PESHAWAR, Jan 2: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) recorded substantial improvement in revenue collection in the NWFP at the close of the first half of the current financial year despite a slow down experienced by the provincial trade and manufacturing sectors as a result of the crises in Afghanistan.

The CBR raised revenues of over Rs2.45 billion from the province till December 2001, showing an improvement by 20 per cent against the previous financial year.

The customs collectorate, Peshawar, raised Rs1.5 billion customs duty and Rs944 million on account of sales tax on imports, projecting an improvement by over Rs413 million against the corresponding period of the last financial year.

During the first six months, the customs collectorate raised a total of Rs2.04 billion, including customs duty of Rs1.32 billion and sales tax on imports of Rs716 million.