Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector grew by 1.79pct YoY in March 2025, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). However, on a monthly basis, LSM output fell sharply by 4.64pct compared to February.
Over the first nine months of fiscal year 2024-25, the LSM sector contracted by 1.47pct YoY, reflecting ongoing challenges across key industries.
The steel sector was particularly affected. In March, CR steel production declined 1.44pct YoY to 287,300 tons, while billet output dropped 10.66pct to 310,000 tons. For the nine-month period, billet production plunged 26.7pct to 2.9 mln tons, and CR steel output decreased 2.29pct to 2.59 mln tons.
The LSM sector accounts for nearly 70pct of Pakistan’s total manufacturing activity and contributes 8.2pct to the country’s GDP. It includes industries employing 10 or more workers, covering a broad range of manufacturing and repair activities.