RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The repatriation of profit and dividend by the foreign investors registered a straight decline of 37 percent during the first half of current fiscal year (FY19).

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Monday revealed that foreign investors repatriated some $759.5 million on account of profit and dividend during July-Dec of FY19 compared to $1.202 billion in the corresponding period of last fiscal year, depicting a decline of $442.5 million.

Major repatriation of profit and dividend was witnessed from Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and cumulatively some 83 percent of repatriated amount was sent from FDI.

Repatriation on account of FDI decreased by $426 million or 40 percent to $629 million in the first half of this fiscal year against $1.055 billion in the same period of last fiscal year (FY18).

Similarly, some $131 million were repatriated on account of return on foreign portfolio investment during July-December of current fiscal year against $146.6 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year.

During the period under review, major repatriation was made from the food sector; from where foreign investors repatriated $82 million. Oil and gas exploration is second largest sector with $70.4million and power sector ranked third with some $67 million.