ISLAMABAD: To facilitate overseas Pakistanis ahead of the Eid Al-Adha holiday next week, Pakistan’s central pandemic response body, the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), has announced increasing the capacity of inbound international flights by 50 percent from July 15.
The NCOC has also directed authorities to make necessary arrangements on all airports to deal with the higher number of passengers.
“The decision [to increase the flight] will be implemented from July 15,” NCOC said in a statement, saying up to 3,000 additional passengers would be able to come to Pakistan daily due to the increased capacity.
The forum also announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for domestic air travel from August 1.
On July 01, Pakistan announced that international inbound flights would be enhanced to 40 percent only for direct flights from the UK, Canada, Europe, Malaysia and China.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently announced that Pakistan would fly special flights to bring home over 6,100 citizens stranded in Gulf countries due to coronavirus-related travel curbs.
Pakistan to increase inbound international flight capacity by 50% ahead of Eid
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Pakistan to increase inbound international flight capacity by 50% ahead of Eid
- Up to 3,000 additional passengers would be able to come to Pakistan daily due to increased capacity from July 15
- COVID-19 vaccinations also made mandatory for domestic air travel from August 1
73% of foreign firms in Pakistan see it as a viable investment destination — survey
- OICCI survey highlights improved investor optimism since 2023, when it stood at 61%
- Regulatory unpredictability, high costs continue to keep foreign investors cautious
ISLAMABAD: Seventy-three percent of overseas investors operating in Pakistan now recommend the country as a viable destination for direct investment, up from 61% in 2023, according to a survey of more than 200 multinational companies released on Friday, signaling a measurable improvement in investor sentiment following Pakistan’s 2022–23 foreign exchange crisis.
The 2025 Perception and Investment Survey, conducted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), which represents multinational firms in the country, found that improving macroeconomic indicators and recent policy reforms have begun to restore confidence, though investors remain cautious about regulatory unpredictability and rising business costs.
“The 2025 Perception and Investment Survey ... provides a cautiously optimistic snapshot of investor sentiment in
Pakistan,” the report said, noting that “improvements in macroeconomic indicators and recent policy reform initiatives have begun to rebuild confidence among foreign investors.”
The survey pointed to relative exchange-rate stability after a period of steep rupee depreciation, alongside credit rating upgrades by international agencies.
“73% of OICCI members now recommend Pakistan as a viable FDI destination, compared to 61 percent two years earlier,” it added.
Despite the improved macro picture, the survey warned that structural and regulatory challenges continue to weigh on investment decisions.
“The broader regulatory landscape remains complex and unpredictable,” it said, highlighting delays in tax refunds, inconsistent enforcement and weak coordination between federal and provincial authorities.
Foreign direct investment, while showing some positive movement, “remains concentrated in cautious brackets,” with most investors opting for modest commitments despite a decline in the proportion of firms planning no future investment.
Rising costs were a major concern, with nearly all respondents reporting increases in energy prices, wages and raw material costs. Political instability, sudden regulatory changes and an unclear fiscal roadmap were listed among the top investor apprehensions.
The survey warned that despite the positive outlook among multinationals operating in Pakistan, international perception of the country has improved only marginally, adding that “negative global coverage continues to influence investment decisions significantly,” and underscoring the need for a more proactive international communication strategy.
