Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Pakistan during July 2018-January 2019 declined by over 17 per cent compared to same period last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The SBP data shows that the country received investments worth US$1.451bn during the first seven months of current fiscal year, down 17.6 per cent from US$1.761bn in the same period last year. Moreover, cement and construction sectors have also contracted.
 
Out of total FDI, Pakistan's cement and construction industry have received foreign direct investment (FDI) of US$317.2m during the seven months of FY18-19, compared to US$420.7m received in corresponding months of last fiscal year. This translates a YoY fall of 24.6 per cent.
 
The breakdown shows that the cement industry attracted FDI of US$28.3m and the construction industry US$288.9m during this period compared to US$34.5m and US$386.2m, respectively in FY17-18.