ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has collected Rs77.45 billion in the first quarter (July-September) against Rs79.94 billion netted during the same period last year, registering a negative growth of 3.1 per cent.

According to official tax figures released by the CBR here on Tuesday, indirect taxes — sales tax, customs and central excise duty (CED) — have declined by 10.85 per cent during September of current fiscal in comparison to the same period last year. However, it was the direct taxes, which recorded 11.41 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.

Moreover, figurers showed that during the first quarter the revenue registered a negative growth by 4.73 per cent or Rs3.5 billion against the target of Rs81.3 billion.

Under the direct taxes Rs22.06 billion have been collected during the July-September period of the current financial year against Rs21.64 billion netted same period last year, showing an increase of two per cent.

Under the head of sales tax Rs34.61 billion have been collected during the first quarter against Rs31.49 billion during the same period last year, showing an increase of 9.9 per cent.

Similarly, under the head of customs Rs14.06 billion have been collected during the first quarter against Rs17.1 billion netted during the same period last year, showing a decline of 17.8 per cent.

The CBR has collected Rs12.74 billion under the head of central excise duty, registering a negative growth of 1.1 per cent during the first quarter against Rs12.87 collected during the same period last year.

Official sources attributed the shortfall in the revenue collection to the prevailing uncertainty in the region.

They said that in the wake of terrorist attack on the US, the import duty declined by 31.74 per cent, while no increase was registered in the sales tax collection during September of the current fiscal in comparison to the last year.