PESHAWAR, April 14: The NWFP government netted slightly over Rs1.8 billion through the provincial own receipts (PORs) during July-February 2002-03 leaving little chance for the province to meet its annual target, according to official sources.

The province is trailing far behind the amount it should have received on proportionate basis during the period.

Out of the total annual PORs target of Rs3,664.7m, the province was supposed to net Rs2,443.2m by the end of February 2003. The amount raised left the provincial government with a total shortfall of Rs641.2m on proportionate basis.

The gap between the receipts recorded and the amount that should have been raised on proportionate basis during first eight months of 2002-03 rose to a new height during January-February period.

According to official sources, by the close of the first six months of the current fiscal year the provincial government had raised a total of Rs1,284m missing the proportionate target — for this period — by around Rs548m.

At the end of the first eight months of 2002-03, the provincial government was trailing behind the proportionate target for this period by Rs641m.

The provincial tax collection machinery, said the sources, continued with poor performance during the first two months of the second half of the current fiscal year after several of the tax and non-tax receipts heads — of the provincial government — recorded negligible receipts.

Out of the total 39 receipts heads of the provincial government — tax and non-tax receipts heads — shortfall was recorded in well over 30 heads, leaving no chance for the government to meet the total annual target for the 2002-03.

“Authorities concerned are in the process of revising annual receipts heads to make adjustments where ever inevitable,” said a senior government functionary.

Annual target is likely to be downward revised in the case of several tax and non-tax heads of the PORs whereas in few cases the target might well be revised upward.

Heavy shortfall was recorded in almost all the important receipts heads including property tax, tax on profession, motor vehicle, fees for registration for real estate dealers, agriculture income tax, stamp duty, abiana (water rate) and arms licence fee.