Islamabad: Pakistan’s large scale manufacturing grew just 0.67 percent in August compared with the same month last year, while production fell 4.96 percent from July, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data released on Friday.

The Quantum Index of Manufacturing, which tracks changes in industrial production, stood at 113.19 against 112.45 in August last year.

Output increased 1.85 percent during July and August combined, compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. August’s modest growth followed a 3.03 percent increase in July. Manufacturing had expanded 4.98 percent over the previous financial year.

Performance varied sharply across industries. Automobile production rose 32.45 percent during the two months, supported by increases of 30.45 percent in jeeps and cars, 77.70 percent in trucks and 13.91 percent in buses. Light commercial vehicle production, however, declined 15.99 percent.

Coke and petroleum products recorded growth of 15.48 percent. Petrol production increased 24.69 percent, diesel 10.10 percent and liquefied petroleum gas 17.65 percent. Furnace oil output fell 44.37 percent.

Food production contracted 8.86 percent, including declines of 20.46 percent in cooking oil and 16.57 percent in vegetable ghee. Wheat and rice milling fell 3.38 percent.

Textile production decreased 2.98 percent overall, although cotton yarn output increased 2.09 percent. Cotton cloth production edged down 0.03 percent.

Pharmaceutical output fell 14.57 percent, fertiliser production declined 7.55 percent, and iron and steel contracted 11.48 percent.

Electrical equipment production increased 4.99 percent, while rubber products and non metallic minerals registered smaller gains.

The figures show that growth in automobiles and petroleum products was accompanied by contractions across several major industries, limiting the strength of the overall manufacturing recovery.