KARACHI, May 19: The collectorate of customs (Preventive) collected Rs9.116 billion during first ten months (July-April) of current fiscal year, showing a growth of 7.72 per cent over Rs8.463 billion collected during same period last year.

According to official figures there was substantial increase in customs duty revenue during April 2008 at Rs1.286 billion or 63.74 per cent compared to Rs786 million same month last year.

Higher imports and strict vigilance by customs authorities over mis-declaration and under-invoicing were the main factors for enhanced customs duty collection, sources said.

However, there was steep fall in overall revenue collection at customs stage because of lesser collection of sales tax and income tax. In all Rs42.693 billion were collected during July-April as against Rs43.497 billion in the same period last year.

Similarly, there was less revenue collection during April 2008 at Rs3.420 billion or 24.52 per cent compared to Rs4.530 billion last year.

The only redeeming feature was that the collection of central excise duty (CED) at customs stage during the first ten months made a remarkable growth at Rs3.505 billion or 96.40 per cent from Rs1.784 billion collected in the corresponding period last year.

Against this, the income tax collection declined to Rs2.074 billion or 14.68 per cent from Rs2.204 billion collected during July-April last year.

During April income tax collection stood at Rs192 million compared to Rs225 million earlier.

Collection of sales tax at customs stage during the period under review stood at Rs27.997 billion or 9.82 per cent less from Rs31.045 billion collected last year. Sales tax collection in April 2008 was Rs1.641 billion or 51.67 per cent short from Rs3.396 billion collected earlier.

Stringent measures have been taken by the customs at Air Freight Unit (AFU) at Jinnah Terminal and Postal Preventive department, where the authorities seized goods worth millions of rupees.

Additional Collector AFU told Dawn that movement of ‘khepias’ from the Jinnah Terminal had been totally stopped as the customs have started strict checking of illegal trade and movement of goods from the terminal. He said a number of cases of mis-declaration and under-invoicing were detected.