Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured foreign investors on Sunday that Pakistan remains a secure destination for investment and that the government is fully committed to ensuring their protection “at all costs.” His remarks came in a press release from the Ministry of Interior.
Despite efforts by Pakistan to attract foreign investment, particularly in its natural resource sectors, security challenges in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have occasionally threatened investor safety, with foreign nationals being targeted in recent years.
Naqvi met with a delegation of foreign investors in Lahore, where they discussed strategies to enhance security for investors. The minister emphasized that safeguarding investors is a top priority for the government. “Pakistan is a safe country for all kinds of investments,” he stated. “Protecting our investors is our government’s primary responsibility, and we will fulfill that duty no matter what.”
The press release further noted that the government has already implemented measures to improve security, including taking “strict action” against perpetrators of violence. “We are acting against these individuals according to the law,” Naqvi asserted. “A comprehensive strategy has been developed to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The statement did not mention any specific recent incidents, but it came amid ongoing concerns about attacks targeting foreign nationals. Earlier this month, General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), assured that the military would enforce a strong security framework to protect Pakistan’s investors, particularly in Balochistan. His remarks were made during the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025, which focused on promoting investment in the mining sector across Pakistan, including in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
General Munir expressed confidence that Pakistan could become a leader in the global mineral economy, encouraging international investors to explore opportunities in the country’s rich resource base.
Recent incidents, however, have raised concerns over security. In November 2024, a suicide bombing near Karachi’s airport, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, resulted in the deaths of two Chinese nationals and injuries to ten others. In October, armed assailants attacked a private coal mine in Balochistan’s Duki area, killing at least 20 miners and injuring seven more. In March 2024, five Chinese workers were killed in Besham in an attack reportedly carried out by affiliates of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K).
In addition, in 2021, a brutal attack in the Mach coal field area saw 11 Shia Hazara miners executed by unidentified gunmen, an assault later claimed by the Islamic State group.
Despite these security challenges, the government remains determined to foster a secure environment for foreign investors and ensure that such attacks do not hinder Pakistan’s investment climate.
