Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a negative growth of 2.68 in March 2014 over the same month last year, reflecting a contraction in the sector during the current financial year.
The decline in output during the month under review is a matter of concern because the manufacturing sector posted a positive growth over the past few months, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.
The government has yet to give reasons for the decline, but the only explanation being presented was disruption in supply of energy to industrial units in Punjab.
