With unique geo-strategic location, plenty of human resources, huge growth prospects, attractive investment policies and a network of financial markets make Pakistan a preferred destination for foreign investment in the region.
Located in the heart of Asia, Pakistan is the gateway to the energy rich Central Asian States, the financially liquid Gulf States and the economically advanced Far Eastern tigers. This strategic advantage alone makes Pakistan a marketplace teeming with possibilities.
A large part of the workforce is proficient in English, hardworking and intelligent. Pakistan possesses a large pool of trained and experienced engineers, bankers, lawyers and other professionals with many having substantial international experience.
Pakistan is one of the fastest growing economies of the world having touched a GDP growth rate of 8.4% in 2005. Today Pakistan has over 170 million consumers with an ever growing middle class. Foreign Direct investment has risen sharply from an average of $300 million in the 1990s to over $3.7 billion in 2008-09. Fiscal deficit has declined from an average 7% of GDP in the 1990s to around 3% in recent years. And FOREX reserves have increased from $3.22 billion in 2000-01 to $11.6 billion in June 2009.
Current investment policies have been tailor made to suit investor needs. Pakistan’s policy trends have been consistent, with liberalization, de-regulation, privatisation, and facilitation being its foremost cornerstones.
The capital markets are being modernized, and reforms have resulted in development of improved infrastructure in the stock exchanges of the country. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has improved the regulatory environment of the stock exchanges, corporate bond market and the leasing sector. Whilst the Federal Board of Revenue has facilitated structural reform in tax and tariffs and the State Bank of Pakistan has invigorated the banking sector into high returns on investment.