Foreign firms repatriate $752m in July-September

Repatriation of profits and dividends on foreign investments rose by 86 per cent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (FY26), reaching $752 million compared to $404.5m in the same period last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday. The sharp increase marks a shift in policy, as the government has eased restrictions on profit outflows, which were tightly controlled over the past three years. The change is reportedly influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has urged Pakistan to liberalise foreign exchange operations. Despite a $110m current account surplus recorded in September, the broader economic picture remains challenging, with the trade deficit rising to $9bn in the first quarter. The government is also negotiating rollover of large debt repayments due in FY26.