Islamabad: Questions are rising over the 16‑month silence of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) Apex Committee, the project hailed as a game‑changer for Pakistan’s economy. The SIFC Apex Committee has not held a single meeting since January 2 2025, raising doubts about its ability to stay active and attract large‑scale foreign investment. The 11th Apex Committee meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and attended by senior civil and military leadership, reviewed performance and set targets for 2025. Since then, the highest decision‑making body of the SIFC has remained largely silent, even though it was created as a “one‑window” fast‑track platform with civil‑military coordination. When contacted, a senior SIFC official claimed that an Apex Committee meeting was held quietly after January 2 2025.
Lower‑level units are active but lack senior‑level progress; the last Executive Committee meeting was held in June 2025, about 11 months ago. The 14th Executive Committee meeting took place on June 18 2025. Although senior SIFC committees have not met for a long time, the Council Secretariat remains operational. It is said that the SIFC Implementation Committee meets regularly, but prominent Apex‑level meetings have not been convened as they were in mid‑2023 during the council’s establishment and in 2024 at its peak.
The SIFC was established with ambitious goals to fast‑track projects in defense, agriculture, minerals, energy, and IT, aiming to draw billions of dollars in direct foreign investment from Gulf states, China, and Europe. Initial results showed limited improvements in some sectors, but critics argue that structural bottlenecks, slow project execution, and low real investment levels persist. SIFC representatives stress that the platform is operational and effective on the ground; according to one source, Apex Committee Secretary Dr. Jehanzaib Khan recently highlighted ongoing reforms and opportunities for 2026 at international business forums.
Independent sources say that direct foreign investment has fallen short of expectations and many high‑level MoUs have yet to translate into actionable projects. Political uncertainty, bureaucratic hurdles, security concerns, and policy inconsistency in Pakistan are making it difficult to restore investor confidence, a source added that SIFC’s appeal lay in its high‑level patronage and speed. Without regular Apex and Executive Committee meetings, there is a risk that the SIFC will become just another bureaucratic entity.
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