the policy and practices as claimed. The scheme had the power to exercise authority of its own. To avoid local government system took care of sewage, drainage, and other supplies. The presidential order divided the Karachi cantonment into two.  The cantonment’s southern part was known as the Clifton Cantonment.  Almost 76 acres of DHA phase 1 got handed to the government.

CBC was handed over to DHA because it was facing a dilemma. DHA was for retired armed forces while it looked up to the Sindh government that taxed the scheme. Due to this reason, the Sindh government started to dictate DHA. All difficulty was brought to an end in the 1980s when CBC formed with jurisdiction siding with them.