A semi-annual report on major industries' production and performance for July to December has been released by the Ministry of Finance, showing a decline in large-scale manufacturing.
According to the Bureau of Statistics, December saw a 3.73% year-on-year decrease in large-scale industrial production. However, compared to November, December recorded a 19.07% increase in industrial output.
The report reveals that during July-December, furniture manufacturing experienced a sharp decline of 61.06%, while the machinery and equipment sector fell by 27.88%. Electrical equipment production decreased by 19.10%, and iron and steel products declined by 12.04%. Chemical products manufacturing also contracted by 8.87%.
Despite the overall downturn, several sectors demonstrated growth during this period. The automobile sector emerged as a strong performer with a 50.16% increase, followed by the tobacco industry which grew by 19.21%. Paper and board manufacturing expanded by 2.81%.
Other sectors showing positive growth included pharmaceuticals with a 1.85% increase, the textile sector with 2.14% growth, and the beverage industry which rose by 1.15%. Leather products registered a modest gain of 0.38%.
The figures indicate a mixed performance across Pakistan's industrial landscape, with traditional manufacturing sectors facing significant challenges while some consumer-oriented industries showed resilience.
