MULTAN: Coordinated efforts have helped achieve the desired goals within given time period, as the Model Customs Collectorate collected Rs 62.5 billion against Rs 45.4 billion target during the outgoing fiscal year 2015-16.
Multan Customs Collector Sarfraz Ahmad Warraich stated this while giving an interview to Customs Today, adding that the collectorate will continue its efforts to not only sustain the performance but also improve it.
The collector said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had set a target of Rs 45.4 billion under various heads, including customs duty, sales tax, federal excise duty and withholding tax (WHT) that has been achieved successfully.
The Multan Customs also marked 18 percent growth in revenue collection over preceding fiscal year 2014-15 when its collection stood at Rs 53 billion under the head of customs duty, sales tax, federal excise duty, withholding tax and petroleum development levy, he informed, adding that the collectorate collected Rs 62.5 billion during outgoing fiscal year 2015-16.
It may be mention here that the Multan region also surpassed its revenue target during fiscal year 2014-15 by 7 percent. The collector said that revenue collection increased in region due to consistent efforts made by the officials.
Under the head of sales tax at import stage, the collectorate also surpassed annual target of Rs.31.9 billion by 27 percent, as it collected Rs 40.5 billion during the said period, he told, adding that the collection was 43.6 percent higher than the fiscal year 2014-15.
Collector Sarfraz informed that Multan Customs collected 96 percent of total revenue on the import of high speed diesel (HSD) by PSO, Shell and other oil companies.
A sharp decrease in international oil prices (average per litre value of HSD fell from Rs 57.10 during fiscal year 2014-15 to Rs 38.35 during fiscal year 2015-16) posed a negative impact on revenue collection. Total assessable value of HSD fell from Rs 107,985 million to Rs 62,837 million during fiscal year 2015-16.
Collector Warraich further said that, 1690 million litre of HSD was ex-bonded during fiscal year 2015-16 against 1847 million litres during fiscal 2014-15.
An increase in local production of crude oil and decrease in import of HSD imposed a negative impact on collection of customs duty during outgoing fiscal year, as the Multan region collected Rs 7.6 billion as customs duty in fiscal year 2015-16, while it was stood at Rs 9.2 billion in fiscal year 2014-15.
The Multan Customs has taken special measures including joint operations strategy and setting up various checkpoints to foil smuggling attempts in the region, he said, adding that the ASO focused on exit and entry points in order to tightened noose around the smugglers.
Sharing performance of Anti-Smuggling Organisation (ASO), the collector said that campaign against smuggling contributed huge revenue that helped achieve the annual revenue target in fiscal year 2015-16. The Multan Customs is the second biggest regions in wake of revenue generation after Karachi in country.
He informed that the ASO seized smuggled goods and vehicles worth Rs 223.49 million during the outgoing fiscal year. During the fiscal year 2014-15, it made 188 seizure cases worth Rs 180.84 million.
The collector further added that Multan Customs impounded 92 vehicles worth Rs 111.9 million in fiscal year 2015-16, while it impounded 84 vehicles worth Rs 83.8 million in fiscal year 2014-15.
The Multan Customs was also taking action against smugglers with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, including Motorway Police, Balochistan Military Police (BMP), Customs Intelligence and Investigation.