Karachi, January 20, 2026 – Pakistan witnessed a significant rise in profit and dividend outflows during the first half of the ongoing fiscal year, as foreign investors repatriated $1.56 billion between July and December FY2025-26, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Tuesday.
The SBP data shows that total profit repatriation increased by 27% compared to $1.23 billion recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year, reflecting higher returns taken out by foreign investors operating in the country.
Repatriation linked to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rose sharply by 29%, reaching $1.50 billion in 1HFY26, up from $1.16 billion in the corresponding period last year. In contrast, profit repatriation related to Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) declined by 7% to $59.6 million, compared with $63.8 million a year earlier.
Country-wise data indicates that investors from the United Kingdom led profit and dividend outflows, repatriating approximately $422 million during the first half of the fiscal year. Chinese investors ranked second with outflows of about $385 million, followed by the United States at $126 million and the Netherlands at $125 million.
On a sectoral basis, the power and financial sectors accounted for the largest share of profit and dividend repatriation. The food and transport sectors also remained among the notable contributors to overall outflows during the period.