Pakistan pitches IT, agriculture, minerals, energy to global investors

November 11, 2026 (MLN): The government has told the international investment community that Pakistan is open for business, pointing to more than 500 regulatory reforms, a one-window facilitation centre and investor-friendly policy incentives, while inviting global investors to explore opportunities in sectors including information technology, agriculture, minerals, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and tourism.

Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh made the pitch while taking part in a high-level ministerial roundtable on The Next Decade of Global Investment at the 30th World Investment Conference (WIC 2026) in Geneva, Switzerland, said a press release issued.

The conference is organised by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) and has brought together ministers, heads of investment promotion agencies and international stakeholders to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities shaping global investment.

The minister said investment remains a key driver of economic growth, industrial development, job creation and shared prosperity, and that Pakistan is determined to turn its economic potential into tangible opportunities.

He pointed to the country’s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and China, and to seaports at Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar as important assets for regional connectivity, trade and logistics.

Besides the sectors above, he listed infrastructure, logistics, textiles and value-added manufacturing, and food processing as priority areas.

He said Pakistan particularly welcomes investment that builds industrial capacity, brings in modern technology, develops local supply chains, lifts exports and creates quality jobs.

On reforms, he said the government under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has carried out more than 500 regulatory reforms across around 30 sectors in coordination with about 90 federal and provincial departments.

He said these aim to simplify procedures, cut compliance costs, remove duplication and make the regulatory environment more predictable and transparent.

He cited the Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative and the Asaan Karobar Act 2025 as milestones in institutionalising these reforms.

He said the Board of Investment’s Business Facilitation Centre (BFC) in Islamabad brings 22 federal agencies under one roof through a one-window mechanism.

In its first eight months, the centre served 5,386 businesses, processed 4,555 approvals and No Objection Certificates (NOCs), facilitated investment worth Rs5.08bn and supported 15,680 jobs. It also recorded an investor satisfaction rating of 9.8 out of 10.

The minister said Investment Policy 2023 allows up to 100% foreign equity in most sectors, subject to applicable laws and sector-specific restrictions, along with repatriation of capital, profits and dividends through authorised banking channels.

For Special Economic Zones (SEZs), he cited a ten-year income tax exemption for eligible enterprises and a one-time exemption from customs duties and taxes on qualifying capital goods.

He added that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as an institutional platform for coordination between federal and provincial governments and relevant institutions, as Pakistan works to build partnerships and joint ventures that bring capital, technical expertise, innovation and market access.

Discussions at the roundtable centred on how geopolitical developments, shifting supply chains, technological change, climate challenges and evolving trade patterns are reshaping global investment.

The minister stressed the need for resilient, sustainable and competitive investment ecosystems, and said investment promotion agencies must go beyond conventional marketing to play a more active role in end-to-end investor facilitation, policy development, institutional coordination and long-term relationships with investors.

He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive investment, particularly in renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable manufacturing, modern infrastructure, digital transformation and technology-driven industries, saying investment should deliver benefits beyond financial returns by creating jobs, empowering communities, building human capital and supporting environmentally sustainable growth.

Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said Pakistan will strengthen cooperation with WAIPA and other investment promotion agencies, appreciating WAIPA’s role as a platform for dialogue among governments, investors and business leaders, and acknowledging the importance of the Board of Investment’s engagement in WAIPA’s Steering Committee.

He concluded by inviting international investors to explore Pakistan’s potential, partner with local businesses and benefit from ongoing economic and regulatory reforms.

WIC 2026 is being held in Geneva from Nov 10 to 12.

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