For many British Pakistanis, the question of where to invest in property is no longer confined to the UK. Rising house prices, shifting demand, and uncertain interest rate paths have made the UK market less predictable.
At the same time, Pakistan’s property sector has been evolving in ways that align closely with diaspora needs: offering dollar-linked rental income, construction-linked payment structures, and greater transparency. With One Homes, a UK-based developer founded by overseas Pakistanis, these changes are reshaping how families abroad think about owning back home.
At the heart of the shift is currency protection. Rental income in Pakistan’s premium developments is increasingly collected in US dollars, shielding overseas investors from local currency volatility.
For British Pakistanis, this matters more than headline yields; it ensures that the returns on property abroad hold value against the pound, providing a buffer when sterling wavers and a natural hedge during times of global uncertainty.
This focus on income stability comes as the UK housing market shows signs of strain. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reported in September that buyer enquiries fell to their lowest since May, while house prices saw their most widespread declines in more than a year. Weak consumer sentiment, high inflation, and a shifting interest rate outlook are creating an environment where returns feel harder to secure.
By contrast, dollar-linked income from Pakistan property offers a straightforward proposition: stable cash flows aligned to a globally recognised currency.
Affordability is another driver. In the UK, higher entry prices and stricter borrowing terms make access to property harder for many families. In Pakistan, premium homes in Lahore and Islamabad are more accessible, with monthly plans that allow ownership without the burden of bulk payments.
These cities are also leading the way in terms of development quality and lifestyle appeal.
Savills’ research shows that Lahore has become Pakistan’s most populous city, with apartment supply expected to grow at a 24% compound rate over the next five years. Islamabad’s Grade A apartments already enjoy occupancy levels above 80%, supported by strong infrastructure and security.
For investors abroad, this indicates that end-user demand is deepening, a sign that ownership is not just a speculative play, but part of a real shift in how urban Pakistanis want to live.
For years, British Pakistanis hesitated to invest back home because of fraud concerns. Informal deals, opaque payment terms, and poor oversight eroded confidence. That is now changing. Professional developers are adopting UK-style processes, providing proper contracts, receipts, and digital updates.
The most effective safeguard is the construction-linked payment plan. Buyers release funds in stages tied to progress, ensuring that money flows only as milestones are achieved.
Alongside this, regular video updates of ongoing construction mean that even investors thousands of miles away can monitor their property’s progress. This level of transparency mirrors the expectations British Pakistanis have at home, giving them confidence that the promises on paper translate into real-world delivery.
The appeal goes beyond investment, because out of the 270,000 people who travel from the UK to Pakistan annually, most are diaspora. For many families, property in Pakistan is both a financial and an emotional anchor. It provides a place to return to on visits and a long-term connection for children growing up abroad.
The flexibility of using an apartment as a holiday home or renting it out when away ensures that ownership works practically, not just sentimentally. This blend of utility and yield is increasingly hard to replicate in the UK.
Britain’s rental market is under strain, with tenant demand outstripping supply, but ownership costs are rising sharply. In Pakistan, the balance is different: accessible ownership, professional management, and dollar-linked returns create an asset that works both as an investment and a lifestyle choice.
None of this is happening in isolation. Pakistan’s economy is gradually stabilising, with remittances projected to hit $38 billion this year and foreign reserves improving.
Multinational companies are leasing Grade A offices at high occupancy levels across Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, a sign of long-term corporate confidence. Reuters has also reported on Pakistan’s refiners boosting exports to global markets, an example of the country’s deeper integration into international trade. For property investors, these signals point to an economy more linked to global flows, and by extension, a property market better positioned to hold value.
For British Pakistanis weighing the choice between UK and Pakistan property, the equation is shifting. In the UK, affordability pressures, weaker buyer demand, and uncertain returns create hesitation. In Pakistan, dollar-linked rental income, transparent construction-linked payment structures, and strong urban demand in cities like Lahore and Islamabad offer a more compelling alternative.
As a UK-based developer founded by overseas Pakistanis, One Homes has helped set the standard for this new model of investment. For many families abroad, it represents not only the chance to own with confidence, but also the reassurance that property back home can deliver both returns and belonging.