Jawad Ahmed ISLAMABAD, April 22 (INP-WealthPK): Foreign investment in Pakistan's various sectors increased by 38.4% in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (9MFY22). According to the data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Pakistan received $1.446 billion in foreign investment in total during 9MFY22, up from $1.045 billion in the same months of the previous fiscal year 2021 – a $401 million or 38.4 percent YoY gain. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, on the other hand, were $1.285 billion in 9MFY22, down from $1.311 billion in the same period the previous fiscal year, a $26 million or 2% year on year decrease. In March 2022, FDI witnessed a massive net outflow of $30.4 million, compared to an inflow of $173.4 million in the same month the previous year. Foreign investment has been declining since the beginning of the calendar year, but March was a nightmare. The third-quarter inflows were just $200.8 million, which might put a halt to the positive growth trend of 20% in the first half of FY22. [caption id="attachment_66347" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Source: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)/ WealthPK Research[/caption] According to the SBP, portfolio investment also showed a negative trend, with a net outflow of $79 million during July-March of FY22. However, foreign public investment was $502.6 million in the first nine months of FY22 compared to -$3.5 million in the same period of FY21. Country-wise comparison shows that Chinese direct investment in Pakistan declined by 48% during 9MFY22, from $642.2 million to $333.5 million. However, China remains the top investor in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022. Meanwhile, direct investment from the United States surged by 89.3%, with $183.1 million received during the ongoing fiscal year's July-March, compared to $96.7 million invested during the same time the previous year. During 9MFY22, the power sector attracted the most net FDI of $489.1 million (38% of total FDI), followed by the financial sector at $322.8 million (25.1% of FDI), oil and gas exploration at $179.7 million (13.98%), and information technology at $118.5 million (9.22%). However, with the commencement of the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the inflow of FDI is under tremendous pressure. The ongoing worldwide political scenario due to Ukraine-Russia conflict, and the international rise in oil and commodity prices, as well as Pakistan's uncertain political situation, all led to a drop in foreigner confidence.