ISLAMABAD, July 25: The Central Board of Revenue paid Rs79.254 billion refund/rebate to exporters during the financial year 2001-02 compared to Rs60.682 billion during the same period last fiscal, showing an increase of 30.6 per cent.

Official figures released by the CBR here on Thursday showed that the tax authorities had paid Rs16.47 billion under the head of direct taxes during July-June 2001-02 against Rs13.293 billion, it paid in the same period last fiscal, a rise of 23.9 per cent.

Further break-up showed that the CBR had paid Rs35.958 billion refund under the head of sales tax during the July-June period this year against Rs29.88 billion paid during the same period last year, showing a surge of 20.3 per cent.

Under the head of customs, the tax authorities paid Rs26.803 billion to exporters during 2001-02 against Rs17.398 billion paid during the same period last year, showing an increase of 54 per cent.

CBR official spokesman Vakil Ahmed Khan said that this year Rs13 billion extra refunds were paid to exporters to clear the backlog of the last year.