Karachi: The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has urged Pakistan to leverage gains from macroeconomic stabilisation to accelerate private investment, boost exports, strengthen energy security and advance structural reforms.
According to press release, the OICCI made these observations during a meeting with a visiting delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the Chamber on Thursday.
The IMF delegation comprised Iva Petrova, Advisor, Middle East and Central Asia Department, and Mahir Binici, Resident Representative. Senior OICCI office-bearers and representatives of member multinational companies also attended the meeting.
The Chamber highlighted the decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) despite improvements in Pakistan’s external position and sovereign credit profile. It noted that net FDI declined by around 32 per cent to $1.7 billion in FY26.
The OICCI called for reducing regulatory and compliance burdens, strengthening investor protection and improving coordination between federal and provincial authorities to create a more conducive environment for investment.
It also stressed that domestic industry should take the lead by reinvesting in Pakistan, observing that foreign investors often take cues from the confidence demonstrated by local businesses.
Amid rising oil prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East, the Chamber called for immediate measures to conserve energy as well as a medium-term strategy aimed at increasing energy self-sufficiency.
It urged the formulation of a coherent energy security strategy covering power, gas and petroleum, citing high regional energy costs, circular debt, the need for investment in the refining sector and opportunities for regional energy cooperation.
On the external sector, the OICCI stressed that Pakistan could not sustain higher economic growth without increasing its capacity to earn foreign exchange. It called for greater competitiveness and productivity, stronger export-oriented sectors, deeper trade and investment ties with key international markets and increased regional trade where commercially viable.
Regarding structural reforms, the Chamber called for expediting reforms of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and pursuing credible privatisation where continued state ownership lacked a compelling policy rationale.
The OICCI also advocated separating the state’s roles as policymaker, regulator, facilitator and commercial operator to provide greater space for private-sector investment and competition.
On taxation, the Chamber called for broadening the tax base by bringing under-taxed sectors, including agriculture, real estate, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and retail, into the tax net rather than repeatedly increasing the burden on already documented businesses.