ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: The Central Board of Revenue collected Rs269.6 billion during the July-January period of the current financial year against the target of Rs258.9 billion , showing an increase of 4.13 per cent over the target.

Provisional figures released by the Central Board of Revenuehere on Saturday showed the revenue collection registered a growth of 13 per cent during the seven months of the current financial year when compared to the last year collection of Rs238.6 billion.

The statistics showed the revenue collection under the head of income tax and central excise duty declined during the period under review in comparison to the target set for the period. However, sales tax and customs duty surpassed the targets set during the same period.

On monthly basis, the revenue collection stood at Rs39.2 billion in January 2004 against the target of Rs40.8 billion, showing a decrease of 3.92 per cent. And in comparison to the last year's collection of Rs37.2 billion during the same, the revenue collection this year registered a growth of 5.37 per cent.

The tax-wise break-up showed the tax authorities collected Rs9.5 billion under the head of direct taxes in January 2004 against the target of Rs12.2 billion, showing a decrease of 22 per cent.

Under the head of customs duty Rs7.8 billion was collected during the month under review against the target of Rs6.8 billion, showing an increase of 14.7 per cent. And the tax authorities collected Rs2.9 billion under the head of central excise duty in January 2004 against the target of Rs3.7 billion, showing a decline of 21.6 per cent.

The CBR collected Rs19 billion under the head of sales tax in January 2004 against the target of Rs18.1 billion, showing an increase of 4.97 per cent.

Member, direct taxes, Vakil Ahmed Khan, said on Saturday the Central Board of Revenue expected to collect almost Rs2 billion more when the revenue collection figures were finalized in the next 10 days.

He said the revenue collection target of Rs40.8bn set for January would be achieved easily.