LAHORE: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has said that media reports have “inaccurately interpreted” the data on the exit of foreign companies from Pakistan, clarifying that 79 new foreign companies were registered, whereas “only 19 foreign companies have ceased operations in Pakistan during 2022 to 2025.”
For months, headlines have painted a grim narrative: that foreign companies were leaving Pakistan, investment was drying up, and confidence in the country’s markets was collapsing.
However, the reality, according to the country’s top corporate regulator, was far more nuanced and optimistic.
The SECP stepped in to correct misconceptions, clarifying that the oft-cited numbers in the media were misleading.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the regulator said: “Only 19 foreign companies have ceased operations in Pakistan during 2022 to 2025, whereas 79 new foreign companies were registered during the same period.”
The SECP also highlighted a common source of confusion: “The figure of 125 ceased foreign companies, cited in some media reports, represents the cumulative total of companies that ceased operations since 1977 to date. This does not reflect the number of companies that exited in the last three years.”
As of February, 1,157 foreign companies remained registered and operational in Pakistan, a figure that underscored the continued investor confidence in the country’s regulatory and business environment.
The inflow of foreign capital was not limited to a single sector.
In energy, giants such as Saudi Aramco, Wafi Energy, Gunvor Group, Turkish Petroleum, and SOCAR expanded their presence, while UAE-based DP World entered a joint venture with the National Logistics Corporation, reinforcing Pakistan’s logistics and supply chain infrastructure.
Technology and digital services also saw significant activity.
Global firms such as Google, Samsung, IceWarp, and Russoft Synercon were expanding operations, and local companies such as Woot Tech received substantial foreign investment.
In a notable deal, Bazaar Technologies acquired Wemsol, and Saudi Arabia’s Waqub Data Company took an 80% stake in Woot Tech.
The telecommunications sector has been witnessing consolidation, with PTCL acquiring Telenor Pakistan. In the pharmaceuticals sector, Pfizer transferred its Karachi manufacturing plant to Lucky Core Industries to ensure production continuity, and Sanofi sold its majority stake to a local investor consortium, renaming the company Hoechst Pakistan Limited.
Agriculture, mining, and even emerging sectors such as electric vehicles also drew attention.
Italy’s Euricom S.p.A. acquired a 50% stake in Fatima Euricom Rice Mills, while mining and minerals companies, including Barrick Gold, Strategic Metals US, and Nova Minerals US, continued their investment. Electric vehicle companies like BYD, Chery Automobile, and NWTN Motors were also exploring Pakistan’s market potential.
Foreign investors already in the country are doubling down. The SECP noted: “Mashreq Bank has launched and is expanding Pakistan’s first digital bank. Kuwait-backed Raqami Digital Bank plans to invest $100 million. Nestlé is investing an additional $60 million, and the Engro Jazz consortium is committing more than $550 million toward digital infrastructure expansion.”
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase II also accelerated industrial cooperation.
To date, 24 business-to-business agreements worth $1.5 billion and memoranda of understanding totaling more than $7 billion have been signed, spanning agriculture, renewable energy, information technology, minerals, and industrial relocation.
The SECP’s data painted a clear picture: Pakistan was not witnessing an exodus of foreign companies.
Even in January alone, foreign investors invested in 82 local companies from diverse countries, including China, the US, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Australia, and more.
The narrative of panic is misleading. Companies have continued to enter the market, existing investors have continued to expand their commitments, and foreign capital has continued to flow. As the SECP concluded: “Foreign investment is continuing, partnerships are expanding, and Pakistan’s regulatory environment continues to inspire confidence among international investors.”
In an environment where fear often dominates headlines, the numbers tell a different story. Pakistan is not just holding steady; it is growing, attracting strategic investments, and positioning itself as an increasingly attractive destination for foreign capital.
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