A hub of commercial activity… Walton Road is not as commercialized as other neighbourhoods in Lahore. However, it is dotted with small markets, including Ichra, Shahtaj Market and Shareef Market, where you can find everything under the sun, from herbs, spices, utensils to grocery items and a whole lot more. The recently established Packages Mall, which is considered to be the largest in the city, is also gaining popularity, due to the presence of a host of high-end stores.
Walton Road is also home to a string of popular eateries, which offer scrumptious samosas, jalebis, pakorays and nimko as well as refreshing juices. Given this increased commercial activity, several banks have opened their branhes there, as have many car showrooms.
Important transportation linkages… The Walton Railway Station is one of the busiest stations of Pakistan providing freight and public transportation. No wonder then, the station is always buzzing with activity during the day. With commuters traveling to different cities for recreational or business purposes. The Pakistan Railway Academy (first established in Faisalabad in 1925 and later shifted to Lahore in 1929) also has a presence. A prominent feature of Walton Road is the Old Airport, which is used by several flying clubs located nearby.
The real estate take… Commercial property options on Walton road include standalone shops and retail space in low-and high-rise buildings as well as in shopping malls. Property is in high demand and prices and rentals have increased by 15 to 50% in the last five years.
In a nutshell … Due to the recent establishment of educational institutions, as well as recreational and shopping avenues, Walton Road is set to emerge as one of Lahore’s most popular commercial areas in the forthcoming years.
By Moneeza Burney
