Law, order spurring capital flight out of country

Law, order spurring capital flight out of country
Updated on

Summary Capital continues to fly out of the country owing to poor law and order situation.

State Bank of Pakistan statistics reveal that foreign investors have pulled out $ 14.6 million in the early few days of the current fiscal. The foreign investors purchased shares worth $26 million and T-bills worth $ 375,000, while they sold shares worth $40.5 million. American investors remained prominent in this trading by selling shares worth $ 1.98 million.On the other hand, billions of dollars are flying out of Pakistan unofficially using illegal means such as Hawala and Hundi. Remittances have crossed the $11 billion mark in FY11. After a gap of seven years, Pakistan’s current account stood at surplus of US$542 million in FY11 as against a deficit of US$3.9 billion last year. However, net foreign investment in Pakistan fell 8.6 per cent to $1.53 billion in the first 10 months of 2010-11 fiscal year because of a decrease in foreign direct investment.Pakistan enacted a new Anti-Money Laundering Law in March 2010, creating a permanent Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism AML/CFT framework. According to the Asia/Pacific Group (APG) report on Money Laundering, Pakistan is failing to fully comply with most recommendations and special recommendations made by APG authorities.