Big industry expands 5.05 percent YoY in July
The Large- scale Manufacturing Industries ( LSMI) production grew by 5.02pc on a year- onyear basis during the first month ( July) of the current fiscal year ( FY21) as compared to the corresponding month of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics ( PBS) reported.
The LSMI Quantum Index Number (QIM) was recorded at 134.14 points in July 2020, against 127.73 points in July 2019.
The highest increase of 2.25pc was witnessed in indices monitored by the Ministry of Industries, followed by 1.77pc increase in indices monitored by the Provincial Board of Statistics and 1pc increase in the products surveyed by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC).
On a month-on-month basis, the industrial growth witnessed an increase of 9.54pc in July 2020 when compared with the indices of June 2020.
The major sectors that showed growth during the period under review included textile ( 1.66pc), food, beverages and tobacco ( 21.73pc), coke and petroleum products ( 18.34pc), pharmaceuticals ( 19.20pc), chemicals ( 0.19pc), non- metallic mineral products ( 29.01pc) and paper and board ( 5.04pc).
On the other hand, the LSM industries that witnessed negative growth included automobile ( 23.31pc), iron and steel products ( 11.13pc), fertilizers ( 5.06pc), electronics ( 33.31pc), leather products ( 35.95pc), engineering products ( 32.60pc), rubber products ( 15pc) and wood products ( 18.63).
It is pertinent to mention that the provisional QIM is being computed on the basis of the latest production data received from sources, including Oil Companies Advisory
Committee ( OCAC), Ministry of Industries and Production ( MoIP) and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics ( PBoS).
Pakistan's planning minister said the government's ability to control the Covid- 19 pandemic "early" has benefited the country's economy in terms of growth in the large- scale manufacturing sector.
P l a n n i n g , Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar termed the gain as a "dividend of controlling Covid early", which paid off Pakistan "on the economic side also, as Vshaped recovery gets confirmed".