Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu has said that steps are being taken to strengthen Pakistan's domestic currency bond market, while the listing of Naya Nazimabad Apartments REIT on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) is an important milestone.
He said the size of Pakistan's real estate sector exceeded Rs7 trillion. He made these remarks while addressing the gong-striking ceremony for the listing of Naya Nazimabad Apartments REIT at the PSX on Thursday.
He said REITs could play an important role in documenting the real estate sector and providing ordinary citizens with an opportunity to invest in it. The SECP was introducing major reforms and facilitating investment in the REIT sector, he added.
The SECP had achieved significant milestones over the past eight months and proposed amendments to laws aimed at facilitating businesses and developing the market. Proposed amendments to insurance and company laws were currently under consideration by parliament. Important amendments had also been proposed to regulations governing the non-banking financial sector.
He said the digitalisation of the regulatory system, simplification of legal compliance and improved market access were among the SECP's top priorities. The commission was ensuring compliance with regulations to promote transparency in the market and protect investors.
So far in 2026, Rs26 billion has been raised through 13 IPOs. Companies from the manufacturing, agriculture, real estate, energy and technology sectors have raised capital through the stock market.
Improved access to the market had resulted in a 36% increase in the number of investors. Since January, 168,000 new investors have joined the stock market, taking the total number of investors to 630,000.
Several long-standing issues faced by foreign investors, particularly Chinese investors, had been resolved. He said the SECP was working on an important initiative to increase the number of capital-market investors, while the company registration process had also been further simplified.
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