ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Pakistan is attracting substantial foreign investment across a wide range of sectors, particularly energy, logistics, information technology, and agriculture, largely through partnerships with Pakistani companies. Foreign investors are entering the market through new business establishments, joint ventures, acquisitions, and the expansion of existing operations, reflecting growing economic activity and investor interest.
In this context, 79 new foreign companies commenced operations in Pakistan over the past three years, while foreign firms invested Rs 40.7 billion in key sectors during the same period. A total of 61 foreign companies also carried out shareholding transactions involving local entities. Of the 61 shareholding transactions, 29 involved transfers to other foreign companies, four to foreign individual investors, 20 to local individual investors, and eight to local corporate entities.
Many of these transactions resulted from global corporate restructuring among multinational companies. Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Energy acquired Shell Pakistan’s operations as part of Shell’s global portfolio reorganization, while Dubai based PTA Global Holdings obtained a majority stake in Lotte Chemical Pakistan following an international agreement between Lotte Chemical and TotalEnergies.
Switzerland’s Gunvor Group and Total Parco Limited acquired equal stakes in TotalEnergies Pakistan, while Saudi Aramco purchased a 40 percent equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited (GO Petroleum).
In the logistics sector, UAE based DP World entered into a joint venture with the National Logistics Corporation. In the digital sector, Bazaar Technologies acquired Wemsol, and Saudi Arabia’s Waqub Data Company secured an 80 percent stake in Pakistani technology firm Woot Tech.
In telecommunications, PTCL acquired Telenor Pakistan’s operations following regional consolidation in the telecom sector. In pharmaceuticals, Pfizer transferred its Karachi manufacturing plant and related assets to Lucky Core Industries to ensure continuity of local production. France’s Sanofi sold its majority stake to a local investor consortium, after which the company was renamed Hoechst Pakistan Limited.
In agriculture, Italy’s Euricom S.p.A. acquired a 50 percent stake in Fatima Euricom Rice Mills. Netherlands based Berkeley Square Holding B.V. obtained 50 percent shareholding in Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan, Mindshare Pakistan, and Soho Square Pakistan.
In energy, companies such as Saudi Aramco, Wafi Energy, Gunvor Group, Turkish Petroleum, and SOCAR have expanded their presence. The mining and minerals sector has attracted investment from Barrick Gold, Strategic Metals U.S., and Nova Minerals U.S.
The electric vehicle industry has seen new entrants including BYD, Chery Automobile, and NWTN Motors. In technology and telecommunications, companies such as Google, Samsung, Relational, IceWarp, Pro Device, and Russoft Synercon are expanding operations, while infrastructure projects are being supported by Abu Dhabi Ports and Portugal’s Mota Engil Group.
Existing investors have also strengthened their commitments. Mashreq Bank has launched and is expanding Pakistan’s first digital bank. Kuwait backed Raqami Digital Bank plans to invest 100 million dollars. UAE telecom group e& has acquired Telenor Pakistan. Nestlé is investing an additional 60 million dollars. VEON Group has increased investment in Mobilink Bank, and the Engro Jazz consortium is investing more than 550 million dollars in digital infrastructure.
Moreover, CPEC Phase II has further accelerated industrial cooperation, with 24 business to business agreements worth more than 1.5 billion dollars and memoranda of understanding exceeding 7 billion dollars across agriculture, renewable energy, information technology, minerals, and industrial relocation.
Additional major investments include a 1 billion dollar commitment from the UAE government through a local partner, a 160 million dollar expansion in cement capacity by the Mansha Group, the entry of global logistics firm Nippon Express into TCS, and renewed investments in the mining and minerals sector. There are several additional international partnership transactions are currently in the pipeline.
As per SECP’s records, 1,157 foreign companies are currently registered and operational in Pakistan. Only 19 foreign companies exited the market during the past three years. In 2023, 31 companies entered Pakistan while six ceased operations. In 2024, 21 entered and nine exited. In 2025, 27 new companies registered while only four closed operations
