February 8, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 6,1423

RAWALPINDI, Feb 7: Adviser to the prime minister on finance, Shaukat Aziz said here on Friday tax collection for July-January has increased by 15 per cent and the government is well ahead of its targets for tax collection.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 4th Industrial Fair held under the auspices of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), he said, collection of sales tax and custom duty had increased by 25 per cent, but the income tax collection did not match this increase.

He said this has been because of the reforms introduced by the government in the taxation system, which aimed at enhancing tax base and plugging leakages.

Speaking about the Iraq crisis, he said, the government had reviewed its contingency planning. The situation of essential commodities reserves in the country is satisfactory and is being regularly monitored.