The project, located in close proximity to the city centre, is developed to meet the requirements of the country's population seeking unique living environments.  Canyon Views is part of a Rs145 billion ($2.4 billion) development outlay by Emaar in Pakistan and is located in the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Phase 2 extension.

"Mirador homes form the first component of Canyon Views, Emaar's first master-planned community in Pakistan," said Mohammed Al Falasi, Managing Director, Emaar Pakistan.

"With Mirador, Emaar is bringing in the best of Portuguese style living quarters, the architectural components of which are perfectly suited for the warm climes of Pakistan," he added.

Mirador offers its residents a range of community and sports amenities such as cricket grounds, swimming pools and tennis courts.  The town centre will feature retail outlets, restaurants, fitness facilities, schools and a mosque.  Perfectly suited for families, each stand-alone Mirador villa recreates the flourish of Portuguese architecture with terracotta walls, gabled roofs and wrought iron detailing. Wide-open green spaces, meandering walkways and tree-lined streets set the stage for an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of typical urban quarters. Advanced entertainment and communication facilities are also offered including hi-speed Internet access.

All villas have private yards enclosed by boundary walls. Twenty-four hour security and maintenance services will also be provided.

"Emaar has a track record of handing over 14,000 homes in varied master-planned community projects in Dubai, and we are expanding on the same model in Islamabad with the Mirador homes at Canyon Views," said Al Falasi.

"These villas mark a celebration of life by offering residents a proportioned living quarter with large balconies opening to lush green landscapes and a wide range of community amenities," he added.

Emaar Properties, the Dubai-based public joint stock company and one of the world's largest real estate companies, is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and is part of the Dow Jones Arabia Titans Index.

The company has joint ventures and projects across the region covering India, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Emaar's Pakistan development initiatives are in line with the company's Vision 2010 of becoming one of the world's most valuable companies through focused expansion and diversification. Emaar is also developing the Highlands in Islamabad and Crescent Bay in Karachi apart from having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port Qasim Authority to develop a mixed-use project in Karachi.