Pakistan Frontier

Economy & industry overview

Pakistan is a lower-middle-income developing economy with a nominal GDP of approximately $373 billion, making it one of the largest economies in South Asia. The economy is structured around agriculture (contributing roughly 23% of GDP), a large services sector (approximately 58%), and industry including manufacturing (around 18%). Key industries include textiles and apparel (the dominant export earner), oil and gas exploration, fertilisers, cement, banking, and an emerging information technology and business-process outsourcing sector. Pakistan has historically faced macroeconomic challenges including high inflation, external debt pressures, and a recurring need for IMF support programmes, though inflation has moderated sharply from its 2023 peak to around 3–4% by 2025. The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), headquartered in Karachi, is classified as a frontier market and has delivered significant equity returns in recent years driven by macroeconomic stabilisation efforts.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$373.07B
GDP growth real, annual	2.5%
Inflation annual	3.5%
Population people	251.3M
GDP per capita USD	$1,644
Market cap total listed, USD	$62.00B
Market cap / GDP	16.6%
Unemployment	5.5%
Listed companies	540
Exchange	Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)

Data year: 2024. Sources: World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), Trading Economics, Macrotrends, Business Recorder, Pakistan Observer, Wikipedia – Economy of Pakistan, Focus Economics, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Pakistan Stock Exchange
Code	PSX
Website	www.psx.com.pk
Currency	PKR

Local broker access

Foreign investors can access Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) listed securities through local brokerage firms registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and PSX. The PSX operates a Central Depository Company (CDC) for dematerialised securities. Foreign portfolio investment is permitted with funds repatriable subject to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) regulations. International exposure can also be obtained via frontier/emerging-market ETFs or through Roshan Digital Accounts for eligible overseas Pakistanis. There are no US-listed Pakistan-dedicated ADRs of scale as of mid-2026.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Pakistan does not have a formal residency- or citizenship-by-investment programme. Foreign nationals may obtain business visas, employment visas, and long-term multiple-entry visas. The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) scheme allows overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals to invest in Pakistani assets, including government securities and listed equities, via a repatriable foreign-currency account. Standard immigration procedures apply for work and business residency permits.