January 1, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 16, 1422

ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has provisionally collected Rs165.06 billion during the first six months of the current financial year against Rs181.38 billion it netted during the same period last year, registering a decrease of 8.99 per cent.

And the revenue receipts fell 26.98 per cent in December this year when compared with the same month last year. It stood at Rs29.5 billion this year as against last year’s Rs40.4 billion.

All the three major taxes — customs, income tax and sale tax — registered a negative growth during the month of December as compared to the same month last year. However, it was only the central excise duty which achieved its target.

Official figures released by the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) here on Monday, revealed that the tax authorities collected Rs54.64 billion under the head of direct taxes during the first six months of current financial year against the target of Rs63.7 billion for the same period, registering a negative growth of 14.22 per cent, while under the head of sales tax, the tax authorities have collected Rs71.92 billion during the same period this year against the target of Rs81.5 billion for the same period, showing a negative growth of 11.75 per cent.

Under the head of customs, the tax authorities have collected Rs17.63 billion during the July-December period this year.

The tax authorities have collected Rs20.86 billion under the head of central excise duty during the July-December period this year against the target of Rs22.5 billion, showing a decrease of 7.28 per cent.

When contacted, Member direct taxes, CBR, Vakil Ahmed Khan attributed the shortfall registered during the first six months of the current fiscal to a major decline in dutiable imports.

Mr Khan said that there still existed the possibility of Rs5 to Rs6bn being collected under the head of direct taxes and sales tax.