The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has registered three new Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Schemes in January 2026, marking another major step in strengthening Pakistan’s regulated real estate investment landscape. With this addition, the total number of registered REIT schemes in the country has risen to twenty-eight under the updated REIT Regulations, 2022. According to SECP, the newly registered schemes include two Rental REIT Schemes and one Investment-Based REIT Scheme. Rental REITs are designed to pool investor funds for income-generating rental properties, while Investment-Based REITs focus on earning capital gains through real estate investments. Following their registration, these REIT schemes are now eligible to raise funds from accredited investors such as financial institutions, corporates, insurance companies, and high-net-worth individuals. This move further expands structured investment opportunities in Pakistan’s real estate sector. An SECP official stated, “The registration of new REIT schemes reflects growing investor confidence and highlights the success of regulatory reforms aimed at promoting transparency and early market participation.” The approvals come under the revamped Real Estate Investment Trust Regulations, 2022, which were introduced to improve governance, transparency, and investor protection. Under the amended rules, both rental and investment-based REIT schemes are required to be mandatorily listed within one year of transferring real estate assets to the REIT’s name. This requirement is intended to encourage early listings and enhance the visibility of REITs as a credible capital market asset class. Over the past few years, Pakistan’s REIT sector has shown consistent growth as investors increasingly prefer documented and regulated investment structures over traditional real estate dealings. REITs are widely seen as a tool to modernize Pakistan’s real estate sector by improving documentation, formalizing transactions, and strengthening governance standards. Market analysts believe that continued regulatory support and rising investor participation could allow REITs to play a transformative role in real estate development while offering safer, more transparent investment avenues.