Investment Policy Law in Pakistan

INVESTMENT POLICIES
Manufacturing/Industrial Sector
• Foreign Investors are permitted to hold 100% of the equity of industrial projects without any permission of the Government.
• Government sanction is not required for setting up any industry, in terms of field of activity, location, and size, except:
• Arms and Ammunitions
• High Explosives
• Radioactive Substances
• Security Printing, Currency and Mint.
• Alcoholic beverages or liquors.
• There is no requirement for obtaining No Objection Certificates ( NOC ) from the provincial governments for locating the project anywhere in the country except in areas that are notified as negative areas .
Non – Manufacturing/Industrial Sector
• Foreign investment 100% equity on repatriable basis is allowed in the following sectors subject to the condition.
i. Service,
ii. Infrastructure,
iii. Social and
iv. Others
• Registration of company with Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 is required under intimation to the State Bank of Pakistan.
• Service Sector

• FDI in Service Sector is allowed in any activity subject to condition of prior permission/NOC or license from the concerned agencies and subject to provisions of respective sectoral policies.
• 100% foreign equity allowed on repatriable basis.
• The amount of foreign equity investment in the company/project shall be at least US$ 0.15 Million .
Infrastructure Sector
• Infrastructure Projects, including the development of Industrial Zones.
• The foreign equity allowed in this sector is also 100% on repatriable basis.
• The amount of foreign equity investment in the company/project shall be at least US$ 0.3 million .
Social Sector
• The social sector includes
i. Education,
ii. Technical/Vocational Training,
iii. Human Resource Development (HRD),
iv. Hospitals, Medical and
v. Diagnostic Services.
• 100% foreign equity is allowed if the amount of foreign equity investment in the company/project shall be at least US$ 0.3 million .
Other Sectors
Tourism
• Tourism has been given a status of Industry as per the Ministry of Industries and Production.
• Plant, machinery & equipment, not manufactured locally, of tourism, hotels and tourism related projects are importable at custom duty of 5% and Zero rated sales tax .
Housing and Construction
• The Housing and Construction sector has also been declared as Industry. Plant, machinery & equipment, not manufactured locally, of housing & construction industry are importable at custom duty of 5% and Zero rated sales tax.
• Local and Foreign Companies involved in real estate projects will be able to market these projects, only after the title of the property is transferred in the name of a locally incorporated company. Thereafter the “Commencement of Business” certificate is to be issued by the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan ( SECP ) to the firm.
Information Technology
• Computer Software and Information Technology (IT) have been declared as industry which includes “Telecommunication i.e. E-mail/internet/electronic information services, cellular mobile telephone services, audio-fax services, voice mail services, card pay phone services etc.
• Plant, machinery & equipment of Information Technology projects are importable at custom duty of 5% and Zero rated sales tax, if not manufactured locally and as certified through Central Board of Revenue by the Facilitation Committee of Board of Investment (BOI) Islamabad from time to time.
INCENTIVES
• Foreign and local investors may avail the following incentives:-
• Custom duty of 5% and Zero rated sales tax on import of plant, machinery & equipment, not manufactured locally.

POLICY PARAMETERS MANUFACTURING SECTOR NON -MANUFACTURING SECTORS
Agriculture Infrastructure & Social Services including IT & Telecom Services
GOVT. PERMISSION Not required except 4 specified industries * Not required except specific licenses from concerned agencies.
REMITTANCE OF CAPITAL, PROFITS, DIVIDENDS, ETC. Allowed Allowed
UPPER LIMIT OF FOREIGN EQUITY ALLOWED 100% 100%** 100% 100%
CUSTOMS DUTY ON IMPORT OF PME 5% 0% 5% 0-5%
TAX RELIEF (IDA, % OF PME COST) 25% 25%
ROYALTY & TECHNICAL FEE No restriction for payment of royalty & technical fee. Allowed as per guidelines – Initial lump-sum upto $100,000 – Max Rate 5% of net sales – Initial period 5 years

• As per plant, machinery & equipment, imported the category of export industry and having failed to achieve targets of exports or exercises the option to forego the benefit of duty concession at post import stage, in excess of customs duty at the rate of one per cent per year of default with a maximum of five per cent of dutiable value at the time of import provided the period of import is equal to or more than five years .
• Where period of import is less than five years , in excess of five per cent duty, less one per cent per year for each non-defaulting year. This shall be considered full and final discharge of the entire liabilities.
Custom Tariff
Customs duty on imported raw materials used in producing for exports. 0% 0%
Customs duty leviable on imports of plant, machinery and equipment, not manufactured locally. 5% 0%
Import of raw materials, sub-components, components for the manufacture plants of sugar, cement, power, industrial, chemical, fertilizer, oil & gas, textile and any other plant recommended by EDB/CBR. 0% 0%
Other Sectors (Non-Manufacturing)
Imported plant, machinery and equipment (not manufactured locally). 0% –5% 0%
The Custom duty on import of agriculture machinery (not manufactured locally) as per the list of specific machinery and equipment. 0% 0%

