Collection soars despite fall in dutiable imports

[LahoreEstate]

A major factor which helped the customs to improve revenue collection, sources said, was the breaking of cartel of system operators who had been deeply involved in most of irregularities. - APP/File photo

KARACHI: Despite a steep fall in dutiable imports, the customs authorities collected Rs35.366 billion towards duty during the first nine months (July to March) of the current fiscal year, thereby showing a growth of 21 per cent over corresponding period last year when collection stood at Rs29.280 billion.

Though dutiable imports recorded a fall of nine per cent during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year to Rs229.684 billion from Rs252.440 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year, the Model Customs Collectorate of PaCCS, Karachi collected higher duty at Rs35.366 billion.

However, there had been an increase of 13 per cent in total imports during the period under review and it stood at Rs514.675 billion as against Rs453.955 billion last year.

Against this, duty-free imports recorded a steep fall of 41 per cent to Rs294.991 billion from Rs201.515 billion recorded in the corresponding period last year.

The higher growth in duty collection during July-March indicates that the customs authorities at PaCCS started to take stiff measures to stop leakages through mis-declaration and under-invoicing.

According to insiders, the collector of PaCCS suspended one assistant collector and issued show-cause notices to two assistant collectors.

Besides, one principal appraiser was put off duty for illegally removing contravention.
Examiner of Good Declaration (GD) had been also suspended.

As a result of stern measures, there had been a remarkable improvement in revenue collection.

Despite a fall in dutiable imports, customs duty collection during July-March period increased by 21 per cent.

The customs sources told Dawn that the Research and Development (R&D) cell for the first time after a gap of four years had been allowed to function so that irregularities committed for duty-evasion through mis-declaration and under-invoicing could be checked.

The collector PaCCS expressed his full satisfaction over the performance of R&D cell and hoped that the Karachi customs would be able to achieve its revenue target.

Another factor which helped the customs to improve revenue collection, sources said was the breaking of cartel of system operators who had been deeply involved in most of irregularities.

The collector of PaCCS managed to control system (computer) operators through large-scale transfers and posting because most of them were there for the last five years or so, sources said.

Consequently, there was also an improvement in collection of other revenues at customs stage, including sales tax, advance income tax, regulatory duty, central excise duty, warehouse surcharge and penal surcharge, official figures disclosed.

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