QUETTA: Collector Collectorate of Customs Ashraf Ali said that unprecedented revenue collection during first quarter Fiscal Year 2018-19 has been achieved due to enhanced surveillance on clearance at Customs Stations Taftan, Chaman, and NLC Dry Port Quetta, strengthening of the department’s check posts and speedy disposal of seized goods and vehicles through auctions.
He expressed these views while talking with Customs Today during an interview. Collector Ashraf said that the Collectorate generated Rs5.9 billion during the first quarter (July to September FY18-19). The amount collected during the first quarter was 42% higher than the revenue collected during the same period of previous Fiscal Year 2017-18.
The collector said that collection of customs duty (CD) rose to Rs2.107 billion and sales tax (ST) to Rs2.592 billion in the period under review, exceeding the respective first quarter targets of Rs1.517 billion and Rs1.782 billion. Similarly against the income tax (IT) target of Rs788 million, the Collectorate collected Rs1035 million while the federal excise duty (FED) collection was Rs105 million against the given target of Rs91 million.
He said that an amount of Rs207 million was realized through disposal of seized goods and vehicles from July to September 2018 and Rs29.79 million collected through recovery of outstanding dues.
He further said that comprehensive anti-smuggling strategy led to impounding of 250 non-duty paid vehicles whereas an amount of Rs203 million was collected through seizure of Iranian origin diesel. The worth of total miscellaneous goods involved in smuggling seized by the Collectortae is Rs500 million while during same period Rs270 million of goods were taken into custody.
The Collector said that huge quantity of Indian origin gutka worth Rs50 million and detention of Zaireen loaded buses carrying smuggled goods coming from Iran were also among the leading seizure cases of the Collectorate.