PLENTY of bad news on the economic front. Keeping in view the inflationary spiral that has hit the country hard and the economy sliding down to unprecedented levels, the figures revealed by the State Bank of Pakistan showing a decline of 31 percent in Foreign Direct Investment adds to one's worry. Since this foreign investment is inextricably linked with the internal situation of the country, particularly in terms of security, it is no wonder that more and more investors are shying away from investing inside Pakistan. On the one hand, the military operation in Malakand division and FATA followed by the mass exodus of IDPs, and on the other, the spate of terrorist attacks have without doubt exacted a heavy toll on the investment climate. What's more, all this must be sending shivers through potential investors who could have been of great help. The recession in the international markets has added fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, the power outages have destroyed whatever was left of the economy. Pushed to the corner, representatives of the textile mills have threatened to go on a hunger strike. The economic ministry, which never tires of painting a rosy picture, must put its act together to take the country out of the abyss.