Initial Depreciation Allowance
• Initial Depreciation Allowance at the rate of 50% is permissible on an “eligible depreciable asset” placed into service in Pakistan for the first time in a tax year. For the purposes of such allowances, “eligible depreciable asset” means plant and machinery excluding the following:-
• any road transport vehicle unless the vehicle is plying for hire.
• any furniture, including fittings;
• any plant or machinery that is acquired second hand; or
• any plant or machinery in relation to which a deduction has been allowed under another section of this Ordinance for the entire cost of the asset in the tax year in which the asset is acquired.
Amortization
• Amortization of pre-commencement expenses allowed at the rate of 20% annually.
• Amortization of intangible assets allowed over a period of ten years.
Exchange Control
• Full repatriation of capital, capital gains, dividends and profits, is allowed.
• The facility for contracting foreign private loans (which does not involve any Guarantee by the Government of Pakistan) is available to all those foreign investors, who make investment in sectors open to foreign investment, for financing the cost of imported plant and machinery required for setting up the project. However, loan agreements should be registered/cleared by the State Bank of Pakistan.
• Foreign controlled manufacturing companies / concerns will be allowed unlimited domestic borrowing according to their requirements for working capital.
• Authorized Dealers are authorized to grant rupee loans and credits to foreign controlled companies for meeting their working capital requirements subject to observance of Prudential Regulations prescribed under the Banking Companies.

Technical / Royalty / Services / Franchise Fees
a. Manufacturing Sector
• There is no restriction on payment of royalty and/or technical service fees for the manufacturing sector.
• However, such agreements shall be registered with the State Bank of Pakistan.
• The payments of royalties and technical service fees to foreign companies will be taxed at 15%. However, reduced rates under the treaties with different countries remain applicable.
b. Non-Manufacturing Sector
The payment of franchise, royalty or technical fee in case of non-manufacturing sectors is allowed subject to following conditions:-
• In case of foreign investment in non-manufacturing sectors including food sector, the initial / lump sum fee should not exceed US$ 100,000irrespective of number of outlets under on franchise.
• A maximum 5% of net sales (excluding 15% Sales Tax) in the food sector may be allowed as franchise fee only for those items which are core items of the franchise and are the specialties of the trade name.
• The payment of such fees be allowed on monthly basis. No item will be eligible for twice payment of royalty/franchise fee, e.g, soft drinks, etc.
• Percentage/amount of fees etc., for other non-manufacturing projects is also be upto the maximum of 5% of net sales (excluding 15% Sales Tax).
• Initial period for which such fees may be allowed to projects in non-manufacturing sectors should not exceed 5 years.
• Subsequent extension in time period may be considered provided these projects also make investment in allied upstream projects.
• The agreements conforming to above guidelines will be sent by the sponsors to State Bank of Pakistan for its information.
• However, any relaxation or deviation from the guidelines will require prior approval of the Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCOI).
Other Facilities
• Foreign nationals (investors, executives, expatriate employees) having “CBR’s Pass Booklet” are allowed duty-free import of food stuffs and other consumable items equivalent to US$1,000 per year per person in Pakistan. However, imports exceeding the above duty free limit of US$1,000 will be allowed on payment of normal import duties.
• Various communities of foreign investors and their employees are allowed to establish Exclusive Clubs with recreation facilities.
• One Airport Entry Pass for protocol purposes will be issued to foreign and local investors/companies, provided the equity investment is at least US$ 10 Million.
• The BOI extends a courtesy service covering reception in Pakistan, hotel bookings, accommodation, transport bookings, and assisting with the business itinerary, etc. for foreign investors visiting Pakistan.
• A person resident in Pakistan is entitled to a tax relief on any income earned abroad, if such income has already been subjected to tax outside Pakistan Proportionate relief is allowed on such income at the average rate of tax in Pakistan or abroad, which ever is lower.
(I) Normal Tax Rates
Corporate Tax Rates (Average)
Public Companies 35%
Other Companies 39%
Banking Companies 41%

