ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy expanded to ₨126.9 trillion, equivalent to $452.1 billion, during fiscal year 2025-26, while gross domestic product grew 3.99% year-on-year in the third quarter, driven mainly by industrial activity and large-scale manufacturing, according to data approved by the National Accounts Committee.
The latest estimates, prepared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), showed growth in agriculture, industry and services at 3.01%, 4.65% and 4.18%, respectively, during the January-March quarter.
Industrial activity recorded the strongest performance among major sectors despite contractions in mining and quarrying, which declined 2.55%, and electricity, gas and water supply, which fell 13.53%.
The committee said industrial growth was mainly supported by a 9.53% increase in large-scale manufacturing. Construction activity posted growth of 0.48% during the quarter, compared to 14.27% growth recorded in the same period last year.
Within agriculture, important crops grew 1.10%, other crops 2.27%, livestock 3.70%, forestry 1.62% and fishing 1.37%.
The services sector expanded 4.18%, with positive contributions from wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, information and communication, finance and insurance, public administration and social security, education, health services and other private services.
Information and communication recorded the highest growth within services at 9.78%, followed by public administration and social security at 8.88%.
The committee also revised upward GDP growth estimates for the first two quarters of FY26. Growth for Q1 was revised to 3.92% from 3.63%, while Q2 growth was revised to 4.05% from the previously estimated 3.89%.
According to the committee, the provisional GDP growth rate for the full fiscal year 2025-26 currently stands at 3.70%, with agriculture projected to grow 2.89%, industry 3.51% and services 4.09%.
The committee also approved revised annual growth figures for previous years, with FY24 growth standing at 2.62% and FY25 at 3.18%.
The size of the economy increased from ₨114 trillion, or $408.2 billion, previously, according to the latest national accounts estimates.
Per capita income, based on population projections from the 2023 census, was estimated at ₨533,629, equivalent to $1,901.
