The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) released its Security Survey 2026 on Tuesday, cautioning that deterioration in Karachi and continued security challenges in Pakistan's western regions are weighing on investor confidence and business operations despite improvements in other parts of the country.
Security Remains Top Concern for Foreign Investors
The annual OICCI Security Survey 2026, conducted in June among leading foreign investors operating across Pakistan, found that the top leadership of 71 percent of member respondent companies ranked security among their top three business concerns. This highlights that law and order remains a major impediment to investment and economic activity.
Karachi Security Perceptions Worsen
The survey shows that security perceptions in Karachi deteriorated compared to last year, with the proportion of respondents reporting a worsening security environment rising to 42 percent from 41 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, 81 percent of respondents in Quetta and 86 percent in the rest of Balochistan continued to report a deteriorating security environment.
Street crimes remained the foremost concern for businesses, with 50 percent of respondents reporting an increase in street crime trends in Karachi, up from 45 percent last year. The same trend was observed in Quetta, where street crime trends increased to 37 percent compared to 24 percent in 2025.
Impact on Business Operations and Employee Safety
Overall, 32 percent of respondents said security conditions affecting their own businesses had deteriorated, up from 28 percent last year. Concerns over employees' personal security during daily commutes also worsened in Karachi (45 percent versus 41 percent in 2025) and Quetta (83 percent versus 79 percent).
Commenting on the findings, Secretary General OICCI M Abdul Aleem said: “The survey demonstrates the resilience and long-term commitment of foreign investors to Pakistan. However, sustaining investment momentum requires consistent improvements in public safety and law enforcement. Security should be viewed not merely as a law and order issue, but as a critical economic enabler. Reducing street crime, strengthening policing and ensuring a secure operating environment will directly enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness as an investment destination.”
Declining Confidence in Law Enforcement
Respondents also reported a decline in their assessment of civilian law enforcement, with positive ratings for Karachi Police falling to 30 percent from 38 percent last year and Sindh Police to 16 percent from 26 percent. By contrast, Sindh Rangers and KP Police recorded improved ratings, increasing to 43 percent from 34 percent and 40 percent from 34 percent, respectively.
Businesses continued to identify street crime, illegal gratification, expatriate security, and protests as the principal law and order issues affecting business confidence.
Regional Geopolitical Developments Add to Security Burden
The survey also found that regional geopolitical developments have added to the security burden. Eighty-eight percent of respondents said the Middle East conflict had affected their organizations' security environment, with supply chain and logistics security (83 percent), reduced business activity (69 percent), and employee safety (38 percent) emerging as the most significant concerns.
Foreign Investors Maintain Long-Term Commitment
Despite these challenges, foreign investors have largely maintained their engagement with Pakistan, with 87 percent of OICCI member companies remaining confident of holding board and management meetings within the country, signaling confidence in Pakistan's long-term economic potential.
OICCI urged the government to sustain targeted security interventions, strengthen policing capacity, and accelerate institutional reforms to provide businesses with a more predictable and secure operating environment, noting that improved security is essential to attracting new investment and supporting sustainable economic growth.
