ISLAMABAD, July 31: The Central Board of Revenue collected Rs23 billion in the first month of the financial year 2003-04 against Rs23.629 billion in the same month last fiscal, showing a decrease of 2.66 per cent.

Provisional figures released by the CBR here on Thursday showed the revenue collection registered a decline under the head of sales tax and central excise duty in July 2003 over the same month of last year. However, the collection of direct taxes and customs duty during the month under review registered a growth.

CBR spokesman Vakil Ahmad Khan said the tax authorities expected to collect Rs24 billion during the first month of the fiscal 2003-04 when the revenue collection figures were finalized in the next couple of weeks.

The CBR spokesman said the reason of slowing down of collection during the last 10 days of July was disruption at the seaports of Karachi and Port Qasim due to unprecedented rains that had affected the pace of clearance of goods at the ports. He further said almost 40 per cent of total revenue such as customs duties, sales tax and withholding income tax was dependent on imports.

Interestingly, despite tax officials claims the revenue collection from customs duty rose by 28 per cent in July. This means dutiable imports registered a growth in comparison to the last year.

Further break-up showed that the tax authorities collected Rs10.1 billion under the head of sales tax during July against Rs12.348 billion over the corresponding month of last year, showing a decrease of 18.2 per cent.

Similarly, Rs5 billion was collected as customs duty as against Rs3.909 billion, an increase of 28.9 per cent. The tax authorities collected Rs1.9 billion under the head of CED against Rs2.551 billion, a decline of 25.5 per cent.

And the revenue under the head of direct taxes stood at Rs6 billion during the same month this year against Rs4.821 billion of last year, showing an increase of 24.45 per cent.