Islamabad: Finance Minister (FM) Muhammad Aurangzeb has said economic situation has remained better despite crisis during the previous financial years and GDP growth rate remained 3.7 percent.

Foreign investment will come to Pakistan after enhancement in capital at local level. Government has faced financial hardships forcefully despite crisis, He said this while launching the Economic Survey 2025-26 in Islamabad Thursday.

He presented a comprehensive overview of the country's economic performance during the outgoing fiscal year.

He was accompanied by Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani.

The Finance Minister emphasized that the growth figure of 3.7 percent is the highest in the last four years. He said the economy remained on the path from stabilization to growth.

He said that the country's economic size reached the record level of 126.9 trillion rupees or 452.1 billion dollars.

Sharing the main statistics of the economic survey, the Finance Minister mentioned that the per capita income reached 1901 dollars as compared to 1751 dollars last year.

Highlighting the sectoral performance, the Finance Minister said the agriculture grew by 2.89 percent notwithstanding the floods and the industry by 3.51 percent.

He said livestock sector continues to grow from strength to strength. He said large scale manufacturing witnessed growth of 6.1 percent which is also the highest in the last four years. He said that sixteen out of twenty-two sectors in the manufacturing saw positive growth.

Muhammad Aurangzeb emphasized that the services has always remained a strong sector. He said growth of 4.9 percent was seen in this sector in outgoing financial year which is also the highest level in the last four years. He specifically mentioned that the 7.52 percent growth was seen in the Information and Communication Services.

On the fiscal side, the Finance Minister said the fiscal deficit remained 0.7 percent during the first nine months of current financial year. He said 10.1 percent growth was witnessed in the revenue collection of FBR and reduction of twenty three percent in markup payment provided the additional fiscal space.

On the external side, Muhammad Aurangzeb said the current account surplus remained seventy-two million dollars during the first nine months of current financial year. He also mentioned increase in remittances and investments in Roshan Digital Account.

Referring to the export side, he said IT exports have crossed 3.8 billion dollars and these are expected to reach 4.5 billion dollars. He said the country's foreign exchange reserves stand at 17.1 billion dollars and these are expected to reach eighteen billion dollars by the end of June.

Muhammad Aurangzeb also highlighted an increase in demand across several sectors including cement by ten percent, fertilizers seventeen percent, petroleum products five percent and mobile phones nine percent.

We are grateful to overseas Pakistanis who are sending precious foreign exchange.

He indicated objective of Roshan Digital Account is investment.

There are two reasons for decline in exports sector. One is shortfall in sugar and rice in food sector. But export in textile sector has gone up. Where there is value addition, exports rise therein.

Our foreign exchange reserves have surpassed 17 billion dollars and they will reach level of 18 billion dollars by the end of June.

KSE index has witnessed growth. Investment has risen by 563 percent. 175000 new investors have come. Over 39000 new companies have been registered during this period. The registered companies have risen to 300000.

Listed companies have registered 22 percent increase in profit.

He said three DISCOs will be privatized by the end of this year. We have meetings with the industrialists and betterment will come.

We will give relief to salaried class in budget.

The Economic Survey states that the forestry sector had a growth target of 3.5% but recorded growth of only 2%. The fisheries sector was targeted to grow by 3%, but its growth rate remained at 1.6%. The industrial sector recorded growth of 3.5% compared to the target of 4.3%.

The mining and quarrying sector had a growth target of 3%, but its actual growth was only 0.38%. The manufacturing sector exceeded expectations, achieving 6.6% growth against a target of 4.7%. Large-scale manufacturing grew by 6.1%, surpassing its target of 3.5%.

According to the document, small-scale manufacturing recorded growth of 8.5% against a target of 8.9%. The electricity, gas, and water supply sector was expected to grow by 3.5%, but instead recorded negative growth, declining by 10%.

The construction sector achieved growth of 5.7% against a target of 3.8%. The services sector recorded growth of 4.09%, slightly exceeding the target of 4%. The wholesale and retail trade sector posted growth of 3.7% compared to a target of 3.9%.

The transport sector recorded growth of 2.3% against a target of 3.4%. The hotels and food services sector grew by 3.9%, slightly below the target of 4.1%. Information and communication services outperformed expectations, registering growth of 7.5% against a target of 5%.

According to the Economic Survey, the insurance and financial sector was targeted to grow by 5%, but managed growth of only 0.32%. The real estate sector recorded growth of 3.6% against a target of 4.2%. The education sector achieved growth of 5.2%, exceeding its target of 4.5%.

The document further states that the social services sector recorded growth of 6.8%, surpassing the target of 4%. Private sector growth was 3.6% against a target of 4.5%. Major crops recorded growth of 0.65%, compared to a projected decline of 4.5%.

Wheat production increased by 4.3% to reach 29.605 million tonnes. Rice production rose by 2.8% to 9.998 million tonnes, while sugarcane production increased by 6.2% to 89.45 million tonnes.

According to the Economic Survey, maize production declined by 2.68% to 8.794 million tonnes, while cotton production fell by 0.5% to 7.052 million bales. Chickpea production recorded an exceptional growth of 50.4%.

The document states that potato production increased by 27.6%, while banana production rose by 30.8%. Production of mangoes, turmeric, and chilies increased by 11.6%, 25.1%, and 9.2%, respectively. The livestock sector expanded by 3.75%, supported by a 3.46% increase in production.

Maize production stood at 8.8 million tonnes, while potato production reached 389,000 tonnes. Vegetable production increased by 12.6% to 403,000 tonnes, and fruit production rose by 2.8% to 444,000 tonnes. Livestock grew by 3.8% during fiscal year 2025-26.

According to the document, the country's buffalo population reached 49.1 million, while cattle numbered 61.9 million. The population of sheep and rams stood at 33.5 million, while goats numbered 91.8 million.

The Economic Survey further notes that the camel population reached 1.193 million, horse numbers stood at 386,000, and the donkey population was recorded at 6.16 million during the current fiscal year.

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the developed economies have registered growth in exports sector but it is our failure we have not made any development in exports sector.

We will have to register growth in exports sector instead of loans. Political stability is must in this regard.

We have trade with UAE. Our remittances come from there.

Meeting with KP Chief Minister has remained pleasant, he added.