ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing grew by 4.06 per cent in September from a year ago.

Industrial output rebounded in the past couple of months owing to persistent supply of gas for five consecutive days in July-September period this year to industrial units, especially in Punjab.

The growth has been attributed to increase in production of food, iron and steel products, non-metallic mineral products, pharmaceuticals, paper and board, leather, chemicals and rubber products, suggested data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.

However, production of fertilisers, electronics, wood products, textile, engineering products and automobile witnessed a negative growth in September 2012 from a year ago.

Pakistan’s economy has not yet fully recovered from consequences of global crisis at this juncture, and it is hard to estimate their severity and duration, but some impact has been seen in industrial production and exports.

Experts say slump in production occurred mainly because of energy shortages and rising input costs. And the government will have to take care of energy shortages.

In the year 2011-12, the LSM posted a growth of 1.17pc. The fluctuation in growth occurred due to energy crisis, rising input cost and lack of demand in domestic and international market. However, demand for Pakistan’s textile and clothing sector exports witnessed some growth.

For the first quarter (July-September) period, the LSM posted a growth of 1.85pc this year over the last year.

As a result of slowdown in overall manufacturing sector, especially LSM, which accounts for more than 70pc of the industrial output, economy is also expected to grow by about 4.3pc in 2012-13.

Industry-specific data showed that many sub-sectors did not perform well in the first month of the current fiscal year over last year.

In electronics and electrical goods, production of deep-freezers fell by 5.01pc, air-conditioners 29.15pc, electric bulbs 22.09pc, electric tubes 27.70pc, electric motors 15.56pc, and TV sets 74.58pc, respectively.

However, bicycles witnessed a growth of 18.43pc, generating sets 103.39pc, storage batteries 1.54pc, electric transformers 53.06pc, switch gears 11.46pc, electric meters 18.97pc, electric fans 15.57pc, and refrigerators 9.55pc during the period under review.

Textile sector, which has an adjusted weight of 32.6pc in the LSM basket, recorded growth.

Cotton yarn and cotton cloth (both semi-finished products) failed to perform in the first quarter of the current fiscal year over last year.

However, other segments of textile industry posted a positive growth, like knitting wool which was up 5.93pc.

The best growth was witnessed in case of food, beverages and tobacco. The sector adjusted weight of 19.1pc in LSM basket.

Vegetable ghee grew by 2.87pc, cooking oil by 8.24pc, tea blended 8.02pc and beverages 23.31pc.

Another important sector, which provides jobs to a larger chunk across the country, is the automobile. Production of buses increased by over 81pc in the first quarter over last year.

Petroleum sector production witnessed a growth of 3.99pc during the first quarter of the year over last year. The growth was mainly driven by increase in production of motor spirit, diesel and LPG.