ISLAMABAD, June 12: The government has set a target of 3.8 million tons for sugar output and 12.7 million tons for cement production for the fiscal 2003-04, showing three per cent and seven per cent growth, respectively, over the current year production.

Official figures provided to Dawn here on Wednesday showed that large scale manufacturing (LSM) would grow at the rate of 8.8 per cent during the next fiscal against 8.7 per cent this year to consolidate an overall manufacturing growth at 7.8 per cent next year.

It is interesting to note that growth in the production of major items meant for use in the construction and housing, agriculture and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been projected to be lower than the current year despite the fact that these sectors have been identified in the budget 2003-04 as priority areas.

These items include paints and varnish, cement, billets, HR/CR/ sheets, electricity meters, pig iron and metals, trucks, paper and paper board, soda ash and caustic soda and tractors, refrigerators.

Sources told Dawn the government was earlier projecting sugar production at 4 million tons and cement at 11.3 million tons with a growth rate of 11 per cent and seven per cent, respectively, but both the targets were revised by the National Accounts Committee a day before National Economic Council meeting.

Sugar and cement production is estimated at 3.7 million tons and 11.85 million tons, respectively, during the current fiscal. This is strange that cement production has been estimated to grow by a nominal seven per cent, as against 20.4 per cent growth during the current fiscal despite the fact that housing and construction industry has been given major focus in the budget.

Vegetable ghee production is estimated to grow by 15 per cent next year to 824,000 tons, as against 716,000 tons during the current year. Similarly, cooking oil production is expected to grow by 8 per cent from 144,507 tons this year to 156,068 tons during the current fiscal. A major increase of 55 per cent is expected in the production of phosphatic fertilizer next year, which is targeted to touch 445,000 tons as compared to 286,700 tons during the current fiscal.

Electric transformers and TV sets production is expected to grow by 39 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, followed by motor tyres by 30.7 per cent and motor tubes by 29.7 per cent next year. Electric transformers production is estimated at 28,000 units next year against 20,140 units this year. TV sets production is targeted at 157,000 next year against 116,160 sets during the current fiscal.

Similarly, motor tyres are estimated at one million next year as compared to 0.76 million this year, while motor tubes are expected to touch 626,000 next year against 482,000 this year.

Cotton yarn production is estimated at 2.063 billion kg next year against 1.946 billion kg this year, showing an increase of six per cent, while cotton cloth is estimated at 609 million sq metre next year against 575 million sq metre this year, showing an increase of six per cent.

Paper and paper boards production is expected to grow by 8.2 per cent next year to 356,000 tons from 329,000 tons during the current fiscal.

Soda ash and caustic soda production is expected to increase by 3.9 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively, during the next fiscal when compared with current year’s production.

Paints and varnish production is expected to grow by 10 per cent next year, while billets production will also rise by 6 per cent.

The production of petroleum products is targeted to rise by 7 per cent next year to 12.4 billion litres from 11.8 billion litres during the current fiscal.

The production of trucks and buses will increase by 12 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, to 2,591 and 1,662 from 2,313 and 1,524 units during the current fiscal.

Similarly, the production of light carriage vehicles (LCVs) is expected to grow by 9 per cent to 14,552 during this year from 13,350 units during the current fiscal. Cars and jeeps production will increase by 15 per cent to 72,103 units from 62,698 units during the current year.

The production of tractors is expected to increase by 5.5 per cent against 10.5 per cent growth recorded during the current year. The refrigerators production will increase by 12 per cent to 413 million from 368 million.

Electric supply meters production is expected to grow by a nominal 2.5 per cent, while jute goods will increase by three per cent and cigarette production by 2 per cent.

The production of air-conditioners is expected to rise by 14.8 per cent and electric motors production by 20 per cent.