December 19, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 14, 1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18: The tax authorities have collected Rs156.7 billion revenue in five months against the target of Rs156.6 billion set for July-November (2002-03), showing an increase of 0.06 per cent.

Official figures made available to Dawn showed 15 per cent growth in revenues when compared with Rs135.56 billion collected during the same period last year.

The tax authorities have also achieved the target of Rs31.8 billion set for November 2002, and when compared with Rs24.8 billion collected the same month last year, they registered a growth of 28.22 per cent.

Further break up showed that Rs74.9 billion were collected under the head of sales tax during July-November period against Rs59.91 billion during the same period last year, showing an increase of 24 per cent.

Under the head of customs duty, Rs22.4 billion were collected in July-Nov as against Rs16.63 billion collected during the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 34.69 per cent.

But the collection under central excise duty was 2.95 per cent lower to Rs16.4 billion as against Rs16.9 billion collected during the July-Nov period last year.

The tax authorities collected Rs43 billion under income tax during the first five months of the current financial year against Rs42.12 billion collected during the same period last year, showing a marginal increase of 2 per cent.