FDI registers increase in Pakistan in FY 2020 - 21

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) data showed that Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan has increased by 40% to $226.7 million in the first two months of the ongoing fiscal year of 2020/21 with analysts believing that overseas investors were betting on an economic recovery from the five-months of the downturn.

The central bank’s data showed that the FDI increased by $162 million in the same period of the last fiscal year. As per the data, the majority of new investments were seen in financial businesses, electrical machinery and oil and gas exploration sectors.

In August, the FDI totalled $112.3 million, depicting 24% growth from the corresponding month of FY2020.

Analysts told *The News* that the persistent upward trend in the FDI was an indication of overseas investors being optimistic about the economic recovery in Pakistan.