Trade and Industry
Pakistan's export earnings lean heavily on textiles — raw cotton, yarn, fabric and finished garments — alongside rice, leather, surgical instruments and sports goods. Imports are dominated by petroleum, machinery, and industrial raw materials. The gap between the two is the trade deficit, and it is one of the main pressures on the rupee.
How industry is measured
Large Scale Manufacturing output is the standard gauge of industrial activity, covering sectors from cement and steel to automobiles and pharmaceuticals. It responds quickly to energy costs, import restrictions on raw materials, and interest rates, which makes it a useful early signal of where the wider economy is heading.
What you will find here
Export and import figures as they are released, tariff and duty changes, trade agreements, sector-by-sector manufacturing performance, and the policy decisions affecting exporters and industrial units.