ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: The revenue collection registered an unexpected growth of 31.1 per cent during the first quarter of the current fiscal year over the same period last year.

Central Board of Revenue spokesman M.S. Lal in a statement issued on Saturday said the revenue collection stood at Rs123.3 billion during the July-September period of the current fiscal year against Rs94.1 billion collected in the same period previous year.

Earlier, the CBR announced that the revenue collection as on September 30, 2004 stood at Rs111.5 billion during the period under review.

The collection under direct taxes reached to Rs39.4 billion during the July-Sept period against Rs25.6 billion during the same period last year, showing an increase of 53.9 pre cent.

Consequently, the overall sales tax collection during the first quarter exceeded the Rs50 billion mark as against Rs41.6 billion the last year.

In response to vibrant foreign trade activities, the collection on account of customs duties also went up to Rs22.2 billion against Rs17.9 billion the past year, indicating a growth of 24.3 per cent.

The CED collection grew by 28.1 per cent during the first quarter to reach Rs11.5 billion.