Business confidence weakens in Pakistan as majority of firms delay investment plans: Survey
Islamabad: A survey conducted by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry has revealed a decline in business confidence in Pakistan, with 70 to 80 percent of organizations postponing their investment decisions amid economic uncertainty.
According to the survey, the overall Business Confidence Index fell by 9 percentage points, standing at a positive 13 percent.
The services sector recorded the sharpest decline, with business confidence dropping by 20 percentage points to a positive 14 percent. Confidence in the manufacturing sector also weakened, declining by 7 percentage points.
In contrast, the retail sector showed modest improvement, with business confidence increasing by 3 percentage points to a positive 20 percent.
The survey further indicated that the New Investment Index fell by 10 percentage points, reaching only a positive 2 percent, highlighting the cautious approach being adopted by businesses toward fresh investments.
The findings suggest that while confidence remains in positive territory overall, uncertainty continues to affect expansion plans and investment activity across key sectors of the economy.
