SECP Wants Ordinary Investors to Enter Real Estate

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is introducing reforms to the regulatory framework for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in order to make them more accessible and investable for ordinary investors. SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu emphasized that the aim is to bring a larger portion of Pakistan's Rs.

7 trillion real estate sector under regulated REIT structures. Speaking at the listing ceremony of Naya Nazimabad Apartment REIT at the Pakistan Stock Exchange, Dr. Sidhu highlighted that REITs could provide transparency and regulated exposure to the real estate market for individual investors, without the need to purchase entire properties.

The SECP has proposed amendments to various regulations, including insurance and company laws, to improve the ease of doing business and support market development. The reforms, which have been ongoing for the past eight months, include digitalization of the regulatory system, simplification of compliance processes, and enhanced market access.

These measures have resulted in a 36 percent increase in the number of investors, with 13 initial public offerings raising Rs. 26 billion so far in 2026.