Principal Industries of Pakistan

  • Introduction
  • Pakistan Steel Mills, Pipri, Karachi
  • Heavy Mechanical Complex at Texila
  • Ship Building Industry
  • National Shipping Corporation
  • The Cotton Textile Industry
  • Woolen Textile Industry
  • Silken Textile Industry
  • Chemical Fertilizer Industry
  • Sugar Industry
  • Cement Industry
  • Vegetable Ghee Industry
  • Chemical Industry

  • Small and Cottage Industries


  • Cotton Handlooms
  • Carpet and Rug Making
  • Leather Tanning
  • Sport Goods
  • Embroibery


    • <> Introduction

    Industrial development is absolutely essential for the economic progress of any country. Without satisfactory industrial progress, the progress in other fields becomes very difficult. This is why special attention is paid to industrial progress. With the expansion in industrial field, employment opportunities also grow and national income increases.

    Before independence, the territories which become part of Pakistan, were industrially very backward. There were only a few industries here and these also had vey little productive capacity. Keeping in view the backwardness in the industrial field, the Government of Pakistan made efforts to rectify this state of affairs. In 1948, an Industrial Policy was announced whereby private investment in industrial field was encouraged and necessary facilities were afforded to those who wanted to invest. Certain steps were take to encourage private investment. These covered tax holidays, protection from foreign competition, and necessary facilities for establishing new industries. Many places were declared special industrial estates, where the government encouraged the installation of new industries and provide land, utilities (electricity, water, telephones, gas etc, roads, drainage and other facilities). Such industrial centers are located in each province.

    A finance corporation for industrial sector was established to help expand the industrial base. This was replaced by an Industrial Development Bank in 1961. These financing bodies aimed at providing loans to private investors. Later on, Pakistan Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation was also established. However, general commercial banks also helped the industries. Not only the Pakistanis but also the foreign nationals were afforded apportunities for private industiral investment.

    In 1952, an Industrial Development Corporation was established by the government. This corporation took steps for establishing industries when the private investors were shy inspite of the key role of those industries. Industries were also setup by the government with 100% state investment.

    In 1972, ten categories of factories were nationalized by the government. These included steel and other basic metal industries, heavy engineering and electric complexes, industrial units manufacturing automobiles, chemicals, petroleum and lubricants and units manufacturing cements and those, manufacturing hydrogenated oil. This action of the government created scare uncertainty among the private investors and they refrained from new investments. Later on the government, won back the confidence of the private investors to some extent. At present the government is trying to denationalize as many nationalized industires and financial institutions as possible, besides allowing the private sector to set up new industrial units, financial institution and even airlines.

    The government is also paying attention to environmental pollution caused by improper disposal of industrial wastes, smoke and chemical exhaust. This problem is not peculiar to Pakistan alone.

    As industrilization is a long term process, successive five-year plans are needed for universal industrialization in Pakistan. The management of the nationalized industries is vested in several specialized corporations. Presently private investment is being associated with the public one to hasten the process of industrialization.

    There are two productive processes, associated with industries in Pakistan. The first one emphasises upon maximum or total automation, while the secone one is a hybrid of mechanicl and manual processes.


    <> Pakistan Steel Mills, Pipri, Karachi


    This mill has been established at Pipri, 40km. from Karachi near port Mohammad Bin Qasim, with the assistance of former Soviet Union. The raw material such as iron and coal, for this mill is imported from other countries. Coke, pigiron, iron sheets, coaltar etc. are manufactured in this mill. Not only that, employment has been afforded to many a thousand but a sizable foreign exhange has also been saved.


    <> Heavy Mechanical Complex at Texila


    In Pakistan, a heavy mechanical complex was establised at Taxila in 1968 with the Chines assistance, which started producing results in 1970. It has got an annual capacity of melting 60,000 tonnes of pigiron. This complex is manufacturing various items for different organizations.

    In this complex different types of machinery and equipment are made, such as plants for sugar, cement and fertilizer industries etc. Besides these, certain other items such as cranes machinery for flour mills, lathe machines, spinning and weaving machines and their spare parts are also being produced.

    At Taxila, another industry was also established in 1972 with the assistance of China, which started production in 1976. It has the capacity of melting 60,000 tonnes of pigiron annually. This industry is manufacturing certain items for Pakistan Steel Mills, and private concerns. Railway engines and their parts, railway bogies, axle of wheels, and machinery used in producing electricity and other heavy machines are being manufactured in this fvtory. The installation of these iron and steel industries in Taxila has resulted in reduction of dependence on imports in Pakistan and is saving of valuable foreign exhange.


