Foreign investors see improvement in security.

Byline: Khaleeq Kiani

ISLAMABAD -- Foreign investors are excited over Pakistan's fast improving security situation, saying the two main business centres - Karachi and Lahore - are now on a par with other mega cities in the region.

In a survey - Annual Security Survey 2020 - released on Monday, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) said the foreign investors have shown overall high level of satisfaction on the fast improving security environment in the country.

The survey was conducted by the OICCI that claims to be the largest chamber in terms of economic contribution and representing top 200 foreign investors in Pakistan. The survey, it said, was based on feedback on the security environment from July 2019 to June 2020.

The survey participants appreciated the performance of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the main business centres of Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore, raising the security satisfaction profile of the two cities to a level of other mega cities in the region.

OICCI survey finds Karachi, Lahore on a par with other mega cities of region

Commenting on the survey findings, OICCI President Haroon Rashid said: 'The smooth and professional handling of the brazen attack on Pakistan Stock Exchange on June 29, and restoring order within a very short time, is a testimony of the OICCI members' confidence in the ability of the LEAs to professionally combat any threat to life and property in the country.'

He said the foreign investors were not deterred by isolated incidents and continued to take a holistic view of the operating environment that OICCI members perceive as highly positive, showing continuous improvement.

The survey respondents included CEOs and senior management of member organisations, and was participated by 70pc of the OICCI's 200 members, who belong to 35 countries and operate in 14 key sectors of the economy in Pakistan. Over two thirds of the members had their head offices in Karachi with operations all over country. The survey was conducted between May 15 and June 22.

The survey showed that the foreign investors were overall impressed with further improvement in the security environment over the past 12 months, especially in Karachi and Lahore, with noticeable improvement in other business centres as well.

About 60pc of the respondents have reported improved security environment for own and customer business, as well as for their respective suppliers and employees. 'This improvement is over and...