(II) Personal Income Tax Rates Average % (in Rupees)
S. No. Income Range Tax Rate
01. Up to Rs.100,000 0%
02. Rs.100,000-Rs.150,000 7.5% of the amount exceeding Rs.100,000
03 Rs.150,001 – Rs.300,000 Rs.3,750 + 12.5% of amount exceeding Rs.150,001.
04. Rs.300,001 – 400,000 Rs.22,500 + 20% of amount exceeding Rs.300,001
05. Rs.400,001 – 700,000 Rs.42,500 + 25% of amount exceeding Rs.400,001
06. Over Rs.700,001 Rs.117,500 + 35% of amount exceeding Rs.700,001

Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation
• The Government of Pakistan has signed agreements on Avoidance of Double Taxation with 52 countries including almost all the developed countries of the World. List of countries having agreements with Pakistan for Avoidance of Double Taxation is as under:-
1. Austria 27. Malta
2. Bangladesh 28.. Mauritius
3. Belarus 29. Netherlands
4. Belgium 30. Nigeria
5. Canada 31. Norway
6. China 32. Oman
7. Denmark 33. Philippines
8. Finland 34. Poland
9. France 35. Qatar
10. Germany 36. Romania
11. Greece 37. Saudi Arabia
12. Hungary 38. Singapore
13. India 39. South Africa
14. Indonesia 40. Sri Lanka
15. Iran 41. Sweden
16. Ireland 42. Switzerland
17. Italy 43. Syria
18. Japan 44. Thailand
19. Jordan 45. Tunisia
20. Kazakhstan 46. Turkey
21. Kenya 47. Turkmenistan
22. Republic of Korea 48. U.A.E.
23. Kuwait 49. U.K.
24. Lebanon 50. U.S.A.
25. Libyan Arab Republic 51. Uzbekistan
26. Malaysia 52. Azerbaijan

Investment Agreements (Bilateral/Multilateral)
• Pakistan has signed Bilateral Agreements on Promotion and Protection of Investment with 46 countries . These Agreements provide that:
• The Contracting Parties shall encourage investments in their respective territories by investors of the other Contracting Parties.
• Non-discrimination between local investors and foreign investors.
• Equal/non-discriminatory treatment in case of compensation for losses owing to war, other armed conflicts, a state of national emergency.
• The free transfer of investments, and income deriving there from including profits, dividends, interest income, proceeds of sales or liquidation, repayments of loans, salaries, wages and other compensation etc.
• A dispute settlement mechanism to settle any dispute between the countries with respect to the interpretation of the respective agreement.
• A dispute settlement procedure to settle any dispute between a host country and an investor of the other country.
List of Countries / Organizations with which Pakistan has Bilateral Investment Agreements:
1 Australia 07.02.1998 24 Malaysia 07.07.1995
2 Azerbaijan 09.10.1995 25 Mauritius 03.04.1997
3 Bangladesh 24.10.1995 26 Morocco 16.04.2001
4 Belarus 22.01.1997 27 Netherlands 04.10.1988
5 Belgo-Luxemburg 23.04.1998 28 Oman 09.11.1997
Economic Union 29 Philippines 11.05.1999
6 Bosnia 04.09.2001 30 Portugal 17.04.1995
7 Bulgeria 12.02.2002 31 Qatar 06.04.1999
8 Cambodia 27.04.2004 32 Romania 10.07.1995
9 China 12.02.1989 33 Singapore 08.03.1995
10 Czech Republic 07.05.1999 34 South Korea 25.05.1988
11 Denmark 18.7.1996 35 Spain 15.09.1994
12 Egypt 16.04.2000 36 Sri Lanka 20.12.1997
13 France 01.06.1983 37 Sweden 12.03.1981
14 Germany 01.12.2009 38 Switzerland 11.07.1995
15 Indonesia 08.03.1996 39 Syria 25.04.1996
16 Iran 08.11.1995 40 Tajikistan 13.05.2004
17 Italy 19.07.1997 41 Tunisia 18.04.1996
18 Japan 10.03.1998 42 Turkey 22.05.2012
19 Kazakhstan 08.12.2003 43 Turkmenistan 26.10.1994
20 Kuwait 14.02.2011 44 U.A.E. 05.11.1995
21 Kyrgyz Republic 23.08.1995 45 United Kingdom 30.11.1994
22 Lebanon 09.01.2001 46 Uzbekistan 13.08.1992
23 Loas 23.04.2004 47 Yemen 11.05.1999

Protection to Investment
• Legal cover for foreign and Pakistani investment will be extended to new areas and sectors.
• The benefits and incentives for investment provided by the Government shall continue, enforce and will not be reduced or altered to the disadvantage of investors.
• The Acts like Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Act, 1976 and the Furtherance and Protection of Economic Reforms Act, 1992 cover protection of foreign investors / investment in the country.
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