    <> Ship Building Industry


    A shipyard was established in 1956 at Karachi namely, Karachi shipyard and Engineering Works Limited. Various types of ships upto to 12000 tonnes of dead weight (D.W) can be built here. Ship repairing is also done in this shipyard. In this shipyard, not only local ships are manufactured and repaired but also finshing boats, tugs and ships for other countries are made. Several ships can be made and rapaired simultaneously.


    <> National Shipping Corporation


    In order to develop the shipping industry, the government established the National Shipping Corporation in 1963. This Corporation is also authorized to manufacture and repair ships besides operating ships. In 1974 all the private shipping companies were nationalized. In 1979 it was re-named as "The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation". The ships of this corporation are playing an important role in the marine trade of Pakistan.


    <> The Cotton Textile Industry


    The cotton textile industry is the largest industry of the country. At the eve of independence there were only three cotton textile mills in our country. The first cotton textile mill was established in 1948 at Karachi and now about 200 cotton textile and cotton yarn mills are in operation in Pakistan. Karachi, Hyderabad, Kotri, Khairpur, Tando Jam, Larkana, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Multan, Chunian, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Okara, Bhukkar, Liaquatabad, Muzaffar Garh, Rahim Yar Kan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Bohrewal, Sahiwal, Peshawar, Haripur, Swat, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Kahn, Quetta, Othal and Lasbela are the centers of cotton textile mills. Due to a large number of textile mills, Pakistan has now become self-sufficient in textiles, rather she is exporting cotton yarn and fabrics. Japan and Hong Kong are the biggest buyers of cotton fabrics of Pakistan.


    <>Woolen Textile Industry


    Wool is available is large quantity in Pakistan, but is is not of hign quality and as such, high quality woolen textiles can not be made from it. Most of our wool is used in carpet industry. Good quality wool is imported to meet the need of our country and the wool obtained locally is exported as a raw material. There was no woolen textile mill in Pakistan at the time of independence but now many woollen textile mills have sprung up in various parts of the country. The major woollen textile centers in Pakistan are at Karachi, Harnai and Lawerence Pur near Rawalpindi. Woollen yarn blankets and woollent cloth are also manufactured in mills at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quaidabad and Gujranwala.


    <>Silken Textile Industry


    Silken Textile Industry needs the sild yarn. Two varieties of raw material are needed fro this industry. The first one is the natural silk, obtained from silk worms and the other one is the synthetic or artificial silk. The natural silk is expensive and as such synthentic silk has become popular. One factory of synthetic silk known as Ravi Rayon is operating at Kala Shah Kaku near Lahore. Besides this, raw silk and silk yarn are also being imported from other countries. Karachi is the biggest center of Silken Textile Industry, where high quality silken cloth is maunufacture. Faisalabad is the second major center of Silken Textiles. Besides this, silk mills are also operating at Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Peshawar, Swat, Hyderabad, Khaipur, Larkana, Sukkur and Rohri.


    <> Chemical Fertilizer Industry


    Pakistan is an agricultural country and our economy depends mainly on agriculture. We have to increase the production of chemical fertilizers in order to increase our agricultural output.

    Keeping in view the utility of chemical fertilizers, the government has established factories to manufacture various kinds of chemical fertilizers. The surplus chemical fertilizer is also exported.


    <> Sugar Industry


    Sugarcane and beet are the basic to this industry. Pakistan has progressed well in this field. At the time of independence we had only two sugar units. One at Rahwali in Punjab and the other at Takht Bail in the N.W.F.P. The production of these mills was very small in relation to our national demand. So, the government worked on a plan to establish sugar mills at various places in private and public sectors and now dozens of units are manufacturing sugar throughout the country. In addition to sugarcane, sugar is also made from beet root in the factory at Mardan in the N.W.F.P. Sugar factoires in Pakistan are located at Faisalabd, Joharabad, Rahwali, Chistian, Jarhan Wala, Gojra, Kamalia, Samandri, Sangla Hills, Pattoki, Pasrur, Toba Tek Singh, Tando Mohammad Khan, Shaikh Bhirki, Jhok, Shareef, Thatta, Garho, Budho Talpur, Shahpur Jihanian, Sakrand, Nawabshah, Talhar, Badin, Dadu, Mardan, Tukht Bai, Char Sadah, Bannu, Peshawar and Khazana.


