TEHRAN (P.I.N.) -- The government and the executive organs should present more realistic figures of taxation rates in order to contribute to a boost to the government revenues, an MP said Sunday. Ali-Akbar Jaafari, core member of Majlis Economic Committee, told ISNA that the government has not realized its revenues. "The 1382 budget bill set the oil prices at 21 dollars while the figure had to be decided on 19 dollars." Jaafari touched on oil-dependent budget as an economic woe in the country. He said: "Fluctuations in oil prices influence our economy. To minimize the risk, the committee favored reduction of oil prices to 19 dollars but it was not approved."

The Gross Domestic Product reached 7.4% in the Iranian year leading to March 2003, up from predicted 6.5%, he said, adding that Iran's oil exports grew by 17.9% in the same year to inject 3.468 billion dollars into the hard currency reserve fund.

"The Central Bank of Iran adopted numerous policies in the year to March 2003 to boost economy. They include single foreign exchange system, liberation of foreign exchange policies," said the legislator.

The Islamic Republic hopes to develop its technology in an attempt to dampen its dependence on import of relevant items. The Iranian government encourages government-run and private companies to produce software.

Over the past three years, Iran has achieved one of the highest rates of growth in the Middle East-North Africa region against the background of increased openness to international trade and investment, economic reforms, and sustained oil prices, according to Jaafari.

The overall economic situation in 2002/03 was favorable, with high and broad based real GDP growth, a decline in the unemployment rate for the first time in recent years, low external debt, and rising international reserves.