Industries of Pakistan: O Level Geography Notes (Paper 2)

The industries of Pakistan are a regular topic in Pakistan Studies Paper 2 (Environment of Pakistan). Examiners expect you to know the main industries, the factors that decide their location and the problems the sector faces.

Quick answer: Pakistan’s industry is grouped into large-scale manufacturing (cotton textile, sugar, cement, fertiliser, steel) and small-scale and cottage industries (sports goods, surgical instruments, carpets). Location depends on raw materials, power, labour, transport, market and government policy.

Types of Industry

• Large-scale: factories with heavy investment and machinery, e.g. cotton textile, cement, fertiliser, steel.
• Small-scale: small workshops using simple machines, e.g. sports goods and surgical instruments in Sialkot.
• Cottage: family labour working at home, e.g. carpets, embroidery, pottery.

Main Industries You Must Know

• Cotton textile: Pakistan’s largest industry and biggest export earner; centres include Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore and Multan, close to the cotton belt.
• Sugar: mills are built near sugarcane fields because cane is bulky and loses sugar content quickly after cutting.
• Cement: located near limestone and gypsum deposits, e.g. in the Salt Range and around Hyderabad and Karachi.
• Fertiliser: uses natural gas as a raw material, so plants are found near gas fields and pipelines.
• Steel: Pakistan Steel Mills at Pipri near Karachi was sited near Port Qasim to import iron ore and coal.

Factors Affecting Industrial Location

• Raw materials (weight-losing materials pull factories towards the source)
• Power supply: electricity and gas
• Skilled and cheap labour
• Transport: roads, railways, ports and dry ports
• Market and capital
• Government policy: industrial estates, export processing zones and tax incentives

Problems of the Industrial Sector

• Power shortages and high energy costs
• Shortage of capital and modern machinery
• Low skill levels and limited technical education
• Dependence on a narrow range of exports (mainly textiles)
• Pollution of air and water near industrial areas

How to Answer Industry Questions

Always link a factor to its effect. Instead of writing “raw material”, write “sugar mills are near cane fields because sugarcane is bulky and expensive to transport”. Developed points like this earn the second mark. For more Paper 2 guidance see the important Paper 2 topics and energy resources of Pakistan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest industry of Pakistan?

Cotton textile is the largest industry of Pakistan. It employs the largest share of the industrial workforce and earns the most export income.

Why are sugar mills located near sugarcane fields?

Sugarcane is bulky, costly to transport and loses sugar content soon after harvesting, so mills are built close to the growing areas.

What is the difference between cottage and small-scale industry?

Cottage industry is run by family members at home with simple tools, while small-scale industry uses hired workers and small machines in workshops.