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HERAT CITY: The revenue of Herat Customs Department has reached 6.14 billion afghanis over the past six months, showing a 36 percent increase over the same period last year, an official said on Sunday.
Khaliqullah, customs director, told reporters reasons behind the increased revenue included enhanced of custom services and capacity building of the department's officials.
He said the revenue during six months last year stood at 4.51 billion afghanis ($99 million). The income increased by about one 1.62 billion afghanis ($35 million) this year.
Most of the revenue was raised from taxes on imports of fuel, vehicles, food items, medicine, clothes and reconstruction materials from neighbouring Iran and Turkmenistan, the official added.
Besides the increase in revenue, he added 3,000 people had also been provided with job opportunities at custom offices.
Meanwhile, traders accused custom officials and police of charging illegal taxes on their imports.
"In addition to increased taxes on imports, police and customs officials are taking extra money, but there is no one to stop them," Haji Timor Shah, an importer of used vehicles, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
Although most customs offices had been computerised in the western province, traders still face a lot of problems in receiving licenses for imports.
Shah alleged they paid huge bribes to custom officials for receiving license in order to save their time.
Heratcustoms is one of the biggest in the country.
Source.
Khaliqullah, customs director, told reporters reasons behind the increased revenue included enhanced of custom services and capacity building of the department's officials.
He said the revenue during six months last year stood at 4.51 billion afghanis ($99 million). The income increased by about one 1.62 billion afghanis ($35 million) this year.
Most of the revenue was raised from taxes on imports of fuel, vehicles, food items, medicine, clothes and reconstruction materials from neighbouring Iran and Turkmenistan, the official added.
Besides the increase in revenue, he added 3,000 people had also been provided with job opportunities at custom offices.
Meanwhile, traders accused custom officials and police of charging illegal taxes on their imports.
"In addition to increased taxes on imports, police and customs officials are taking extra money, but there is no one to stop them," Haji Timor Shah, an importer of used vehicles, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
Although most customs offices had been computerised in the western province, traders still face a lot of problems in receiving licenses for imports.
Shah alleged they paid huge bribes to custom officials for receiving license in order to save their time.
Heratcustoms is one of the biggest in the country.
Source.