GUJRAT, Feb 13: The local sales tax collectorate has detected a massive tax evasion at Packages, pottery, furniture and fan units from July 2001 to Jan 2002, it is learnt here on Tuesday.

Sources at the office told this correspondent that the department, during a number of audits in the last seven months, revealed the manufacturers had concealed facts for tax evasion.

The department had so far recovered Rs8 million out of the total Rs15 million from the evaders while some 50 manufacturers had been directed to pay the amount, they said.

Assistant Collector Ahmad Kamal told this correspondent that the tax collection had shown an increase of 61.7 per cent from July to Dec 2001 as compared to the corresponding period.

In July 2001, a sum of Rs33 million was collected as compared to Rs24 million while in August, Rs37 million had been recovered against Rs33 million.

An amount of Rs39 million had been collected in September, Rs38 million in October, Rs44 million in November and Rs53 million in December as compared to Rs36m, Rs16m, Rs19m and Rs21m, respectively, he concluded.

SUSPENDED: Three local passport officials were suspended on the charge of corruption, it is learnt on Tuesday.