China's net foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan surged to $1.22 billion in fiscal year 2024–25, marking an increase of 90.4% from the $643.2 million recorded in FY 2023–24, Gwadar Pro reported on Sunday quoting the data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

As per SBP's document, in June-July FY 2025, Pakistan received $1709.8 million in inflow from China with $485.5 million recorded in outflow bringing the net inflow to $1224.3 million.

In FY 2024-25, Pakistan received $2457 million in FDI from all partner countries; of them 49.9% came from China, making the neighboring country one of the largest investors in Pakistan.

Besides mainland China, other top investors were China's Hong Kong with $470.1 million net FDI, U.A.E. $ 283.1 million, Switzerland $203.3 million, United Kingdom 201.8 million, South Korea 96.2 million, Malaysia 42.8 million, Japan $40.1 million, United States 30.5 million and Kuwait $30.4 million.

In June 2025, which is the last month of FY 2025, Pakistan received $88.1 million in FDI from China with $39.1 million going in outflow bringing the net FDI to $ 49 million.

During this month, Pakistan's total FDI from all partner countries was 163.7 million, of which 30% came alone from China.

Sector wise, in FY 2024-25, power sector received $1165.7 million, which also includes $759.4 million in hydel power.This is one of the leading sectors with which Chinese investors have invested in.

The Financial services sector has received net FDI of 702.2 million, electricity machinery sector received $176 million, oil and gas exploration sector received $123.5 million, electronics $95.9 million, information technology has received $57 million, food sector received $42 million net FDI, petroleum refining 37.5 million and textile $25.7 million.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China