Investment approach imperative.

The investors did not have high expectations from their businesses under the struggling economy but keep running the businesses under making minimum investment just to avoid a halt to activities, said experts. Through clearing the way for profit repatriation to headquarters abroad the experts also emphasised that the Government of Pakistan should have given top priority to foreign financiers, which would have given them confidence and encouraged the investors to pour more capital.

Net FDI in Pakistan ($ Million)

Sector 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24(July)

Oil and Gas 249 146 372 349.8 311.4 251 195.3 135.1 15.2

Financial Business 289 297.3 400.3 286.5 274.8 236.4 405.3 275.1 3.6

Textiles 20 15.5 49.7 76.8 37.7 2.6 3.6 11.5 0.1

Trade 26.6 32.6 143 76.3 43.2 115.9 79.9 45.3 0.9

Construction 36.9 8.3 40.4 70.2 20.9 31.1 36.5 19 -0.2

Power 1,153.40 716 1,179.50 -323.9 765.6 911.7 737.6 622.6 45.1

Chemicals 60.3 88.5 5.4 48.9 24 0.9 29.3 49.7 3.1

Transport 6.2 166.8 163.5 56.9 -1.5 -93.6 34.8 40.2 1

Communication(ITandTelecom) 241.4 -49.2 113.5 -55.7 664 117.1 118.9 59.3 8

Others 121.3 1,071.20 375.7 739.2 457.4 247.4 226.6 198 11

Total 2,392.90 2,406.60 2,780.30 1,362.40 2,597.50 1,820.50 1,867.80 1,455.80 87.7

Statistics showed that Multinational Companies (MNCs) in a year can dispatch only 20 per cent of profits and dividends estimated at $1.5 billion. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) according the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) statistics, in July grew by 17.3 per cent on year-on-year (YoY) basis to $87.7 million July 2023 as against to $74.8 million in the corresponding month in 2022. During July 2023 the inflow of FDI grew by $12.9 million.

In Pakistan the foreign private investment furthermore, grew by 32.4...