ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has paid Rs6.8 billion refund/ rebate to exporters July 2003 against Rs8.05 billion, it paid during the same month last year, showing a decrease of 15.5 per cent.

Official figures released by the CBR here on Friday showed that the tax authorities paid Rs5.3 billion sales tax refunds to exporters in July 2003 against Rs6.02 billion it paid during the same month last year, showing a decrease of 11.96 per cent.

Under the head of customs duty, the tax authorities paid Rs1.5 billion rebate to exporters during the same month this year against Rs2.03 billion it paid to exporters over the corresponding month of last year, showing a decline of 26 per cent.

Officials said that in the next months the refund and rebate would be released to the exporters.

The exporters are already asking the government to release their refunds/rebate so that they could get continue their businesses.

According to an estimate the tax authorities have withheld around Rs13 billion refund/ rebate during the year 2002-03, which was yet to be released to the exporters.