Intensifying Foreign Investment

Aside from geopolitical factors, foreign money typically lands in regions where doing business is extremely easy, market-rate procedures prevail, the dispute settlement system functions smoothly, property rights are respected, policies that affect international investments stay constant, and, most importantly, international investors can feel right at home.

Pakistan continues to remain a poor participant in promoting investment based on all these matrices (FDI). As per the Bank Group, gross Inflow of FDI into Pakistan totaled just under one percent of GDP between 2011 and 2021. If the trend continues, net FDI inflows will fall short of one percent of Pakistan’s predicted GDP even now in 2022.

However, the latest rate hikes by SBP have been preceded by going through the roof u.s. treasury rates.

The SBP’s spectacular, unannounced interest rate hike of 250 percentage points on April 7, timed to coincide with the PTI government’s final day in the workplace, provoked huge increases in T-bill and bond rates, offering extra opportunities for foreign investors. Well before the SBP strategy rate was brought up from 9.75 percent to 12.25 percent on April 7, equity rates have gone up enough to entice international investors in nil risk T-bills but also Pakistan PIBs. In July 2021 or March 2022, international investors already had decided to invest 50 million in these securities and bills. SBP data show that they did not invest in government borrowing papers over the same time frame in FY21.

The new administration must make sure that all those asset pledges are fully met as quickly as possible. Quickly consumer products, agribusiness, banking sectors, licensing deals, and computerization are all points of focus for foreign investors. Pakistan does have an urgent requirement in these areas, as well as sufficient scope the inward foreign direct investment. Full of foreign direct investment, especially in the banking sector, might flow into the suggested online banking through a municipal partnership. SBP had also received 20 virtual bank apps. A few of these applications were decided to move by global investors, the other by small investors, yet others jointly.

As per an early January notification from the State Agency’s Office of Investor Affairs, US businesses have pledged upwards of $1.5 billion worth in Pakistan in the last 2 years, and only a small portion of the pledged invested capital has eventuated.