SECP moves to revamp REIT rules to widen public access

Mettis Global reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan is overhauling the rules for Real Estate Investment Trusts to make them easier for the public to access and more commercially workable. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu made the remarks on Thursday while speaking at the Pakistan Stock Exchange, where the Naya Nazimabad Apartment REIT was being listed. According to the report, the reforms aim to bring a bigger share of the country's property market into regulated structures.

Dr Sidhu said the sector is worth over Rs7 trillion and that REITs could document it and raise transparency. Under this approach, small investors could gain exposure to property through REIT units without buying a whole plot, apartment or building. Alongside this, the regulator is rolling out investment facilitation steps and proposing changes to several rules, including insurance and company law amendments now before Parliament.

On capital markets, the chairman said 13 IPOs had raised Rs26 billion so far in 2026, drawing companies across manufacturing, agriculture, property, energy and technology. Investor numbers are up 36% after steps taken to widen market access. Digitalisation, simpler legal compliance and continued enforcement of laws remain the regulator's stated priorities.