The air inside Hall 3 of the Karachi Expo Center this morning was different. It didn’t feel like just another property expo where developers hand out brochures for the next high-rise. As the doors opened for the 6th PropTech Convention & Expo 2026 on January 22nd, there was a tangible sense of urgency—and opportunity.

For those of us who have watched Pakistan’s real estate market for the last decade, we know the industry has often been slow to adapt. But today, standing among policymakers, financiers, and tech leaders, it was clear: the shift is no longer coming; it’s here.

Day 1 of the convention, organized by Landtrack.pk and Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan, wasn’t just about selling square footage. It was about solving the massive structural issues facing our cities—from housing the next billion to saving our coastlines.

Here is my deep dive into the insights, the deals, and the future-forward discussions that defined Day 1.

The Morning Pivot: Saving the Coast & The Blue Economy

The convention kicked off with a heavy hitter: Responsible Coastal Development.

Karachi is a coastal city, yet we often turn our backs on the ocean. The opening high-level panel was a wake-up call regarding Pakistan’s “Blue Economy.” Experts from conservation and development sectors argued that we can no longer build on the coast without building for the coast.

The discussion on sustainable fisheries and coastal housing wasn’t just environmental—it was economic. The consensus? If we destroy the asset (the environment), the real estate value vanishes with it. For investors, the takeaway was sharp: the next wave of high-yield projects will be those that integrate eco-sustainability, not those that ignore it.

Bricks to Blockchain: The Digital Leap

Perhaps the most buzzing phrase on the floor today was “Bricks to Blockchain.”

For years, real estate in Pakistan has been plagued by opacity. Who owns what? Is the file legal? Today’s leadership talks tackled this head-on. The shift toward digital ledgers and blockchain isn’t just a tech gimmick; it’s the only way to build genuine trust.

We saw a fascinating breakdown of how technology is reshaping ownership. The idea is simple but revolutionary: moving away from the cumbersome paper-based “file system” toward transparent, immutable digital records. This links directly to the convention’s core theme of “Data-Driven Decisions”, ensuring that buyers aren’t just guessing—they’re investing based on verified data.

The Human Element: Affordable Housing is Not a Buzzword

One of the most poignant moments of the morning was the launch of the affordable housing book by Syed Zaigham Rizvi.

In a market obsessed with luxury penthouses, Rizvi’s work brought the conversation back to reality. The subsequent fireside chat focused on affordable housing not as a charity, but as a “catalyst for inclusive growth.”

From an analyst’s perspective, this is crucial. The top 1% of the market is saturated. The real “PropTech” opportunity lies in using technology (like pre-fab construction or AI-driven financing) to make homes accessible to the salaried class. This aligns perfectly with the convention’s mission to enable “salaried-class ownership”.

Afternoon Insight: Trust, REITs, and The Money Trail

As the ribbon-cutting ceremony formally opened the exhibition floor, the afternoon session pivoted to the engine that keeps real estate running: Finance.

The lack of trust has been the single biggest barrier to foreign and local investment in Pakistani real estate. The sessions on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were particularly enlightening.

REITs are the answer to the “trust deficit.” By institutionalizing ownership, we move from individual landlords to regulated, transparent entities. The panels discussed the regulatory frameworks needed to make this mainstream. If you are an investor looking for safety, the message from Day 1 was clear: look for projects backed by REIT structures and solid financial governance.

The Game Changer: Tokenization & Fractional Ownership

If I had to pick one “headline” topic for the day, it was the session on Fractional Ownership and Tokenization.

Imagine owning a share of a commercial high-rise in Blue Area or Clifton for just PKR 50,000. That is the promise of tokenization. The speakers highlighted how this model could unlock a multi-billion-dollar economy in Pakistan.

Currently, real estate is an “illiquid” asset—it’s hard to sell quickly. Tokenization makes it liquid. For the average Pakistani investor, this is revolutionary. It democratizes access to high-value assets that were previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy. This session drew the largest crowds, proving that the market is hungry for “Mortgageable Ecosystems” and accessible investment tools.

Community & Innovation: Beyond the Concrete

The day wrapped up with showcases of projects like Ocean Gardens, which are attempting to blend modern waterfront living with the tech-driven designs discussed earlier.

But the final panel on “Integrated High-Rise Communities” hit a different note: “Shifting the conversation from buildings to belonging.”

In a dense city like Karachi, vertical living is inevitable. But a building without a community is just a concrete cage. The discussion emphasized that successful developers in 2026 won’t just be selling apartments; they will be selling managed communities, complete with shared workspaces, tech-enabled security, and social hubs.

What’s Next? (Days 2 & 3)

Day 1 has set a blistering pace. We’ve covered the “Why” (Sustainability and Trust) and the “How” (Blockchain and REITs).

Tomorrow (January 23rd) and the final day (January 24th) promise to dig deeper into the nuts and bolts:

Web3 & AI: How Artificial Intelligence will predict property prices.

Construction Materials: The “Green Construction” tech that lowers costs.

Digital Payments: streamlining the transaction process.

If today was about the vision, the next two days are about the execution. If you are in Karachi and haven’t stopped by Hall 3 yet, you are missing the blueprint for the next decade of real estate.

See you on the floor tomorrow.

Q1: What are the dates and location for the PropTech Convention 2026?

A: The convention is a three-day event being held from January 22nd to January 24th, 2026, at the Karachi Expo Center, Hall 3.

Q2: Who should attend the PropTech Convention?

A: The event is designed for a broad audience, including real estate developers, investors, construction professionals, government policymakers, and technology enthusiasts. It aims to connect stakeholders from Pakistan, the GCC, and beyond.

Q3: What was the main focus of Day 1 of the convention?

A: Day 1 focused on “Urban Growth, Housing & Digital Transformation.” Key topics included responsible coastal development, the transition from traditional real estate to blockchain (tokenization), affordable housing, and the role of REITs in building investor trust.

Q4: Is the event only about buying and selling property?

A: No. While there are project showcases and stall deals, the convention focuses heavily on education and policy. Themes include Data-Driven Decisions (using AI for pricing), Green Construction (climate-aligned housing), and Tokenization (making real estate accessible to smaller investors).

Q5: I missed Day 1; can I still register or attend?

A: Yes! The convention continues for two more days (Jan 23rd and 24th). Upcoming sessions will cover Digital Payments, Web3, AI in real estate, and construction materials. You can typically register onsite at the Expo Center or check landtrack.pk for details