ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Pakistan attracted Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) of $754.06 million in July-August 2008, compared to $458.86 million during corresponding period of last financial year showing an increase of 64.33 per cent.

Board of Investment (BOI) sources told APP that in the month of July 2008 the country’s FDI inflow was recorded at $340.7m while it was $413m in the month of August.

They added that the top investment countries in Pakistan were Singapore $216.7m (28.7pc), Malaysia $138.4m (18.4pc), US $126.7m (16.7pc), Norway $50.2m (6.7pc), UK $44.4m (5.9pc), Hong Kong $33.9m (4.5pc), Switzerland $28.0m (3.7pc) and other investments in the country were $116.3m (15.4pc).

Giving the break-up of the FDI in various sectors, the BOI sources further said that telecommunications sector attracted an FDI of $219.4m (29.1pc), financial business $189.3m (25.1pc), oil and gas exploration $78.6m, (10.4pc), power sector $34.1m (4.5pc), personal services $33.7m (4.5pc), information technology $32.4m, (4.3 pc), and other sectors attracted FDI of $166.6m (22.1pc).

The FDI position in the financial year 2000-01 to FY 2007-2008 was as under:

2000-01, $322.4m; 2001-02, $484.7m; 2002-03, $798m; 2003-04, $949.4m; 2004-05, $1524m; 2005-06, $3521m; 2006-07, $5140m and 2007-08 $5,153m.

—APP