Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh has revealed that more than $50 billion has been transferred out of Pakistan to foreign countries, highlighting a deepening crisis in the country’s investment environment.

Speaking during a media briefing, the minister said that Pakistan’s current economic and tax structure has made it less attractive for major investors, resulting in large-scale capital outflows.

He stated that Dubai’s zero-tax regime played a key role in attracting Pakistani capital, while high taxation and a challenging economic environment at home pushed investors to shift funds abroad.

According to him, a portion of the money was also moved through illegal channels such as hawala and hundi. He added that some investors are now considering bringing their funds back from Dubai as conditions evolve.

The minister further said that due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government is currently unable to introduce large-scale schemes aimed at repatriating capital. However, he stressed that efforts are ongoing to improve the country’s overall investment climate and attract long-term investment.