Enhanced overall security climate: OICCI survey indicates significant progress
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has released its Annual Security Survey 2025, highlighting a notable improvement in the security environment in Pakistan, particularly in the key business hubs of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
Over 70% of respondents observed a significant decline in serious crimes and street crimes in these cities, accompanied by a substantial improvement in employee perceptions of personal safety during daily commutes.
The survey underscores that while these improvements are encouraging and contribute positively to investor confidence, sustaining and extending these gains across all regions remains essential to bolster overall security and reassure both local and foreign stakeholders.
Despite these improvements, the survey highlights ongoing security challenges in certain regions, particularly in Balochistan, where serious crimes have worsened compared to the previous year. Cities like Quetta and Peshawar continue to be perceived as least secure for personal safety, indicating a fragile security situation in these parts that adversely affects Pakistan’s global image and investor confidence.
Secretary General OICCI M Abdul Aleem stated that the OICCI Security Survey 2025 reflects a cautiously optimistic outlook. The OICCI remains committed to collaborating with government and law enforcement to sustain and further improve the security climate supporting business activities in Pakistan.
The survey covered the period from June 2024 to May 2025 and included feedback from leading foreign investors operating across Pakistan. Domestic security concerns were not the primary reason for postponed travel, but security remains one of the top three concerns for Chief Executives in Pakistan.
The OICCI continues to focus on promoting a more secure and enabling business climate throughout Pakistan. The chamber also expresses concern over the impact of climate change on Pakistan and the number of overseas business visits to Pakistan remained similar to 2024.
Few instances of postponed travel were primarily due to geopolitical tensions, particularly India-Pakistan escalations. The survey shows clear gains in major cities like Karachi and Lahore, signaling for investor confidence.
In summary, the OICCI Security Survey 2025 presents a mixed picture of Pakistan's security environment. While there are significant improvements in key business hubs, security challenges persist in certain sensitive regions, such as Quetta and Peshawar. Balochistan witnessed deterioration in serious crimes compared to the previous year, impacting the positive trend seen in other provinces. The OICCI continues to partner with government and law enforcement institutions to address these challenges and create a more secure and enabling business environment in Pakistan.
| Aspect | Details | |--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Cities with improved security | Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad | | Crime trends | >70% respondents note decline in serious crimes and street crimes | | Employee safety perceptions | Improved for ~2/3 of employees during commutes | | Areas with persistent challenges | Balochistan (worsening serious crimes), Quetta, Peshawar (least secure perceptions) | | Overall investor outlook | Cautiously optimistic with emphasis on expanding improvements |
- The momentum of improved security in Pakistan, particularly in the key business hubs of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, as highlighted by the OICCI Annual Security Survey 2025, echoes a positive outlook for business and finance.
- Concurrently, the ongoing security challenges in certain regions, such as Balochistan and cities like Quetta and Peshawar, continue to impact Pakistan's overall security index and general news, casting a shadow on its global image and investor confidence.
- In light of these mixed security trends, the OICCI remains committed to its effort in partnering with government and law enforcement to address these challenges and extend security improvements across all regions, fostering a more secure and enabling business climate in Pakistan.
