Canada overtook China as the largest source of FDI in Pakistan in September 2026, recording $85.3m in net inflows with no outflows, according to provisional data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country’s central bank. Overall net foreign direct investment—money that overseas investors put into lasting stakes in Pakistani businesses—rose to $219.5m that month, 18.5% higher than the $185.3m recorded in September 2025.
Gross FDI inflows totalled $292.7m in September, while outflows were $73.2m, leaving the $219.5m net figure. Canada alone accounted for about 38.86% of that net total, and its September result was 70.60% higher than the $50m it posted in August 2026.
How Canada, China and the UK ranked
China remained a major origin of capital by gross inflows, at $77.4m, but $33.6m left the country, cutting net Chinese FDI to $43.8m. That net amount was 61.24% lower than August’s $113.0m, when inflows were stronger and outflows lighter.
The United Kingdom posted the second-highest net FDI among countries, at $48.7m, after $52.7m in gross inflows and $4.0m in outflows—a sharp rise from $13.7m net in August. Switzerland added $14.8m net, the UAE $6.5m, and Hong Kong $2.2m, while the Netherlands recorded a net outflow of $3.4m.
The September pattern shows Canada and the UK cushioning a slowdown from China, the UAE and Hong Kong in that single month. For a wider view of the quarter’s result, see Pakistan's net FDI reaches $720m in 3MFY27, up 20%.
First-quarter picture beyond one month
On a cumulative basis for July–September of FY27, net FDI in Pakistan stood at $719.7m, up 19.9% from $600.4m in the same period of FY26. Gross inflows over the quarter were $967.7m, against outflows of $248.0m.
Canada’s cumulative net FDI for that quarter was $229.2m, slightly above $224.9m a year earlier. China’s cumulative net reached $197.5m, up strongly from $121.3m in the prior-year quarter, even after the September dip. The UK’s cumulative net was $83.4m, and the UAE’s $54.8m.
Foreign portfolio investment (FPI)—shorter-term market flows, not lasting ownership—saw a net outflow of $26.9m in September, so foreign private investment overall came to $192.6m. Foreign public investment, entirely in debt securities, added $2,891.2m that month, taking total foreign investment to $3,083.8m, compared with a net outflow a year earlier. For 1QFY27 as a whole, total foreign investment climbed to $3,651.7m, versus a small net outflow in the same period of FY26.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- August 2026: Canada’s net FDI was $50m; China’s net was $113.0m.
- September 2026: Canada posted $85.3m net FDI with no outflows and became the top source; Pakistan’s overall net FDI was $219.5m.
- July–September FY27: Cumulative net FDI reached $719.7m, up from $600.4m in the same period of FY26.
Aasan alfaaz mein
September 2026 mein Pakistan ko bahir se seedhi investment (FDI) $219.5 million mili. Is mahine sab se zyada paisa Canada se aaya—$85.3 million—aur China is dafa peeche reh gaya. Pehle teen mahine (July–September) milakar FDI $719.7 million ho chuki hai, jo pichhle saal se zyada hai. Yeh seedhe tor par aapke petrol ya bill nahi badalta, lekin lambi muddat mein mulk mein kaam aur dollar ki availability ke liye achhi nishani ho sakti hai.
