ISLAMABAD, May 8: The Central Board of Revenue has paid Rs59.17 billion refund/rebate to exporters during the July- April period of the current financial year against Rs42.6 billion it paid during the same period last year, showing an increase of 38.89 per cent.

And the tax authorities paid Rs4.8 billion to exporters during April this year against Rs5 billion it paid during the same month last year, showing a decrease of four per cent.

On the other hand, the CBR paid Rs54.37 billion refund/rebate to exporters during the July-March period of the current financial year against Rs37.6 billion of the same period last year, an increase of 44.6 per cent.

And Rs4.5 billion refund were paid to exporters during March this year against Rs2.6 billion paid during the same month last year, showing a surge of 73 per cent.

Official figures available with Dawn showed that the tax authorities had paid Rs33.55 billion refund under the head of sales tax during 10 months of the current fiscal against Rs25.96 billion paid during the same months last year, showing a rise of 29.25 per cent.

Under the head of customs, the tax authorities paid Rs25.65 billion rebate to exporters during the July-April period of the current financial year against Rs16.56 billion of the same period last year, an increase of 54.89 per cent.

Of total Rs4.8 billion refund paid to exporters during April, Rs3 billion was paid under the head of sales tax against Rs3.1 billion paid during the same month last year, a decrease of 3.22 per cent.

Similarly, Rs1.8 billion rebate was paid to exporters during the same month this year against Rs1.9 billion paid during the same month last year, showing a decline of 5.26 per cent.

The tax authorities have so far collected Rs35.2 billion in April 2002 against the target of Rs39 billion set for the same month this year, showing a fall of 9.7 per cent.