Board of Investment

What Board of Investment does

The Board of Investment (BOI) is a statutory government agency under the Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan, headquartered at 06th Floor, Kohsar Block, Pak Secretariat in Islamabad. Established in 1997 with the first Investment Policy that opened all economic sectors to foreign investment, BOI is mandated to promote, encourage, and facilitate both local and foreign direct investment. It serves as the single-window interface between international and domestic investors and Pakistan's federal and provincial governments, coordinating approvals across multiple agencies including the Board of Approval for Special Economic Zones (chaired by the Prime Minister), provincial BOITs in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan, and partners such as the World Bank/IFC, SECP, and FBR. BOI does not earn commercial revenue and is funded through government budget appropriations.

BOI's core offering is a portfolio of interconnected government e-services and policy frameworks rather than a unified software product. The e-services stack includes the Special Economic Zones Management Information System (SEZMIS), Branch/Liaison Office Management Information System (BLMIS), Work Visa E-Visa Portal, Pakistan B2B Investment Portal for joint venture matchmaking, Pakistan Single Window for trade facilitation, and Business Facilitation Center. Underpinning these portals is a regulatory and policy architecture centered on the SEZ Act 2012 (10-year income tax exemption, one-time customs duty waiver on capital goods, 25% Initial Depreciation Allowance), the Investment Policy 2023, the Automotive Development Policy (2016-2021), and the Electric Vehicle Policy 2020-2025. BOI also operates an E-Services portal and a digital B2B matchmaking grid hosted at pakb2binvestmentgrid.com.

BOI's go-to-market is event-driven and field-based rather than transactional. It relies on CPEC Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conferences, bilateral diplomatic delegations with countries including China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Korea, Japan, and Australia, and digital channels (invest.gov.pk portal, @investinpak on X/Twitter, Facebook). Customer segments are horizontal by geography and sector: foreign investors (international enterprises seeking market entry), local investors (Pakistani companies seeking policy guidance), and CPEC Partner Companies (firms investing in SEZs under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor). Named enterprise engagements span mining (Aerospace Development Industry, Elaman Group, Nova Minerals), green energy (Fortescue), oil and gas (ADNOC, Brother Gas), digital services (Yango, Facebook/Nayatel), retail (Majid Al Futtaim), telecom (Ericsson), and EV infrastructure (Zi Solar/Aeonus).

Name

Board of Investment

Legal name

Board of Investment (BOI), Prime Minister's Office, Government of Pakistan

Website

https://invest.gov.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Board of Investment (BOI) is Pakistan's federal investment promotion agency under the Prime Minister's Office, headquartered in Islamabad. It facilitates foreign and domestic investment through one-window operations, Special Economic Zone administration, e-service portals, and bilateral engagement with 14+ source countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Islamabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Investment Promotion Services: BOI is a government agency mandated to promote, encourage and facilitate both local and foreign investment. It does not generate commercial revenue but operates under government budget.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Board of Investment (BOI) is Pakistan's government investment promotion agency under the Prime Minister's Office that promotes, encourages, and facilitates both domestic and foreign investment through one-window operations, Special Economic Zones, sector-specific policy frameworks, and a portfolio of e-government service portals (SEZMIS, BLMIS, Work Visa, Pakistan B2B Investment Portal, Pakistan Single Window, Business Facilitation Center). It acts as the institutional interface between investors and the federal/provincial public and private sectors, backed by the SEZ Act 2012 and ongoing regulatory reform agenda.

Product overview

Board of Investment (BOI) Pakistan operates as the government's investment promotion agency, offering a platform of e-services and policy frameworks rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Special Economic Zones Management Information System (SEZMIS), Branch/Liaison Office Management Information System (BLMIS), and the Work Visa E-Visa Portal for investor facilitation. Additional services include the Pakistan B2B Investment Portal for joint venture matching, the Pakistan Single Window for trade facilitation, and the Business Facilitation Center. BOI also administers Special Economic Zones with fiscal incentives and maintains sector-specific policies including the Automotive Development Policy and Investment Policy framework. These services collectively function as interconnected government portals and regulatory frameworks supporting investment promotion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Designated areas under SEZ Act 2012 offering fiscal incentives including tax exemptions and customs duty benefits for investors
• Pakistan B2B Investment Portal
• Pakistan China Investment Portal

