Foreign investors repatriated nearly $1.7 billion in profits and dividends from Pakistan during the first seven months of FY2025-26 (7MFY26), reflecting higher earnings outflows across key sectors, according to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan.
Total repatriation rose 26.3 percent year-on-year to $1.68 billion, compared with $1.33 billion in the same period last year. Of this, foreign companies transferred $1.62 billion in profits on foreign direct investment (FDI), up about 27.9 percent YoY, while outflows linked to portfolio investment declined 6.6 percent to $59.9 million.
In January 2026 alone, foreign firms repatriated $118.9 million in profits and dividends.
The power sector recorded the largest profit outflows at $400.2 million during 7MFY26. It was followed by the financial business sector with $371.3 million. Repatriation from the food sector rose sharply to $142.4 million, while the communications and transport sectors accounted for $132.3 million and $91.1 million, respectively.
Investors from the United Kingdom repatriated the highest profits, totaling $442.8 million in 7MFY26, slightly higher than last year. China ranked second with a sharp jump to $413.1 million, followed by the Netherlands at $151.4 million and the United States at $145.9 million.
The data indicates sustained foreign investor returns from Pakistan’s energy, financial, and consumer sectors, alongside continued capital outflows in the form of profit repatriation.
