ISLAMABAD: Shahid Rasheed Butt, prominent business leader and former president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, stated that current policies have severely impacted the public and undermined the confidence of both youth and the business community. He noted that professionals and workers are leaving the country, foreign investors are staying away, and local investors are withdrawing. He emphasized that shifting the consequences of elite mismanagement onto the public must end. He called for serious, long-term reforms to restore business confidence and ensure Pakistan remains attractive to investors. In a statement, Shahid Rasheed Butt said a 43.3 percent decline in foreign direct investment from July to December 2026 has been recorded. Portfolio investment was negative 225.1 million dollars, compared to negative 221.8 million dollars in the same period last year. DNA