Products and services

• Special Economic Zones Management Information System (SEZMIS) An e-service platform for managing Special Economic Zone applications, approvals, and operations in Pakistan, serving domestic and foreign investors seeking SEZ allocation.
• Branch/Liaison Office Management Information System (BLMIS) An e-service portal for processing branch and liaison office registrations and renewals for foreign companies establishing presence in Pakistan.
• Work Visa E-Visa Portal Online portal for work visa applications and extensions, facilitating foreign professionals and expatriate staff seeking employment or assignment in Pakistan.
• Pakistan B2B Investment Portal Business-to-business investment matching platform connecting Pakistani and international investors for joint venture opportunities.
• Pakistan Single Window Integrated government platform for trade facilitation, providing single-window access to multiple government departments and services for businesses and investors.
• Business Facilitation Center Government service center providing streamlined business registration and regulatory approvals for investors and entrepreneurs.
• Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Designated geographic areas offering fiscal incentives including 10-year income tax exemption, one-time customs duty and tax exemption on capital goods, and preferential fiscal treatment to attract domestic and foreign investment. Nine SEZs are being developed under CPEC with three at advanced stages (Allama Iqbal Industrial City, Rashakai SEZ, Dhabeji SEZ).
• Investment Regime & Sector Policies Comprehensive policy framework including Investment Policy 2023, Electric Vehicle Policy 2020-2025, and Mobile Device Development Policy governing investment procedures and offering fiscal incentives such as 100% foreign equity, full repatriation of capital and profits, and 25% Initial Depreciation Allowance.
• Automotive Development Policy (2016-2021) Policy framework facilitating automotive sector investment through reduced entry thresholds, tariff structures, and regulatory mechanisms for quality and safety standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pakistan improved 39 positions in Ease of Doing Business ranking to reach 108th position
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• China Merchants Port HoldingsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2026Original partnership structure for Colombo Port Mega Logistics project with 70% stake (China Merchants), 15% SLPA, 15% Access Engineering PLC. Project subsequently cancelled and reverted for fresh RFP process.
• Tourism StakeholdersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Partnerships with international stakeholders for sustainable tourism development in eco-tourism, cultural heritage, halal tourism, and maritime sectors.
• HBL and China Machinery Engineering CooperationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2021Memorandum of Understanding signed for Agricultural Cooperation between HBL and CMEC at CPEC Industrial Cooperation B2B Investment Conference.
• Zi Solar and Aeonus Co. LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2021Pakistan-Korea partnership for EV charging infrastructure deployment. Zi Solar (Pakistan) collaborating with Aeonus Co. Ltd (South Korea) for R&D, marketing, and EV charging facilities.
• World Bank / IFCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with World Bank and International Finance Corporation for 6th Reforms Action Plan and Investment Promotion Strategy 2020-2023.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA): Malaysia's principal government agency for investment promotion, administering incentives, licenses, and SEZ-equivalent corridors. Functions as single-window facilitator for manufacturers and services investors — directly comparable role to BOI Pakistan.
• Thailand Board of Investment (BOI Thailand): Thailand's primary investment promotion agency offering tax incentives, BOI-promoted zones, work permit facilitation, and one-stop services to attract FDI. Comparable mandate and incentive-led value proposition to BOI Pakistan, with longer operational track record.
• Bangladesh Board of Investment (BOI Bangladesh): Bangladesh's national investment promotion agency under the Prime Minister's Office, administering SEZs, EPZs, and one-stop investment services. Closest geographic and structural peer to BOI Pakistan in South Asia with near-identical mandate and operating model.
• Indonesia's BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board): Indonesia's central investment coordination authority providing one-stop licensing, investment incentives, and facilitation services for both domestic and foreign investors. Comparable scope and SEZ administration function to BOI Pakistan.
• Invest India: India's national investment promotion and facilitation agency, established in 2009. Operates a single-window facilitation model similar to BOI's, runs sector-focused investment desks, and provides policy advocacy for foreign and domestic investors — the closest structural peer in South Asia.
• Vietnam's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA): Vietnam's investment promotion unit under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, focused on attracting and facilitating FDI into manufacturing and SEZs. Directly comparable emerging-market mandate with strong recent FDI performance as a benchmark for BOI's targets.

Broad incumbents

• UAE Ministry of Investment (MOI): UAE's federal investment ministry coordinating inbound FDI strategy and investor services. Comparable role in attracting capital to a Middle East emerging market; Pakistan's BOI engages frequently with UAE investors (ADNOC, Majid Al Futtaim, Brother Gas).
• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): Singapore's lead investment promotion agency, considered a global benchmark in investment facilitation and SEZ-style industrial policy. Much larger budget and global brand, but directly comparable function of attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment.
• Saudi Arabia's MISA (Ministry of Investment): Saudi Arabia's national investment ministry issuing investment licenses, promoting mega-projects (NEOM, Vision 2030 sectors), and running sector-specific investor outreach. Larger mandate and budget than BOI Pakistan, but functionally a national investment promotion agency in an emerging market.

Emerging players

• Rwanda Development Board (RDB): Rwanda's integrated investment promotion, privatization, and regulatory agency offering one-stop services, SEZ administration, and registration. A smaller-scale emerging-market peer; BOI recently hosted Rwanda's High Commissioner signaling diplomatic engagement with comparable peer agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/investinpak
• Facebookfacebook.com/investinpak
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/board-of-investment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Board of Investment