Pakistan factory output rises 6.45% YoY in February, up 5.89% in 8MFY26

Pakistan’s Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector grew 6.45% year-on-year in February 2026, with the index rising to 131.50 points from 123.53 points in the same month last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

On a month-on-month basis, LSM contracted by 8.97% in February 2026, with the Quantum Index declining from 144.46 points in January to 131.50 points.

For the July–February period of FY2025-26, the sector recorded a cumulative growth of 5.89%, with the index reaching 122.77 points compared to 115.94 points in the corresponding period last year.

Sector-wise data showed that automobiles recorded the highest growth during the eight-month period at 61.66%, followed by sugar at 13.62%, petroleum products at 11.98%, cement at 11.11%, and garments at 7.16%.

Other sectors, including cotton yarn grew by 2.23% and cotton cloth by 0.2%, while fertilizer declined by 0.15% and iron and steel by 5.70%.

On a monthly basis in February, automobiles grew by 28.74%, sugar by 29.34%, petroleum products by 14.03%, fertilizer by 9.60%, and cement by 8.27%, while iron and steel contracted by 9.94%.

The overall growth of 5.89% during July–February was supported by contributions from food (0.98%), garments (1.18%), automobiles (1.50%), petroleum products (0.85%), cement (0.61%), electrical equipment (0.25%), and other transport equipment (0.23%).

Declines were recorded in chemicals (0.09%), pharmaceuticals (0.30%), iron and steel products (0.24%), and machinery and equipment (0.06%).

The PBS said the provisional indices are based on data received from relevant sources using the base year 2015-16.