ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The tax authorities have collected Rs333.4 billion during the July-February period of the current fiscal year against the budgetary target of Rs340.8 billion showing a decrease of 2.17 per cent.

Provisional figures released here on Monday showed that the revenue collection registered a nominal growth of 6.4 per cent during the period under review when compared to the revenue collection during the same period last year.

On monthly basis, the revenue collection during in February stood at Rs30 billion as against the target of Rs47.5 billion set for the same month, showing a decline of 36.8 per cent.

The statistics showed that the revenue collection during the last two months was slow. However, the CBR expected that the collection would increase when the revenue figures for February 2005 would finalize in the next few days.

Tax wise break up showed that collection under the head of direct taxes during the last eight months (July-Feb) of the current fiscal year stood at Rs94 billion as against the target of Rs94.1 billion set for the same period. But, when compared to the last year's figure of Rs92.4 billion it registered only 1.7 per cent growth

The tax authorities collected Rs141.6 billion under the head of sales tax during the July-Feb period this year as against the target of Rs153.3 billion set for the same period, registering a decline of 7.63 per cent.

Collection on account of customs duties has gone up to Rs67.5 billion against the target of Rs64.4 billion set for the same period, indicating a growth of 4.81 per cent.

Similarly, the central excise duty collection has increased to Rs30.6 billion during the period under review as against the target of Rs29 billion set for the same period, showing an increase of 5.51 per cent.