Pakistan's Large-Scale Manufacturing Grows 6.48 Pct In First 9 Months Of FY2025-26

Islamabad: Pakistan's large-scale manufacturing (LSM) industries grew by 6.48 percent during the first nine months of the fiscal year 2025-26 on a yearly comparison, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Tuesday.

According to the official data, the South Asian country's Quantum Index of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (QIM) was recorded at 123.03 points during July-March 2025-26, compared with 115.55 points in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

In March 2026, industrial output surged by 11.09 percent year on year, with the QIM standing at 124.89 points compared with 112.42 points in March 2025.

However, on a month-on-month basis, LSM output declined by 5.19 percent compared with February 2026.

Major contributors to the overall growth included food, garments, petroleum products and automobiles, with the automobile sector posting a sharp increase of over 61 percent during the period. Petroleum products and cement also recorded notable gains.

On the other hand, sectors such as iron and steel, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and chemicals remained under pressure and posted negative growth, weighing on overall industrial performance.

The PBS said the LSM index is compiled on the basis of production data of key industrial items sourced from various government agencies and industrial units.

The statistics body noted that the data remains provisional and subject to revision after the inclusion of additional production figures.

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