LAHORE: Foreign investors’ perception of the country’s security and law and order situation has significantly improved in the last year, revealed the survey results conducted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) on Tuesday

The survey, conducted last month, said the security situation in Balochistan improved by 40 per cent, 70pc in Karachi and Lahore – home to most of the OICCI member offices.

The visibly improved security situation has boosted confidence of foreign investors and is reflected in over 65pc increase in the visit to the country by OICCI members’ senior management, according to the survey.

“The increase in visits is a vote of confidence in the improved security environment. This improved security environment has allowed many foreign business visitors and trade delegations being granted travel permissions for their visits to Pakistan from their respective embassies and travel security agencies,” reads the survey report.

The annual security survey, conducted among OICCI members, is one of the critical annual assessments of the operating conditions in the country and is taken very seriously by the potential investors, relevant diplomats and other stakeholders interested in doing business in the country.

Whilst, overall responses clearly convey continued improvement in the general security environment, the increase in street crimes, an attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi, sporadic religious/communal attacks in Balochistan province and some consequences of the recent spat between India and Pakistan, are also reflected in this survey.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2019