ISLAMABAD: Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a growth of 2.69 per cent in April 2014 from a year ago, according to sectoral data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday .

The industrial growth depressed in March 2014 after witnessing consecutive hike in earlier months of the current fiscal year.

The reversal in manufacturing sector growth was mainly driven by an increase in seven sub-sectors during April 2014 over the corresponding month last year.

The government has yet to give reasons for the slowdown in March. The reason suggested was disruption in supply of energy to industrial units in Punjab.

Major contribution towards positive growth in LSM performance in April 2014 was from textile 1.11pc; food and beverages 8.26pc; paper and board 22.1pc; fertilisers 9.93pc; iron and steel products 20.56pc; leather products 4.55pc; chemicals 1.85pc and rubber products 20.97pc.

Last year, the LSM sector, which accounts for 70pc of industrial production, recorded a positive growth of 3.79pc.

Some sectors, like petroleum products, witnessed a negative growth of 6.06pc, electronics 5.87pc; wood products 82.77pc; engineering products 16.31pc; pharmaceuticals 0.06pc; non-metallic mineral products 1pc and automobiles 1.55pc during the month under review.

In the first 10 months of the current fiscal year (July-April), the LSM grew by 4.33pc in July-April 2014 this year over the corresponding months of last year.

The government had expected that the economy would grow by about 4.1pc for the current fiscal year.

Industry specific data showed that many sub-sectors did not perform well in April 2014.

In electronics and electrical goods, production of deep-freezers recorded a negative growth of 40.08pc; refrigerators 19.75pc; air-conditioners was dipped by 28.88pc; electric bulbs 15.03pc; electric meters 82.09pc; switch gears 30.63pc; electronic transformers 67.27pc; storage batteries 1.82pc; generating sets 100pc; and bicycles 16.69pc

Meanwhile, the production of electric fans was up by 6.75pc in April 2014; electric motors 48.09pc, T.V sets 9.60pc during the month under review over the same month last year.

The growth was also witnessed in case of food, beverages and tobacco. The sector has adjusted weightage of 12.37pc in LSM basket.

Vegetable ghee production increased by 6.62pc; oil 4.61pc; and tea blended 21.08pc.

Another important sector, which provides jobs in large numbers, is the automobile industry. The production of trucks was up by 46.29pc; LCVs 13.08pc and motor cycles 3.65 pc during the month under review.

However, production of tractors was down by 11.11pc, buses 63.89pc, jeeps and cars 0.97pc during the period under review over the last year.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2014