KARACHI, July 27: Unilever Pakistan Limited posted 2pc growth in after tax profit amounting to Rs888m for the Jan-June six months of 2006, compared to Rs871m in the corresponding period of the previous year. These translated into earning per share (eps) at Rs66.76 and Rs65.47.

The Board of directors which met on Wednesday recommended interim dividend at Rs65 per ordinary share of Rs50 (interim dividend 2005: Rs60 per share).

Net sales grew by 19pc to Rs10,354 million for the Jan-June half year of 2006, from Rs8,719 million in the same time last year. In a statement issued along with the accounts, the company stated that the positive economic performance of the country had led to strong buoyancy in consumer spending.

It said that the Home & Personal Care and Ice Cream businesses had achieved growth of 36 and 45pc. The company noted that the growth in sales revenue did not flow through to profit due to unusually high cost of tea leaf on account of severe drought conditions in Kenya, a problem faced by the tea industry worldwide. The company was said to have absorbed a large part of those high tea costs.