Outflows from portfolio investors reduce by 53% in Fiscal Year 18

According to data released from the State Bank of Pakistan, foreign investment in Pakistan increased by 99% in the Fiscal year 2018, as it was reported at $4.97 billion compared to $2.49 billion in the previous fiscal.

This jump in foreign investment is a result of the issuance of 5 and 10 year Euro Bonds on December 5, 2018, worth $1 billion and $1.5 billion respectively, bringing in a total inflow of $2.5 billion through these sources. Consequently, total foreign public investments increased by over 800% from $262 million in the fiscal year 2017 to $2.45 billion in the fiscal year 2018.

Foreign private investments, on the other hand, witnessed an increase of about 13%, reaching $2.53 billion in the fiscal year 2018, compared to $2.23 billion during the previous fiscal.

The bulk of this increase was due to the fact that outflows from portfolio investors reduced significantly, whereas total direct investments showed only a nominal increase of 1%. Outflows from portfolio investors reduced from $513 million in the fiscal year 2017 to $240 million in the fiscal year 2018, a reduction of about 53%.

Total private direct investments flowing into the country were recorded at $3.44 billion, about the same level as the previous fiscal, while direct investments flowing out of the country recorded a 5% decrease after being reported at $671 million compared to $704 million in the previous fiscal year.