ISLAMABAD, March 1: The Central Board of Revenue has collected Rs269.1 billion tax revenues during the first 8 months of 2002- 03, up 14.6 per cent from the comparable period of previous year, CBR spokesman stated here on Saturday.

Although this is about Rs2.5 billion short of the target for the period under review, he said, it was expected that the revenue collection target would surpass after receipt of final figures for the month of February.

In February 2003, the provisional revenue collection figure stands at Rs30.5 billion as compared to Rs27.6 billion realized during the same month of previous year.

There were, however, indications that the figure would surpass Rs33 billion when the final revenue collection data would be received. Should this come about, the collection during February, 2003, would be 15.6 per cent higher than during the corresponding period of 2001-02.

The breakup of the provisional revenue collection figure for February, 2003, is as follows:

Sales tax: Rs14.2 billion; income tax: Rs8.5 billion; customs duty: Rs4.6 billion and central excise duty: Rs3.2 billion.