Industrial development in the district is a sad tale of development, about which not much is mentioned in government reports. Nasirabad district is one of the few districts where steps have been taken and funds have been allocated for the promotion of the industrial sector. In 1986/87, 40 Ha. were reserved for an Industrial Estate at Dera Murad Jamali. The area was divided into 235 plots of 1000 and 1250 sq.mt. For forty-eight units a No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued, but only five of them, three involved in rice husking and two producing RCC pipes, have started production. The rest have not started because of lack of facilities provided to the owners. Another factor mentioned was the lack of industrial culture and will among those who were issued a NOC.

Nasirabad has good potential for the development of an agro-industrial sector, as land, road and rail links, water and electricity were made available. Since 1985, about Rs. 7.26 billion has been spent on the development of the industrial sector, including two big packages of Rs. 7.27 million and Rs. 3.38 million in 1992-93. Funds for a sugar-mill at D. M. Jamali were sanctioned but they were usurped and the mill has never been completed.

According to both the Office of Industries at Dera Murad Jamali and the Social Welfare Office, Nasirabad lags behind in Small Enterprise Development, despite its potential. There is no small industrial enterprise worth mentioning.

The only manufacturing in the district are the business involved in RCC pipes and rice husk.

Nasirabad is not involved in import and export trade.

Nasirabad area has no tourism potential. The highway passing through the district is without beautiful scenery. No tourism hut or restaurant exists along or near the highway. The only place for picnics and outdoor visits is the Pat Feeder Canal area, but the widening of canal has reduced the number of trees, making it less attractive. The district does not have archaeological sites worth mentioning.

Handicrafts include embroidery work, which is traditionally designed by women at home. Women are actively involved in needlework and other crafts, including mat and sheet designing. All work is done on household level and only very little of the produce is marketed.

There is no Directorate of Small Industries active in Nasirabad.

The area has potential for agro-industry and other industrial development. Cheap labour, land, road and rail links, and gas and electricity are available. Still most of the units which were issued a NOCs have not started functioning, because of a lack of infra-structure facilities made available to the owners by the government. Also, the lack of industrial culture and commitment to run industrial units are a major development issue. There are rich and influential landowners in the area, but they are not interested in industrial activities.

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