Section 3: Resources and Economic

Development of Pakistan
Chapter 6: Industry, Livestock, and Fish Farming

Pakistan’s Principal Industries

 Pakistan is primarily an agricultural country, but industries play a crucial role in:
o National Development
o Employment opportunities
o Technological advancement
o GDP growth
o Trade and exports
 Major Industries:

1. Sugar
2. Cement
3. Cotton/Textiles
4. Fertilizer
5. Steel/Iron
 Importance:

o Industries contribute to GDP, create jobs, improve infrastructure, and promote

trade.
o Spatial distribution depends on geography, natural resources, and
infrastructure availability.

Pakistan Industry Map

Industry Key Locations Icons

Cotton Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad
Sugar Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Badin �
Cement Limestone areas in Punjab, KPK
Fertilizer Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Karachi �
Steel Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala �

1. Sugar Industry
  Location: Punjab & Sindh → ideal climate & soil for sugarcane.
o Major centers: Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad, Badin
 Importance:
o Contributes to agriculture GDP.
o Provides employment in rural areas.
o Supports allied industries: paper, ethanol production.
o Generates foreign exchange via exports.
 Challenges:
o Fluctuating yields due to climate change, water scarcity.
o Inefficient sugar mills, outdated technology.
o Pricing/payment delays to farmers.
o Environmental issues: water use & pollution.
o Social issues: labor exploitation, wage disparity.

� Sugar Industry Data (2009–2023):

 Area (hectares) increased from 942,870 (2009) → 1,318,143 (2023)

 Production (tons): 49.3 million (2009) → 87.9 million (2023)
 Yield (tons/hectare): 52.36 → 66.72
 Utilization by mills: 73% → 74.55%

� Pakistan ranks among Top 10 sugar producers worldwide.

2. Cement Industry
 Location: Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa → rich in limestone & gypsum.
 Economic Role:
o Essential for construction & infrastructure.
o Significant contribution to national development.
o Exports to neighboring countries.
o Rs. 50+ billion contribution to tax revenue.
o Provides 170,000+ jobs.
  Challenges:
o High production costs (energy, raw materials).
o Compliance with environmental regulations → costly.
o High carbon emissions, dust pollution.
o Reliance on non-renewable energy.

� Pakistan = 14th largest cement producer in the world (69 million tons capacity, 2024).
3. Cotton & Textile Industry
 Importance:
o Accounts for 11% of GDP, 60% of export earnings.
o Employs 38% of labor force.
o Pakistan = 3rd largest cotton exporter worldwide.
 Major Areas:
o Punjab (Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad)
o Sindh (Sanghar, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas)
 Advantages:
o Provides jobs in farming, ginning, spinning, weaving, garment manufacturing.
o Strengthens export earnings.
o Textile industry = largest industrial sector.
 Challenges:
o Pests (bollworms), climate change → reduced yield.
o Requires heavy irrigation → water scarcity issues.
o Social issues: child labor, exploitation, poor working conditions.
4. Fertilizer Industry
 Importance:
o Enhances crop yield, ensures food security.
o Major fertilizer plants in Punjab (Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Lahore) and Sindh
(Karachi, Hyderabad).
o Supports agriculture → backbone of Pakistan’s economy.
 Contribution:
o 4.4% to large-scale manufacturing sector.
o 0.9% of GDP, worth PKR 100 billion+.
 o 100,000+ direct jobs, 200,000+ indirect jobs.
o Tax contribution → PKR 100 billion.
 Challenges:
o Energy-intensive production (relies on natural gas).
o Supply-demand imbalance → fertilizer shortages.
o Environmental issues: soil degradation, water pollution, biodiversity loss.
5. Iron & Steel Industry
 Importance:
o Backbone of industrial sector.
o Provides steel for infrastructure (bridges, railways, machinery, shipbuilding,
etc.).
 Major Centers:
o Karachi (Pakistan Steel Mills, Bin Qasim)
o Punjab (Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura)
o Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar)
 Advantages:
o Employment in production, distribution, sales.
o Supports many industries: shipbuilding, automotive, construction.
 Challenges:
o Frequent power shortages, high energy costs.
o Dependence on imported raw materials (iron ore, scrap steel).
o Environmental damage (carbon emissions, water pollution).
o Global market fluctuations affect prices.
6. Cottage & Small-Scale Industries
 Definition: Small, home-based, traditional industries.
 Examples: Carpet weaving, embroidery, handicrafts, brassware, pottery, leather goods,
candle-making, surgical instruments.
 Advantages:
o Employment in rural areas (poverty reduction).
o Opportunities for women.
o Preserves cultural heritage.
o Adaptable to market trends.
o Boosts rural development & income generation.
 Disadvantages:
o Operate on small scale → limited output.
o Lack of access to modern machinery.
o Struggle to compete with mass production.
o Quality control issues, lack of storage.
7. Large-Scale Industries
 Require huge capital, advanced technology, and skilled workforce.
 Major Sectors:
o Textile & Garments
o Automobile (Toyota, Honda, Suzuki)
o Cement
o Steel
o Chemical & Petrochemical
o Energy (hydro, thermal, nuclear)
o Food Processing (dairy, fruits, grains)
 Advantages:
o Economies of scale (mass production).
o Export earnings, foreign exchange.
o Employment creation.
o Supports urbanization & industrialization.
 Disadvantages:
o Require huge investments.
o Large environmental impact (pollution, resource depletion).
o Risk of monopolies (market domination).
o Sensitive to global economic fluctuations.
o Government approvals → time-consuming.
8. Government Policies & Industrial Zones
 SME Policy 2021:
o Promote small & medium industries.
o Simplified tax returns, low-interest loans (up to Rs. 10 million).
o Ease of doing business → reduce regulatory hurdles.
 Special Economic Zones (SEZs):
o Aim: Promote industrial growth, exports, investment.
o Facilities: Transport, power supply, water, infrastructure.
o SEZ Act 2012 (amended 2016) → easier approvals.

� Important SEZs in Pakistan:

1) Rashakai SEZ (CPEC, KP)

2) Allama Iqbal Industrial City (Faisalabad)
3) Karachi Industrial Park
4) Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park (Sheikhupura)
5) Mohmand Marble City (KP)
6) Pakistan Steel Mills Industrial Park (Karachi)

 Advantages:
o Attract foreign investment.
o Job creation.
o Reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
o Promote exports.
 Disadvantages:
o Regional imbalance (zones in few provinces).
o Poor planning → underutilized estates.
o Environmental degradation risk.
9. Unemployment and Underemployment in Pakistan
A Youth-Centric Crisis
Pakistan’s economy and society are significantly impacted by unemployment and
underemployment.
Why It Matters

 Impact on:
o ��‍���� Micro level: Individuals & households
o �� Macro level: National economy

Helps in planning policies for economic development and job creation.

Current Situation
Unemployment Rate (2024): ~ 8%.
Causes:
 Lack of literacy.
 Insufficient skill development.
 Lack of proper training.
� Indicates economic challenges + need for structural reforms.

Graph – Unemployment Rate by Age & Gender (2020–21)

"Youth face the highest unemployment risk — structural reform & skill-building are urgent."

Highest unemployment in youth (15–24 years).

 Total: ~12%
 Females: ~15% (highest group)
 Males: ~11%
 25–34 years: ~8% unemployment.
 10–14 years: ~5% (child labor related).
 35+ years: unemployment drops significantly (2–4%).
 65 & over: almost negligible.
� Young people, especially women, face the greatest unemployment risk.
Impacts of Unemployment
A. Micro-Level Impacts
1-Financial Pressure on Families.
 Household incomes fall → unable to meet basic needs.
 Leads to poverty, malnutrition, poor healthcare & limited education.
2-Diminished Quality of Life.
 Causes stress, anxiety, low self-esteem.
 May lead to drug abuse, crimes, anti-state activities.
 Reduces overall well-being of society.
3-Access to Education is Limited.
 Children from unemployed families are less likely to attend school.
 Pakistan currently has 26.2 million out-of-school children.
Data (Out-of-School Children):
 Punjab: 11.73 million
 Sindh: 7.63 million
 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 3.63 million
 Balochistan: 3.13 million
 ICT (Islamabad): 0.08 million
� Economic struggles of parents perpetuate cycle of poverty.
B. Macro-Level Impacts
1-Decreased Economic Development
 Workforce underutilized → economy below potential.
 Productivity & GDP growth reduced.
2-Enhanced Social Welfare Costs
 Govt. must spend more on support programs for unemployed.
 Leads to diversion of funds from health, education, development.
3-Social Instability
 Leads to crime, protests, political instability.
 Dissatisfaction among population → governance challenges.

Government Programs & Support

Benazir Income Support Program (BISP):
 One of South Asia’s largest safety net programs.
 Helps 5.7 million families.
 Contributes to poverty alleviation & women empowerment.
 Role of Skills, Training, and Literacy
Key Solution: Improve literacy, training, and employable skills.
Ways It Helps:
Enhancing Employability
 Education gives knowledge → vocational training provides job-specific skills.
Increased Productivity
  Literate & trained workforce adapts to new technologies & innovations.
Reducing Unemployment & Underemployment
 Training matches skills with market demands.
 Reduces skill-job mismatch.
Economic Development
 Skilled workforce attracts investment & industrial growth.
 Strengthens Pakistan’s global competitiveness.
 Helps in poverty reduction, social cohesion, and economic expansion.

Farming in Pakistan: Livestock and Fish Farming

Farming in Pakistan.
 Vital role in economy:
 Provides food, employment, and raw materials for industries.
Main Categories:
 Crop Farming
 Animal Farming (includes livestock & fish farming).
� Focus here is on Livestock & Fish Farming.

Significance of Livestock and Fish Farming.

 Crucial for agriculture & food security.
 Provides protein & nutrients (meat, milk, fish).
Economic Development:
 Creates income & employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.
 Cultural Importance: Deeply connected with rural traditions & livelihoods.
 Supports sustainable agriculture when diseases are controlled & resources managed.

Livestock Farming in Pakistan.

Livestock = backbone of agriculture economy.
Animals provide: meat, milk, wool, hides, butter, leather goods.
Common livestock: cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, horses, asses, mules, poultry.
Table: Estimated Livestock Population (millions)
Species 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
Cattle 53.4 55.5 57.5
Buffalo 43.7 45.0 46.3
Sheep 31.9 32.3 32.7
Goat 82.5 84.7 87.0
Camel 1.1 1.1 1.2
Horses 0.4 0.4 0.4
Asses 5.7 5.8 5.9
Mules 0.2 0.2 0.2
Source: Ministry of National Food Security & Research
� Goats (87 million) & cattle (57.5 million) dominate the livestock sector.

Animal Husbandry
Definition: Art & science of breeding and raising livestock.
Purposes: Meat, milk, wool, labor (draught animals).
Key Practices:
 Selective Breeding → improves quality & productivity.
 Nutrition & feeding → well-rounded diet to maintain health.
 Healthcare → veterinary services, vaccinations, disease control.
 Housing → protects from weather & predators.
Challenges in Animal Husbandry
 Disease outbreaks → need for vaccination & vet services.
 Resource management → shortage of water, grazing land, fodder.
 Market access problems → farmers struggle to sell products at fair prices.

Fish Farming (Aquaculture)

Definition: Cultivation of fish & aquatic organisms in ponds, tanks, cages.
Produces carp, tilapia, catfish, etc.
Importance:
 Ensures food security.
 Provides employment.
 Supports exports & economy.
� New Development: Shrimp farming in Sindh & Balochistan coastal areas.
Key Practices in Fish Farming
  Monitor oxygen, temperature, pH.
 Provide balanced nutrition (pellets, natural food).
Manage diseases.
 Use selective breeding to improve growth & survival.
Challenges.
 Maintaining water quality (oxygen, pH).
 Fish diseases & parasites.
 Lack of modern equipment & marketing.
 Environmental sustainability concerns.

Sustainable Livestock Practices.

Aim: Balance productivity, environment & animal welfare.
Strategies
Agroecological Practices: Rotational grazing, pest management → improves soil & reduces
chemicals.
Organic Farming: Avoid synthetic fertilizers/pesticides → healthier, eco-friendly products.
Renewable Energy: Solar/wind in livestock farms → cost-effective, eco-friendly.
Improved Breeding: Selective breeding → disease resistance, better yield.
Water Conservation: Drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, reservoirs.
Feed Management: Use local feed, crop residues → reduce costs.
Manure Management: Composting → organic fertilizer, reduce emissions.
Veterinary Services: Regular checkups & vaccinations.
Animal Welfare: Adequate housing, nutrition, humane handling.
Farmer Education & R&D: Training, innovation, extension services.

Pakistan’s Fishing Industry

 Located along Arabian Sea coast (1,050 km).
 Rich in marine & freshwater resources.
 Main hubs: Sindh & Balochistan coasts.
 Products: Prawns, tuna, mackerel, freshwater fish.
Economic Impact
 Contribution to GDP: ~1% of GDP.
 Employment:
 Direct: 390,000 fishermen.
 Indirect: ~500,000 workers (net making, processing, transport).
Exports:
 FY 2022–23 → $450 million from seafood exports.
  Buyers: China, Middle East, EU, USA.
Infrastructure Development Initiatives
Gwadar Port
 Modern deep-sea port.
 Boosted fish exports & reduced transport costs.
CPEC (China–Pakistan Economic Corridor)
 Upgraded fishing infrastructure (processing plants, transport, storage).
Makran Coastal Highway
 Connects fishing communities.
 Reduced Karachi–Gwadar travel from 48 hrs → 7 hrs.
Improves fish freshness & market access.
Fishing Markets
 Modernized markets → better quality, less wastage, improved exports.

Potential Solutions for Sustainable Fisheries.

Regulation & Management
 Set catch limits, seasonal bans, protect biodiversity.
 Enforce laws against illegal fishing.
Technological Advancements
 Use modern boats, GPS, sonar.
 Selective gear (circle hooks) → protect juvenile fish.
Capacity Building
 Train fishermen in sustainable practices & marine conservation.
Infrastructure Investment
 Improve ports, storage, highways → reduce post-harvest losses.