Dubai's Majid Al Futtaim Group has decided to establish at least seven new Hyperstar brand hypermarkets in Pakistan within coming five years.

The sources informed that the group has rolled out its first mega-store in the city of Lahore in May.

Majid Al Futtaim, which functions the Carrefour chain of hypermarkets in the UAE and across the Middle East, plans to extend its business in Pakistan by establishing a second Hyperstar in the country's commercial capital Karachi early next year. The sources said that Pakistan's first Hyperstar is situated at the Fortress Stadium in Lahore's upmarket Cantonment area. It built over 8,500 square metres and provides 40,000 different types of goods.

MAF Hypermarkets aims to set up at least three stores in Lahore, two in Karachi and one each in the cities of Islamabad, Faislabad and Multan within the next five years. The company has informed the Pakistani government of its plans to create 5,000 jobs at the planned stores.

In the Middle East, Majid Al Futtaim functions a joint-venture called Majid Al Futtaim Hypermarkets together with France's Carrefour, the world's second-largest retailer. The venture operates 36 Carrefour hypermarkets in this region, including 11 in the UAE.