ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The tax authorities paid Rs21.327 billion as refund/rebate to exporters during the July-November period of the current fiscal as against Rs30.242 billion the same period last year, indicating a decrease of 29.4 per cent. Official figures released here on Wednesday showed that the decrease in the payment of refund was recorded following the exemption of sales tax on five major export-oriented sectors in the budget.

Tax wise break up showed that the CBR paid Rs13.152 billion as sales tax refunds to exporters during the period as against Rs23.826 billion paid the same period last year, showing a decline of 44.8 per cent.

However, the payment of customs rebate increased by 27.4 per cent to Rs8.175 billion during the period under review as against Rs6.416 billion paid during the same period last year.