Exhibit 32.1

                    Certification of Chief Executive Officer
              Pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

     I, Ronald Rubin, the Chief Executive Officer of Pennsylvania Real Estate
Investment Trust (the "Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that:

     (1)  the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 as
          filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof
          (the "Form 10-Q"), fully complies with the requirements of Section
          13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m
          or 78o(d)); and

     (2)  the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Company.


                                           Ronald Rubin
Dated: August 14, 2003               -------------------------------------------
                                     Name: Ronald Rubin
                                     Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer