Industrial scenario in the country.(Statistical data)

Pakistan, which had almost no large industrial units at the time of partition in 1947, now has a fairly broad industrial base, and manufacturing accounts for about 17% of Gross Domestic Products(GDP). Cotton textile production is the single most important industry, accounting for about 19% of large-scale industrial employment. Cotton yarn, cotton cloth, made-up textiles, ready-made garments, and knitwear collectively accounted for nearly 60% of Pakistan's exports in 2007-2008. Other important industries are cement, vegetable oil, fertilizer, sugar, steel, machinery, information technology, computer, automobiles, oilseeds, pharmaceutical, petroleum, oil, gas, telephone internet, generators, animal feeds, coal, tobacco, paper and paperboard, chemicals, glass, ceramics, water treatment, steam production and food processing. The concerned authority is attempting to diversify the country's industrial base and to increase the emphasis on export industries. Small-scale and cottage industries are numerically significant but account for a relatively small proportion of the GDP at about 6%. Small-scale industry includes facilities, which employ fewer than 50 workers and cottage industries (industrial units in which the owner works and is aided by family members but employs no hired labor).

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Industrial units including factories producing cement, basic and heavy chemicals, automobiles, food products, etc. have mainly attracted domestic private investors. The authority plans to spend 90% of privatization proceeds for debt repayment and 10% for poverty alleviation. The government has laid out a time frame for privatization of various organizations in the financial, oil and gas, power, industrial, and telecommunication sector. In most cases, the government aims to find "strategic investors" to buy up a certain stake of these firms and gain management control. The privatization process is a very complex undertaking, since new regulations of private sector entities in these sectors are still being established.

INDUSTRIES:

There is a web of cottage and small-scale industries. In almost every village, there are a number of such industries depending upon the size of the village and the demand for the products. The establishment of such industry is closely related to the availability of raw material traditional skills, climatic conditions and, in several cases, the local specialization in the organized factory sector. There is a large variety of handicrafts available in Pakistan. They are not only aesthetically pleasing items, but they are also serve the needs of local people. Some of these industries produce important export items. Recently exports of non-cotton products have faced increasing trade barriers as public opinion in industrialized countries has expressed growing concern about child labour, environmental and health standards. These concerns are being addressed now.

Basic and Heavy Chemical Industries:

Raw material and chemicals flow sheet diagrams and commercial production of sulphur, nitric, hydrochloric, oxalic, formic, caustic soda and washing soda and application of these chemicals in chemical industries.

Carpets:

Carpets are by far the most in economic terms and the make a significant contribution to export earnings. They are generally hand-woven and hand knotted and made of wool, silk or a mixture of the two.

Textiles: Textiles are found throughout the country with a variety of design and techniques. The most famous among them are Khaddar, Susi, Khes, Chunri, Boski, Karandi, Shaal, and The designs are invariably brightly colored with traditional emphasis on blue and red.

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Embroidery:

Embroidery has developed to a fine art with distinctive regional designs and patterns. Now a days this has been taking in large scale in small and home industrial plants, hand made embroidery has a vast demand in foreign countries, women are playing a vital role in this progress. As it's a low cost investment with a little care this sector has a potential to play a, important role for the progress of small and low cost entrepreneur.

Glass Industry:

Pakistan is the raw material vendor and manufacture of glass. Types of glass Glassy state phenomena and annealing of glass, photo chrome and photographic lasses, production of safety glasses.

Ceramics Industry:

Clay and terracotta pottery and utensils continue to be of great practical importance. Many of the designs of urns, pitchers, bowls, jugs, plates, and pots seen today are almost identical to those uncovered at archaeological sites around the country. Distinctive glazed blue tiles are used to decorate many of the great mosques in Pakistan.

Jewelry:

Gold and silversmiths are one of the largest communities of craftsmen. Much of the jewelry made and sold in the cities is intricately fashioned and delicate.

Woodwork:

The Swat Valley is perhaps the most famous for its intricately carved architectural woodwork and furniture, although wood-carving is common throughout the northern mountains.

Sports Goods:

Sports goods earn about 3.7% of our total exports. The main raw materials for the sports goods industry are leather and mulberry wood that are available in Punjab, but also imported PVC. Football, hockey ball, hockey sticks, cricket bats and rackets are mostly manufactured by hand. The skilled workers are available in Sialkot and Lahore. In the industry large and medium size factories contract work out to small scale and cottage concerns.

Surgical Instruments:

Sialkot and Lahore are also noted for the manufacture and export of surgical instruments. The most important raw material is stainless steel which has to be imported. In this industry, also, medium scale factories contract work out to small scale and cottage concerns. Also like the sports goods industry, most of the output is exported.

Water treatment and steam production:

Sources of water, hardness of water, water treatment and conditioning for municipal and industrial purpose. Steam production and its utilization for power and energy generation

Among all these industries, the textile industry plays a vital role in exporting field. This covers cotton products which are exported to different countries of the world. Sport goods are all important as export items.

Dr. S. M. Alam