ISLAMABAD, March 31: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has collected Rs586.3 billion during the July-March period of the fiscal year 2006-07 as against Rs489.8 billion over the same period last year, indicating a growth of 19.7 per cent.

Provisional figures released here on Saturday by the CBR indicated that the revenue collection would register further growth when the revenue collection is finalised in the next few weeks.

The revenue on account of direct taxes has shown an increase of 53.1 per cent by collecting Rs233.8 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year as against Rs152.7 billion over the same period last year.

The sales tax collection has reached Rs216.7 billion during the period under review as against Rs202.4 billion over the corresponding period of last year, indicating a growth of 7.1 per cent. Whereas the growth in revenue collection at sales tax import stage has been 2.7 per cent, the domestic sales tax collection has increased by 13.5 per cent.

The tax receipts on account of excise duties have recorded an increase of 17.4 percent as it stood at Rs46.5 billion during the July-March period of the current fiscal year as against Rs39.6 billion in the corresponding period last year.

And revenue from customs duties has decreased by 6.1 per cent to Rs89.3 billion during the period under review as against Rs95.1 billion over the corresponding period last year due to declining dutiable imports.