ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The tax authorities collected Rs409.2 billion during the July-February period of the current fiscal year compared to Rs340.983bn collected the same period last year, showing an increase of 20pc.

Provisional figures released here on Tuesday showed the revenue collection exceeded the target of Rs408.7 billion set for the period under review.

The CBR expected that overall collection would further increase when the revenue figures for February 2006 were finalized in the next few days.

The tax-wise details showed that the collection of direct taxes rose by 26.5 per cent to Rs121.9 billion during the period as against Rs96.324 billion over the same period of the last year.

The sales tax collection during the period stood at Rs174.1 billion as against Rs145.172 billion the same period the last year, up by 19.92 per cent.

The collection of custom duties up by 18.8 per cent to Rs80.7 billion during the July-February compared to Rs68 billion the same period last year.

Under the head of federal excise duty the CBR collected Rs32.5 billion as against Rs31.516 billion the same period last year, an increase of 3.12 per cent.