GDP growth revised down to 3.65pc as country falls short of target

Pakistan's economic growth for the outgoing fiscal year FY26 has been trimmed to 3.65 per cent, according to Dawn, after the National Accounts Committee revised its estimate on Monday. The adjustment came at the committee's 118th meeting held at the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, and it lowers the 3.70 per cent projection the government had set in May. Dawn reported that the downward revision means the country fell short of its target, with the slowdown attributed to softer industrial and services activity.

Sector figures were also revised, with agriculture now put at 3.50 per cent against 2.89 per cent earlier, while industry slipped to 3.34 per cent and services eased to 3.81 per cent. Information and communication growth stood out at 9.53 per cent, and the economy grew in size to $450.4 billion from $410.96 billion in FY25. Per capita income rose to $1,896 from $1,824, although Dawn described it as the lowest in the region.

Estimates from the IMF at 3.6 per cent, the World Bank at 3.7 per cent, the Asian Development Bank at 3.7 per cent and the State Bank at close to 3.7 per cent sit broadly in line with the committee's figure. Dawn also said the data point to lower living standards, as inflation pressures trim disposable income and curb what households can spend, save or invest.