Assalam-o-Alaikum, I am Malik Junaid from Gains Real Estate.
During the last four or five years, many overseas Pakistanis who invested in Pakistan’s property market suffered considerable losses. Before that period, overseas investors were generally satisfied with their investments, but the experience of many recent investors has been different.
Most overseas Pakistanis booked properties while sitting abroad. They depended on property dealers in Pakistan—some worked with large companies, while others dealt with smaller agents. I do not want to label every dealer as good or bad because the size of a company does not determine the quality of its advice. What really matters is how sincere, knowledgeable and professionally competent the person advising you is.
There is no fixed formula for identifying the right property consultant. You must use your personal judgment and examine how that person works. Does the consultant understand the relevant market? Can they explain why a particular investment is suitable? Are they genuinely interested in protecting your money, or are they only trying to complete a sale?
For me, sincerity is the most important quality. A person may possess market knowledge, but if they are not honest with you or do not take a genuine interest in managing your investment, you will eventually become frustrated. You may even begin to believe that the project itself was a mistake. However, the project may not always be the problem—the person whose advice influenced your decisions may also have been wrong.
The most responsible approach is to start making your own decisions. Take responsibility for managing your investments instead of transferring that responsibility entirely to someone else. If the investment generates a profit, you will understand why it succeeded. If it results in a loss, you will be able to examine your own decision, learn from it and improve your strategy.
Accepting your own mistake is often easier than living with the feeling that another person misled you. A professional adviser can guide you, but the final decision and responsibility must remain yours.
Overseas Pakistanis who still want to invest in Pakistan should understand that good opportunities remain available. Property markets operate in cycles. One cycle ends, another begins, and sometimes the market remains slow for several years. That does not mean people stop investing. Investors are still approaching us today, and we are helping them identify suitable opportunities.
What changes during a slow market is the investment strategy.
Sometimes an investor believes it is the right time to exit, while that may actually be the worst time to sell. This is why I continuously explain these matters in my videos. My objective is to help people understand property themselves, develop an interest in their investments and reduce the possibility of making avoidable mistakes.
Property cycles repeatedly move through positive and negative phases. Government policies, economic conditions and other factors can make the market restrictive. Investment volume shrinks, while buying and selling activity becomes extremely low—as we are witnessing now.
However, this situation will not necessarily continue forever. Instead of abandoning property investment, you should search for specific locations and opportunities that may offer stronger long-term potential.
For overseas Pakistanis, I recommend studying the M-2 Motorway corridor near New Islamabad International Airport. This corridor extends roughly between Islamabad Toll Plaza and Chakri Interchange. Within this wider area, several major housing projects deserve consideration:
Capital Smart City Phase 1, Capital Smart City Phase 2, Capital Smart City Phase 3, DHA Gandhara and Faisal Town Phase 2.
In my assessment, these are some of the main investment avenues that could experience meaningful appreciation in the future.
Twenty years ago, developments such as DHA and Bahria Town appeared distant from the city. Today, these locations have become established names, and people deliberately choose to live there. Those projects represented the future at that time. The developments around the new airport and the M-2 Motorway represent a similar future opportunity today.
If you are still unable to decide what to do, I would advise you to study future-oriented locations—places supported by connectivity, infrastructure and the potential for community development.
At the time of this video, a plot in Capital Smart City Phase 3 is available at approximately PKR 22–23 lakh. Options in Faisal Town Phase 2 may also be found within a similar range.
If possible, consider purchasing a cleared or fully paid plot because it may reduce your total cost. When you complete the payment, you can potentially save a considerable amount compared with a longer installment plan. However, if full payment is not possible, installment options can still provide an opportunity to enter the market gradually.
This is not simply a marketing claim, and I am not saying that these locations will transform immediately. Development requires time. You should not assume that this is a one- or two-year game in which you will quickly purchase a file, earn a profit and sell it.
That short-term expectation has already caused losses for many overseas investors. Some people purchased files believing that their prices would increase within days and that they would immediately resell them. That is the wrong mindset.
Always remember: treat property as property—do not treat it as gambling.
If you want to invest in real estate, enter the market with the mindset of a genuine property investor. Study the location, verify the NOC and documentation, understand the payment plan, assess development progress and allow sufficient time for the investment to mature.
No adviser can guarantee appreciation or profit. However, with proper research, realistic expectations, personal responsibility and guidance from an experienced and sincere consultant, you can make a much more informed investment decision.
What is the safest way for overseas Pakistanis to invest in Pakistan?
Investors should verify ownership, approvals, payment history and transfer procedures while selecting projects according to their budget, timeline and risk tolerance.
Which Islamabad property areas may offer long-term potential?
The corridor between Islamabad Toll Plaza, New Islamabad International Airport and Chakri Interchange contains major projects such as Capital Smart City, DHA Gandhara and Faisal Town Phase 2.
Should overseas Pakistanis purchase property on installments?
Installments can make entry easier, while fully paid plots may reduce the total cost. The right choice depends on available funds and the investor’s long-term plan.
Can property investment returns be guaranteed?
No. Property prices and returns cannot be guaranteed. Investors must examine approvals, development, location, documentation and market conditions.