According to data from the Overseas Investment Chamber of Commerce (OICCI) Security Survey 2024, more than 200 international investors in Pakistan have expressed their concerns about the nation’s deteriorating security situation.
The yearly study, carried out in June 2024, reveals a discernible downturn in the security environment as a whole when compared to the year prior. The OICCI reports that, compared to 69% in 2023, 80% of participants said that the security situation in Karachi was getting worse.
Investors’ worries have been heightened by the increasing number of street crimes that have not only affected Karachi but have extended throughout Sindh.
In Balochistan, where the security situation worsened from 68% to 75%, the study shows a similar pattern. On the other hand, a few areas saw modest advancements.
The security situation in Punjab decreased from 63% to 53%, while the security situation in Lahore improved dramatically, falling from 73% to 49%. Peshawar too saw improvement, with 58% of residents reporting security concerns down from 68%.
Much like the previous year, a significant majority of survey respondents—71 percent—cited security worries as the main barrier to conducting business in Pakistan, notwithstanding these isolated areas of improvement. Foreign businesses and investors working in the nation are finding it more and more difficult to deal with the escalating security issues.
