Pakistan’s manufacturing sector showed stronger growth in February 2026, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data. The HBL Pakistan Manufacturing PMI rose to 53.6 in February from 51.8 in January, marking the strongest expansion in 14 months.
A PMI above 50 indicates that the majority of firms report growing activity rather than contraction. This expansion reflects rising factory output, new orders, and job creation across key industries.
The table below highlights key PMI figures for Pakistan’s manufacturing sector:
| Indicator | Value (Feb 2026) | Value (Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing PMI | 53.6 | 51.8 |
| Growth Status | Expansion | Expansion |
| Output Growth | Faster | Growing |
| New Orders Growth | Strongest in 11 months | Growing |
| Employment Growth | Record rise | Growing |
The rise in PMI was driven by stronger demand for Pakistani goods at home and abroad. Manufacturers reported that new orders expanded at the fastest pace in nearly a year, boosting production activity.
Export sales also improved, helping factories increase output and rebuild inventories of finished products. This pattern suggests both domestic recovery and an improving international appetite for Pakistani-manufactured items.
Another positive sign from the survey was job growth. Companies responded to higher workloads by hiring more workers, marking the best employment performance since the PMI data series began tracking Pakistan’s manufacturing sector. Despite this, producers noted higher input costs and selling prices as firms tried to protect profit margins.
Economists say the solid PMI reading reflects broader improvements in Pakistan’s industrial activity and aligns with other positive economic indicators. However, they also caution that global risks, such as commodity price swings and geopolitical uncertainty, could still affect future performance.
Continued monitoring of business confidence and export trends will be important to understand whether this momentum can be sustained.