The cost of unrest: PTI protests could deter foreign investments at SCO summit

As Islamabad ramps up security efforts for eight high profile delegations attending the SCO summit 2024, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has thrown a spanner in the works. While whispers of multibillion dollar international investments deals can be heard amongst lawmakers in Islamabad, murmurs about a potential PTI march on the SCO summit are also raising concerns.

With world leaders slightly shaken by the recent BLA attacks that claimed the lives of two Chinese engineers in Karachi, economic negotiations are progressing relatively unhindered. However, a possible large scale mobilization of PTI protestors poses a severe threat to the economy and businesses.

This is because foreign investors are likely to perceive Pakistan as a suboptimal destination for their investments due to political instability. This pullback of investor funds will come at a cost to the Pakistani economy in terms of a loss of potential FDI – A loss that cash strapped Pakistan cannot afford to bear.

As such, in preparation of wide scale protests and possible riots, the government has imposed section 144 until the conclusion of the SCO summit to deter the gathering of dissidents and rioters. This move is a way to portray a politically stable picture of Pakistan so that the multibillion dollar deals with Saudi Arabia and China are not at risk.

The projects for which Pakistan wants to secure investments include the Reko Diq mining operation and the completion of the M1 railway from Karachi to Peshawar. If investors sense danger from large rallies and protests, Pakistan will lose out – big time.

There will be no clear winners if PTI protests break out while the SCO summit is in session. Perhaps it would be best if a moratorium of hostilities is observed between the government and opposition. Will PTI temporarily put its differences aside for the interest of the nation or will political interest prevail?