Islamabad: The large -scale manufacturing sector (LSM) registered a modest growth of 2.29 percent in May compared to the same month last year, according to data published by the Pakistan Statistics Office on Tuesday.
This marks the third consecutive month of positive growth, largely attributed to a significant cut in the key interest rate to 11pc. The LSM sector showed positive growth from December 2023 to May 2024, but returned to the negative territory in June 2024. About year after year, LSM decreased by 2.65 percent in August, followed by a 1.92PC drop in September.
Registered a marginal growth of 0.02pc in October before contracting again at 3.81pc in November 3.73pc in December, 1.21pc in January and 3.51pc in February. A slight recovery was observed in March, with an increased production by 1.79 percent.
About a month by month, LSM showed a significant growth of 7.93pc in May.
The LSM sector recorded a negative growth of 1.21PC during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last year. In the fiscal year24, LSM contracted by 0.03pc against a growth of 0.92 percent in the previous year.
The food group decreased by 2.32pc by 11MFy25 interannual. The grinding of wheat and rice increased by 5.96pc and starch and its products by 0.76pc, mainly due to better crop crops. However, the production of vegetable ghee decreased by 1.06pc, tea mixed by 3.75pc and kitchen oil by 0.02pc.
The textile sector grew by 2.79pc in 11MFy25 in one year. The production of cotton yarn increased by 8.22pc and cotton fabric by 0.72pc. These two categories constitute more than 80PC of the textile sector.
Exports of conflict garments registered a growth of 5.20 percent at the intermediate level, largely because foreign buyers diverted Bangladesh orders to Pakistan.
Coque and oil products grew by 4.74pc in 11MFy25. Gasoline production increased by 2pc, high -speed diesel by 9.65pc and kerosene at 25.90pc. However, LPG production decreased by 2.18pc and aircraft fuel in 10.62pc. The automobile sector recorded a significant growth of 43.94pc in 11MFy25 interannual. This was driven by an increase of 39.35 percent in jeeps and cars, followed by a growth of 173.95 percent in LCVs, 100.04pc in trucks and 72.63pc on bus.
Posted in Dawn, July 16, 2025
