By S.M. Inam
ISLAMABAD: A recent survey by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry showed that confidence in foreign direct investment in Pakistan had risen sharply. Investor confidence reached seventy-three percent, up from sixty-one percent in the previous assessment.
Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister on the economy, described the survey as a clear sign that foreign investors were regaining trust in government policies. He said initiatives under the Special Investment Facilitation Council had created a more stable and attractive investment environment. “Economic stability and a favorable policy framework have made Pakistan a first choice for foreign investment,” he added.
The survey also highlighted significant inflows from major global companies. Nestlé announced an additional investment of sixty million dollars to turn Pakistan into a regional export hub. The company said it would expand local production and supply exports to twenty-six countries. Azerbaijan’s state-owned energy firm, SOCAR, was also set to finalize its investment in Pakistan’s oil and gas sector in February.
Schehzad noted that twenty foreign investors had arrived in Pakistan over the past fifteen to eighteen months, reflecting a boost in industrial activity. These included Google, BYD, Aramco, Samsung, Turkish Petroleum, Nova Minerals, and Abu Dhabi Ports. Large-scale manufacturing recorded a six percent increase in the first five months of the fiscal year.
Consumer and industry activity also showed strong recovery. Vehicle sales rose thirty-two percent, cement sales ten percent, fertilizer sales twenty-four percent, and mobile phone sales twenty percent. Remittances reached a record 19.7 billion dollars, up eleven percent, while technology exports hit 437 million dollars.
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