ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: The Central Board of Revenue has directed collectors of sales tax to expedite registration of those taxable people who were not brought under the tax net.

The decision came following the shortfall in the revenue collection during the current financial year because of the prevailing uncertainty in the region, an official source said.

Official figures, made available to Dawn, show that during the July-December period, the tax authorities registered as many as 26,702 persons as taxpayers under Sales Tax Act 1990. Out of this, the tax authorities registered 4,973 persons as sales tax payers in July, 5,617 in August, 4,498 in September, 4,206 in October, 3,408 in November and 4,000 during December of the current fiscal.

The total taxpayers registered under the sales tax till December 31, 2001 stood at 14,4201.

On the other hand, during the first phase of survey at least 35,000 people voluntarily declared their sales in the survey forms, making themselves liable to sales tax.