Economy ‘grows’ 3.71%, but critics cry foul

Government critics, including members of the opposition and economists, questioned the credibility of official economic growth figures after the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a 3.71% gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of FY2025-26, largely driven by a significant rise in industrial output. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday shared the figures on social media, highlighting a 9.38% growth in the industrial sector. “It should not be ignored that this growth is coming despite the 2025 flood shock and absorption of all fiscal tightening, energy subsidy withdrawal, and food inflation,” Ahsan Iqbal said.