KARACHI: The total foreign direct investment (FDI) into Pakistan has posted an increase of 6.1 per cent to $1.26 billion during the first eight months (July–February) of fiscal year 2021/22, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Friday.

The flow of FDI was $1.19 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

The Pakistan equities witnessed massive outflows of investment during the period under review. The portfolio investment recorded a 24 per cent increase in the outflows to $315 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, compared with the outflow of $254 million during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

The foreign public investment increased around eight times during the period under review due to the proceeds received under Sukuks.

The inflows under debt securities jumped up to $905 million during (July – February) 2021/22 as against the outflow of $132 million in the same period of the last fiscal year.

The total foreign investment in the country recorded an increase of 131 per cent to $1.85 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, compared with $799 million in the corresponding months of the last fiscal year.