Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector recorded a 3.73% decline in December 2024 compared to the same month last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). However, on a monthly basis, LSM showed a 19.07% increase from November’s 107.09 points, indicating some short-term recovery.
The provisional quantum indices of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries for December 2024 with the base year 2015-16 have been developed on the basis of lthe atest data supplied by the source agencies.
For the first half of FY25 (July-December 2024-25), LSM output contracted by 1.87% year-on-year, with declines observed in several key industries. The biggest negative contributors included cement (-0.55), iron & steel (-0.59), electrical equipment (-0.60), machinery & equipment (-0.15), and furniture (-2.27).
On the other hand, garments (1.43), automobiles (0.77), and tobacco (0.25) posted gains, helping to offset part of the downturn.
Sector-wise, textile, apparel, automobiles, and transport equipment saw growth over the six-month period, while food, petroleum products, chemicals, non-metallic minerals, iron & steel, and machinery declined.
As a key driver of Pakistan’s industrial sector, LSM with 9.2% of GDP dominates the overall manufacturing sector, accounting for 74.3% of the sectoral share followed by Small Scale Manufacturing, which accounts for 2% of total GDP and 15.9% sectoral share.