    <> Cement Industry


    Importance of cement industry cannot be overemphasised in the development of the infrastructure of any country. There was only one cement factory at the time of independence in Pakistan but now this sector has progressed a lot. There are about 15 cement factories now. We are not only meeting our national requirements but at times we export it. The Pakistan State Cement Corporation (P.S.C.C.) manages the cement industry in the public sector and is devoted to qualitative and quantitative improvement. the P.S.C.C. is being privatised and new cement factories are being installed in the private sector.


    <> Vegetable Ghee Industry


    The vegetable ghee and edible oil industry has made a good stride. It owes its existence mainly to the private sector. However, in 1973 this industry was also nationalized and its management was vested into the Ghee Corporation of Pakistan (G.C.P). The G.C.P is being privatised. At present, crude edible oil (Sunflower oil, Palm oil, Cotton seed oil and Soyabean oil) is being used by more than 40 units of the industry. But the local output of the crude edible oil only partially meets the demands of the industry and about 75% dependence is on imports. The sunflower oil seeds and soyabean seeds are being sown to increase the local output. The ghee and edible oil factories are spread all over the country. The main locations are: Karachi, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rahim Yar Kahn, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Nowshera, Haripur and Quetta.


    <> Chemical Industry


    Salt, limestone, gypsum, phosphorus and natural gas are basic raw materials for Chemical Industry. These raw materials are available in abundance in our country. There are many factories in Pakistan, producing Caustic Soda, Sulphuric Acid, Soda Ash, Dyes, Pesticides, Antiseptics and pharmaceuticals. The products of this industry are used by other factories. The chemical units are mainly located at Karachi, Daud Khel, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Jaranwala, Nowshera and Kala Shah Kaku (Lahore).



    Besides the industries described above, many other s have also made a good progress. These are paper mills, flour mills, match factories, glass factories and cycles manufacturing have also come up. Petrochemical products such as plastics, artificial rubber and artificial silk yarn are being produced.



    <> Small and Cottage Industries


    Together with large and heavy industries, small and cottage industries are also playing an important role in the economic progress of our country. Keeping in view their importance, a separate department has been established whcih plans to improve and expand these industries in all the provinces. These industries provide large employment with a relatively small investment. It can play an effective role in reducing the rural influx of population into urban centers. Different varities of consumer goods are produced by these industries in different parts of the country by small and cottage industries.

    A brief resume of some of these consumer goods is given below:


    <> Cotton Handlooms


    This is the biggest cottage industry. In Punjab and Sindh many cotton loom products are made at different places. In Sindh, about 50 thousand handlooms are working. They produce khes ( a variety of cotton shawl), bed sheet, cotton rugs, niwar, (tape for cots) etc. The well known centers of cottoon looms are: Faisalabad, Multan, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sialkot in Punjab and Hyderabad, Khairpur, Gambat, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Larkana in Sindh.


    <> Carpet and Rug Making


    This is also a cottage industry. Pakistani carpets are popular all over the world. Enough local raw material is available for carpet industry. Major centers of carpet industry are Sangla Hill (district: Sheikupura), Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Jhang in the Punjab and Hyderabad, MirpurKhas, Thar, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Khairpur and Karachi in Sindh. Peshawar and Quetta in N.W.F.P. and Baluchistan respectively.


    <> Leather Tanning


    Dying and washing of leather is also a big cottage industry. Shoes, sandals, suit cases, holdalls, table lamps, vases, hang bags etc. are made with leather. These items are manufactured at Peshawar, Karachi, Swat, Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Hyderabad. Leather is also tanned in Baluchistan.


    <> Sport Goods


    This is an important product of the cottage industry. Soft timber and leather are used as raw material for sports industry and these items are abundantly available in our country. Sialkot and Lahore are noted for this industry. We earn a sizable foreign exhange through export of sport goods.


    <> Embroibery


    Different varieties of needlework and embroidery are popular throughout the country. In Punjab, flower embroidery is done in silk thread. In Sindh and Baluchistan, mirror ornamentation is done on cloth with silk thread. This is called Baluchi work. In the N.W.F.P. flower embroidery, leather embroidery and golden laced (Zari) work is done on cloth. At Lahore and Karachi, a special embroidery work known as Salma Sitara is done beautifully. There are many other small industry products such as those using glass, needlework and making of Bangles in Sindh. In Punjab there are several factories of Silken thread, clay pots, cutlery and surgical instruments. In the N.W.F.P. there are factories of woodwork, making wool yarn, blanket etc. In Baluchistan there are centers for embriodery, needlework and factories for making different items from onyx and marble. The government has established various training centers at differnt places to help improve the cottage industry products.


    The END



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