Before the 19th century, the subcontinent of
Pakistan and India was not backward and undeveloped. Before the arrival of East
India Company (British), it was an industrially developed region of Asia and
was famous the world over. The major industries of this region were textile,
metals, handicrafts, and constructions.
After the industrial revolution in the west, our
industries could not compete with them. On the other hand, East India Company
was playing very cleverly in the markets. It was increasing the sale of
products made in U.K. It was the purchaser of agriculturally produced raw
material in Indian and seller of processed goods in the whole region. Due to
the policy of East India Company, industrialization was not encouraged in the
sub-continent.
At the time of partition in 1947, Pakistan had a
negligible industrial base. The contribution of industry towards GDP was only
7,7% In 1949-50. Since partition, the government has been utilizing all
available resources for rapid development of the manufacturing sector. Pakistan
has now attained consumer goods to chemical, steel, heavy engineering, machines
and tool industries.
Domestic production of items such as refined sugar,
steel, fertilizer, cement etc., has helped in import substitution and has substantial amount of foreign exchange. This
sector now employees 10.5% of the total labor-force and its contribution to
G.D.P. has remained 17%.
The industrial development of Pakistan in terms of
growth productivity can be reviewed in the following periods ;
- Growth of Industrial Sector from, 1947-1
950.
- Growth of
Industrial Sector from, 1950-1960.
- Growth of Industrial Sector from, 1961-1970.
- Growth of Industrial Sector from, 1971-1977.
- Growth of
Industrial Sector from, 1978-2008.