ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: The revenue collection during the month of October 2004 declined by 0.8 per cent over the same month last year.

Provisional figures showed that the revenue collection stood at Rs37.165 billion during the month under review as against Rs37.341 billion over the same month last year. The revenue collection declined by 8.68 per cent during October 2004 when compared with the target of Rs40.7 billion.

Further tax-wise break-up showed that income tax collection declined by 34.4 per cent during October 2004 to Rs6.631 billion as against Rs10.111 billion during the same month last year.

CBR spokesman M.S. Lal attributed the decline in income tax collection to the redesigned advance tax payment regime whereby advance tax previously collected in October has now been collected in September.

Under the head of sales tax, the CBR collected Rs18.186 billion during October this year against Rs18.049 billion over the same month last year, showing an increase of 0.8 per cent.

And revenue under the head of central excise duty declined by 7.6 per cent during the month under review and stood at Rs2.747 billion as against Rs2.973 billion during the same month last year.

The tax authorities collected Rs9.601 billion under the head of customs during October 2004 against Rs6.341 billion during the same month last year, showing an increase of 51.4 per cent.