ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: The revenue collection registered an increase of 17.6 per cent during the half year (July-Dec) period of the current fiscal year.

Official provisional figures released here on Friday showed that the tax authorities had collected Rs253 billion during six months against Rs250.1bn target set for the same period, surpassing the target by 1.15 per cent.

Tax wise break up showed that CBR collected Rs72.3 billion under the head of direct tax during the July-December period against Rs57.6 billion collected during the same period last year, showing an increase of 25.6 per cent.

The sales tax collection registered a growth of 8.3 per cent during the period under review and stood at Rs107.3 billion this year as against Rs99.1 billion of the corresponding period of the last year.

This growth has largely been driven by the sales tax on imports where Rs68.6 billion have been collected during the first half year of the current fiscal year against Rs50.7bn collected during the same period of the last year.