Positive outlook: OICCI praises improved law and order situation

90% of survey respondents feel general threats to business have reduced

KARACHI: Members of the Overseas Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) have shown appreciation for the improving law and order situation, especially in Karachi, by maintaining a positive perception in the annual OICCI security survey conducted in June.

According to a press release, it was a follow-up of the survey conducted in the second quarter of 2015 to gauge foreign investor perception about the security environment following the launch of Karachi operation and Zarb-e-Azb initiative.

While the overall survey results were considerably positive for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, foreign investors have concerns about the growing number of street crimes, especially in Karachi.

Nearly 90% of the respondents were of the view that general threats to business have reduced compared with the situation prior to August 2013, with 97% stating that security concerns have reduced for their own business, customer business, suppliers business and employees.

Compared with the last survey conducted in 2015, 74% of the respondents experienced a reduction in security incidents. Most importantly, 87% of the respondents reported that their staff now feels more comfortable in their everyday commute to and from the workplace.

Another significant feedback from the 2016 survey is that more overseas/expat visitors are travelling to Pakistan and hardly any meeting is being held outside the country because of security concerns — a common cause prior to August 2013.

Furthermore, the confidence level of overseas/expat visitors has gone up, according to 73% of the respondents.

Commenting on the security survey results, OICCI President Shahab Rizvi complimented the authorities concerned throughout Pakistan.

However, Rizvi said foreign investors still consider security and law and order their top concern in doing business in Pakistan despite the overall improvement. The OICCI is confident that with continuing focused attention and commitment of the government and law enforcement agencies, Pakistan will soon be able to attract even more foreign investment, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2016.

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