Government revenue grew just 2.9 percent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, compared to a projection of 15 percent, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Tuesday. The average growth rate in the first seven months of the last five years was over 15 percent, the report quoted an official as saying. Revenue to date totals Rs 35.8 billion while total expenditure reached Rs 43.7 billion, a 14.7 percent hike over the last year. In the recent finance ordinance, Minister of State for Finance Dr Roop Jyoti cut in customs tariffs on many items, claiming the adjustment would discourage under-invoicing and informal channels, which in turn would contribute to realising higher revenue.