The Quantum Index Numbers (QIM) of large scale manufacturing industries was recorded at 140.58 points during July-March (2016-17) against 133.80 points during same period of last year, official sources said.

The highest growth of 3.97 percent was witnessed in the indices monitored by Ministry of Industries, followed by 1.07 percent growth in the products monitored by Provincial Bureaus of Statistics (PBOS) and 0.03 growth in the indices of Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC).

On year-to-year basis, the industrial growth increased by 10.46 percent during March 2017 as compared to same month of last year while on month-to-month basis, the industrial growth increased by 9.11 percent in March 2017 when compared to growth of February 2017, according to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Meanwhile, the major sectors that showed growth during July- March (2016-17) included textile (0.78 percent), food, beverages and tobacco (9.65 percent), pharmaceuticals (8.74 percent), non metallic mineral products (7.11 percent), automobiles (11.31 percent), iron and steel products (16.56 percent), fertilizers (1.32 percent), electronics (15.24 percent), paper and board (5.08 percent), engineering products (2.37 percent) and rubber products (0.04 percent).

On the other hand, the LSM industries that witnessed negative growth, included coke and petroleum products (0.32 percent), chemicals (2.2 percent), leather products (17.97 percent) and wood products (95.04 percent).

The provisional QIM is being computed on the basis of the latest production data of 112 items received from sources including Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics (PBoS).

OCAC provides data of 11 items, MoIP of 36 items while PBoS proved data of remaining 65 items.