The repatriation of profits and dividends from foreign investments in Pakistan surged to $135.6 million in August, increasing by a significant 188 percent compared to $47.1 million in the same month last year, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

For the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25 (1HFY25), the repatriation figures also saw a dramatic rise, increasing by 458 percent year-on-year to reach $274.7 million.

Despite this substantial annual growth, there was a slight 2.5 percent decrease in month-on-month outflows of profits and dividends in August. In July, multinational companies and foreign investors in the local stock market had repatriated $139.1 million.

The financial business sector led the outflows, with profits and dividends reaching $43.5 million in August, marking an 11.7-fold increase from the previous year. The food sector followed with $28.3 million in repatriations, while the transport sector recorded $14.7 million in outflows during the same period.