ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: The domestic sales tax collection has registered a negative growth of over seven per cent during July-October 2003-04 over the same period last year.

Official statistics released by Central Board of Revenue (CBR) here on Wednesday showed that the tax authorities collected Rs22.312 billion under the head of domestic sales tax during the period under review against Rs24.175 billion over the same period of last year, showing a decrease of Rs1.838 billion.

Similarly, the growth registered in the sales tax collection at import stage was 12.15 per cent as the revenue realization at import stage stood at Rs38.178 billion during the first four months of this year against Rs34.057 billion in the same period last year.

According to the statistics the customs duty collection during the period under review increased to Rs24.811 billion against Rs13.034 billion over the same period last year, which showed that the total imports also increased.

With these growths, the statistics showed that the revenue realization of sales tax at import stage was unsatisfactory.

The total sales tax collection during the July-Oct period stood at Rs60.490 billion this year against Rs58.772 billion of last year, showing an increase of only 2.9 per cent.

According to the statistics, the tax authorities collected Rs12.171 billion under the head of central excise duty (CED) during the period under review this year against Rs13.034 billion during the same period last year, showing a decrease of 1.3 per cent.

The revenue collection under the head of direct taxes registered a growth of 7.9 per cent to Rs37.878 billion during the period against Rs35.107 billion over the same period last year.

The total revenue collection stood at Rs136.050 billion during the July-Oct period of the current financial year against Rs124.956 billion over the same period of last year, showing an increase of 8.9 per cent.