Up 10pc in Feb, FDI falls by 40pc in eight months

Despite odd situation on both economic and political fronts, the inflow of foreign direct investment in February increased by 10 per cent but the overall eight months’ inflows fell by over 40 per cent. The data released by State Bank of Pakistan on Monday shows that the FDI during February was $100.9 million compared to $90.8m during the same month of last year. The FDI has been declining since the beginning of the current financial year mainly on account economic vulnerability and political uncertainties. China was on the top of the list since the inflow from the country was the highest with $22.7m last month. The data shows that during July-Feb FY23, the inflows of FDI from China were $222.8m, which was the highest inflow from any one country; however, the Chinese inflows were less than last year’s $366m. Other two significant inflows were from Japan ($134m) and Switzerland with $123m. During the eight months of the current fiscal FY23, the total FDI inflows were $784.4m against $1315m in the same period of last year; a decline of 40.4pc.