ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is increasingly being recognized as a promising and reliable destination for investment, according to Khurram Schehzad, an adviser to the Finance Minister. The latest Business Confidence Survey by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) indicates a significant rise in foreign investor confidence, marking the highest increase since November 2022.
According to Radio Pakistan, the survey reveals that investor confidence has improved by six percent, signaling a positive shift in the perception of Pakistan’s business environment. The survey highlights a substantial increase in optimism regarding Pakistan’s global business situation, with confidence levels jumping from ten percent to thirty-one percent.
Schehzad emphasized that the survey results demonstrate a notable improvement in Pakistan’s business climate, with the business situation index rising from eight percent to twenty percent. This change is attributed to a reduction in the cost of doing business and a more
favorable operating environment.
The survey further indicates that investors are expecting a thirty percent growth in sales, driven by industry recovery and increased demand and production activities. Employment prospects are also on the rise, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which has seen an increase from two percent to six percent. The services sector has experienced robust growth as well, jumping from seven percent to thirty percent.
The OICCI, comprising over 200 members from more than 30 countries and representing 14 sectors, has invested $22 billion in Pakistan over the past decade. The Chamber contributes one-third of the total taxes in Pakistan, with 25 of its companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, and several others part of the Fortune 500.