Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a meage growth of 1.86 per cent during the first quarter (July-September) of this fiscal year from a year ago, reflecting a slump in the industrial sector.
The rate of growth in the industrial output witnessed a downward trend in the month of September mainly driven by lower energy supply to the industries, as par Pakistan Bureau of Statistics figures issued yesterday.
In July 2014 the LSM grew by 1.14pc which rebounded to 5.27pc in August and 1.82pc expansion was recorded in September.
Major contribution towards positive growth in LSM performance in July-Sept 2014 was from textile 1.03pc; food and beverages 2.71pc; paper and board 2.96pc, petroleum products 0.94pc, electronics 7.15pc, iron and steel products 13.95pc; chemicals 6.20pc; non-metallic mineral products 0.67pc; rubber products 6.06pc; engineering products 0.66pc; pharmaceuticals 2.57pc; and automobiles 13.97pc.
Last year, the LSM sector, which accounts for 70pc of industrial production, recorded a positive growth of 3.95pc.