Big industry grows 9pc in July

The Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector staged a recovery, posting a robust year-on-year growth of 8.99 per cent in the first month of FY26, according to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday. On a month-on-month basis, the LSM posted a positive growth of 2.60pc in July 2025. This clearly indicates a revival in the industrial output at the start of new fiscal year. The food group surged by 6.63pc in July FY26 on a YoY basis. Wheat and rice milling experienced a rise of 10.07pc, starch and its products 0.95pc, respectively. Wheat and rice milling increased substantially during the period under review, owing primarily to improved crop harvests. However, vegetable ghee production increased 6.69pc, cooking oil 0.76pc. However, tea blended declined by 3.95pc.