Pakistan, June 16 -- Pakistan's large-scale manufacturing sector recorded a 6.44 percent growth during July-April FY26, even as output declined sharply by 8.32 percent in April compared with the previous month. The overall performance reflects mixed industrial trends, with strong gains in automobiles, food, garments and cement balancing weaknesses in pharmaceuticals, iron and steel. According to official data, the Quantum Index of Manufacturing reached 122.19 compared with 114.79 in the same period last year.

In April alone, manufacturing output increased by 6.06 percent year-on-year, although it fell from March levels, showing a clear monthly slowdown. The index dropped from 124.96 in March to 114.56 in April after peaking earlier in th...