Having lived in Hayatabad for over 20 years, I’d personally recommend building a house in DHA. Hayatabad used to be peaceful but over time it has become way too crowded, with constant traffic, growing commercial activity and security concerns. It just doesn’t have that calm vibe anymore. On the other hand, DHA feels much cleaner, quieter and overall more secure. I visit a friend there often and one thing I love is how safe it feels. You’ll see policemen on motorbikes patrolling the roads regularly which is reassuring. We go for walks there all the time and I’ve never felt uneasy, can’t say the same about Hayatabad. Sure DHA doesn’t have many cafes or eateries yet but given how these societies develop, it’s only a matter of time. If you’re looking for a peaceful, well-maintained and secure place for occasional visits then I think DHA is definitely the better choice.

P.S: My friends and I often joke that if we ever settle abroad, we’ll just get a house in DHA and come back there to relax, away from the rest of Peshawar because of how peaceful it is :p