ISLAMABAD, July 31: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has collected Rs28.6 billion in the first month of 2004-05 against Rs23.4 billion during the same month last year, showing an increase of 22.2 per cent.

Provisional figures released by the CBR here on Saturday showed that the revenue collection registered growth in the three taxes - sales tax, customs duty and central excise duty (CED) - during the month under review over the corresponding month of last year. However, the collection of income tax declined during the July 2004 over the same month of last year.

The tax wise break up showed that the tax authorities collected Rs5.2 billion under the head of direct taxes in July 2004 against Rs6 billion collected during the same month last year, showing a decrease of 13.3 per cent.

Under the head of customs duty Rs7 billion were collected during the same month under review against Rs5 billion collected during the corresponding month of last year, showing an increase of 40 per cent.

The tax authorities collected Rs2.2 billion as central excise duty (CED) during the July 2004 against Rs1.9bn during the same month of last year, showing an increase of 15.7 per cent.

The tax authorities collected Rs14.2 billion as sales tax during the month under review as against Rs10.1 billion during the same month last year, showing an increase of 40.5 per cent.