Pakistan is witnessing sustained foreign investor engagement across energy, logistics, information technology, agriculture and telecommunications, with multinational corporations entering through new incorporations, joint ventures, acquisitions and business expansions. Over the past three years, 79 new foreign companies have commenced operations in the country, while aggregate foreign investment in key sectors reached Rs40.7 billion during the same period, reflecting renewed corporate interest and transaction activity.
Regulatory data shows that 61 foreign companies carried out shareholding transactions involving local entities. Of these, 29 transactions involved transfers to other foreign companies, four to foreign individual investors, 20 to local individual investors and eight to local corporate entities. Several of these transactions stemmed from global restructuring initiatives among multinational groups, aligning Pakistan operations with broader portfolio strategies.
In the energy segment, Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Energy acquired operations of Shell Pakistan as part of Shell’s global portfolio reorganisation. Dubai-based PTA Global Holdings secured a majority stake in Lotte Chemical Pakistan following an international agreement between Lotte Chemical and TotalEnergies. Switzerland’s Gunvor Group and Total Parco Pakistan Limited acquired equal stakes in TotalEnergies Pakistan, while Saudi Aramco purchased a 40 percent equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited, widely known as GO Petroleum.
Logistics and infrastructure have also drawn significant interest. UAE-based DP World entered into a joint venture with the National Logistics Corporation to strengthen supply chain capabilities. Portugal’s Mota-Engil Group and Abu Dhabi Ports are supporting infrastructure initiatives, signaling long-term commitments to transport and port development.
In telecommunications, PTCL acquired operations of Telenor Pakistan following regional consolidation in the telecom industry. Separately, UAE telecom group e& completed its acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, reshaping sector ownership dynamics. In technology, Bazaar Technologies acquired Wemsol, while Saudi Arabia’s Waqub Data Company secured an 80 percent stake in Pakistani firm Woot Tech. Global technology players including Google and Samsung are expanding operational footprints, alongside Relational, IceWarp, Pro Device and Russoft Synercon.
The pharmaceutical sector recorded structural transitions as Pfizer transferred its Karachi manufacturing plant and related assets to Lucky Core Industries to ensure production continuity. France’s Sanofi divested its majority stake to a local investor consortium, after which the entity was renamed Hoechst Pakistan Limited.
Agriculture and food processing also attracted capital flows. Italy’s Euricom S.p.A. acquired a 50 percent stake in Fatima Euricom Rice Mills. Netherlands-based Berkeley Square Holding B.V. obtained 50 percent shareholding in Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan, Mindshare Pakistan and Soho Square Pakistan.
The electric vehicle segment has seen market entry from BYD, Chery Automobile and NWTN Motors, signaling diversification into next-generation mobility. In mining and minerals, companies such as Barrick Gold, Strategic Metals U.S. and Nova Minerals U.S. have expanded exposure.
Existing investors are deepening commitments. Mashreq Bank has launched and is scaling Pakistan’s first digital bank, while Kuwait-backed Raqami Digital Bank plans a $100 million investment. Nestlé is injecting an additional $60 million, and VEON Group has increased investment in Mobilink Bank. The Engro-Jazz consortium is allocating more than $550 million toward digital infrastructure.
Under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Phase II, industrial cooperation has accelerated with 24 business-to-business agreements exceeding $1.5 billion and memoranda of understanding surpassing $7 billion across agriculture, renewable energy, information technology, minerals and industrial relocation.
According to records from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, 1,157 foreign companies are currently registered and operational nationwide. Only 19 exited the market over the past three years. In 2023, 31 companies entered and six ceased operations; in 2024, 21 entered and nine exited; and in 2025, 27 new companies registered while only four closed operations. The net trend indicates sustained investor presence and expanding cross-border corporate integration across Pakistan’s evolving economic landscape.
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