Islamabad, July 1 (IANS) Pakistan has reached its tax collection target of Rs.1,588 billion for the fiscal year 2010-11, a top official said.

Federal Board of Revenue Salman Saddique said the collection may reach Rs.1,600 billion when figures are compiled by July 10.

‘Achieving the collection target is the big news for the nation,’ Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Saddique as saying.

He said that out of the total revenue collection, Rs.1,405.462 billion were collected as inland revenue whereas Rs.184 billion was customs duty.

According to him, achieving the target of Rs.1,588 billion was not easy as apprehensions were being expressed both at national and international level about the tax target.

‘But as a nation we have shown that Pakistanis are able to cope with any challenge,’ he said.

He hoped that the revenue collection target of Rs.1,952 billion for the fiscal year 2011-12 would be achieved.