ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s once high-profile investment platform, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), has reportedly not held a formal Apex Committee meeting since January 2, 2025, sparking concerns over the slowing momentum of the country’s flagship foreign investment initiative.
The 11th Apex Committee meeting, chaired by Shehbaz Sharif and attended by senior civilian and military leadership, had reviewed the council’s performance and outlined investment priorities for 2025. Since then, the SIFC’s top decision-making forum — originally promoted as a fast-track “one-window” platform for strategic investments — has remained largely inactive in the public eye.
A senior SIFC official, however, claimed that the Apex Committee did hold one meeting quietly after January 2025, though no official details were publicly disclosed. The official also confirmed that the SIFC Executive Committee last met in June 2025, with its 14th meeting held on June 18.
While the council’s top leadership forums have remained dormant for months, the SIFC Secretariat and Implementation Committee are said to continue working on operational matters and project coordination.
The prolonged silence of the Apex and Executive Committees contrasts sharply with the council’s highly visible launch phase in 2023 and its peak activity during 2024, when frequent high-level meetings generated optimism about attracting billions of dollars in foreign direct investment (FDI).
The SIFC was established to accelerate investments from Gulf countries, China, and Europe in key sectors including energy, mining, agriculture, defence, and information technology through a coordinated civil-military framework designed to reduce bureaucratic delays.
Although some sectors recorded moderate progress, analysts and independent observers say overall FDI inflows have remained below expectations, with several high-profile memorandums of understanding (MoUs) yet to materialise into major on-ground projects.
According to sources, Pakistan continues to face familiar investor concerns including political uncertainty, policy inconsistency, security challenges, and bureaucratic hurdles, all of which have affected investor confidence despite the SIFC framework.
SIFC officials maintain that the platform remains active and effective at the operational level. Recently, Secretary Apex Committee Dr. Jahanzaib Khan addressed international business forums and highlighted ongoing reforms and investment opportunities in Pakistan during 2026.
However, independent observers argue that the SIFC’s original strength lay in its visible top-level political and military backing coupled with rapid decision-making.
“The SIFC’s appeal was its high-level support and speed,” a source familiar with the initiative said. “Without regular Apex and Executive Committee meetings to signal continued top-priority attention, the SIFC risks being perceived as just another bureaucratic institution.”
Story by Ansar Abbasi
