Pakistan’s total investment has fallen to its lowest level since 1972-73, now standing at 13.1 percent of GDP for the fiscal year 2023-24, despite efforts to enhance the investment climate through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), as reported by Presstonight.
Back in 1972-73, the investment-to-GDP ratio was 12.8 percent. Since then, it generally remained higher, peaking at 26.2 percent in 2001-02. In the fiscal year 2014-15, it was 17.2 percent, and during 2017-18 under the PMLN government, it was 17.1 percent. Under Imran Khan’s tenure, it was 15.6 percent in 2021-22. It then fell to 14.1 percent in 2022-23 under the PDM-led government and further declined to 13.1 percent in 2023-24.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s economy is experiencing a low growth rate of 2.38 percent, which is below the population growth rate of over 2.6 percent. Inflation remains high, averaging between 25 and 26 percent, indicating persistent stagflation in recent years. However, the overall size of Pakistan’s economy has increased to $373 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24, up from $338 billion the previous year.
Provisional figures from the National Accounts Committee (NAC) show the per capita income is estimated at $1,676 for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) calculated it at $1,680, a slight difference of $4. The Ministry of Finance is expected to publish the per capita income figure at $1,676 in the upcoming Economic Survey for 2023-24, which will be released before the 2024-25 budget.
