ISLAMABAD, April 10: The Central Board of Revenue paid Rs34.45 billion as refund/rebate to exporters during the July-March period this fiscal year as against Rs25.729 billion during the same period last year, indicating an increase of 33.89 per cent.

Official figures here on Monday showed that the payment of refund to the exporters in sales tax and customs registered a growth because of an increase in export proceeds registered during the period under review.

The tax-wise break-up showed that the CBR paid Rs20.503 billion as sales tax refund during the July-March period of this fiscal year as against Rs13.950 billion in the same period last year, showing an increase of 46.9 per cent.

The payment of customs rebate increased by 18.4 per cent to Rs13.947 billion during the period under review as against Rs11.779 billion paid during the same period last year.