SECP Updates REIT Regulations to Make Real Estate Investment More Accessible

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is revamping the regulatory framework for Real Estate Investment Trusts to make REIT structures more accessible, commercially feasible and investable. The reforms aim to bring a larger share of Pakistan’s real-estate sector into regulated structures and enable the public to participate in its growth by investing in REIT units, SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said.

Dr Sidhu was addressing the gong ceremony held at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) to mark the listing of Naya Nazimabad Apartment REIT, which he described as an important milestone.

The Chairman said Pakistan’s real-estate sector was valued at more than Rs7 trillion. REITs could help document the
sector, improve transparency and allow ordinary investors to gain regulated exposure to real estate without purchasing an entire plot, apartment or building.

He said the SECP was introducing significant reforms and investment facilitation measures for the REIT sector. It had
also proposed amendments to various regulations to improve ease of doing business and support market development.

Dr Sidhu said proposed amendments to the insurance and company laws were under consideration by Parliament,
while important changes had also been proposed to the regulatory framework governing the non-banking financial
sector. Reviewing capital-market performance, he said 13 initial public offerings had raised Rs26 billion so far in 2026.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, attended the ceremony as Chief Guest.
Governor State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmad, senior government officials and representatives of the PSX, Arif
Habib Dolmen REIT Management Limited, Javedan Corporation, Central Depository Company and other capital-market institutions were also present. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif participated virtually.