PESHAWAR: MCC Peshawar surpassed the assigned target of customs duty collection by a hefty margin of 02.60% during the FY 2020-21 by putting in all out efforts to achieve the assigned targets in all important areas identified by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
PTI government has special emphasis on promoting ease of doing business and facilitate business community, at the same time secure government revenues.
Therefore, in addition to regular/routine collection of duty/taxes, an effective strategy was devised to specially focus on areas to enhance revenue through administrative measures like recoveries, valuation and PRVs besides taking concrete measures towards facilitation of trade and ease of doing customs business.
The measures so taken on both avenues worked very well and the Collectorate was able to achieve the assigned target in all areas besides trade facilitation.
Rs12 billion have been collected as customs duty against the assigned target of Rs.5.9 billion until 10 June 2021. The Collectorate has, therefore, not only achieved the assigned target but has also surpassed the collection of customs duty by Rs.6.07 billion which is around 102.60% more than the assigned target.
Within the category of other taxes, an amount of Rs.13.65 billion was collected under the head of Sales Tax whereas; Rs.4.85 billion was collected as Income Tax for the FY-2020-21.
Under the instructions from PM Imran Khan to promote legal trade, a new Customs Station at Angoor Adda has been made functional from 30 September, 2020. This measure boosted up the exports to Afghanistan from South Region of this Collectorate.
In the first seven months since operationalization of Customs Station at Angoor Adda, goods worth $23.75 million have been exported to Afghanistan from this station alone.
It needs to mention that prior to opening of the said station not a single export has ever been made to Afghanistan from this route.
Further Rs.765 million have been collected as duty/taxes since operationalization of C.S. Angoor Adda in the said period as against yearly collection of Rs.444 million from Customs Station Tank.
Rs.31.70 million are recovered as arrears in the current financial year as against Rs.16.90 million in the last financial year. Rs.4.7 million are recovered as a result of PRVs.
Similarly, as a result of strengthening of enforcement measures in assessment and examination of goods, the declared values of goods during the current financial year are enhanced to Rs.13.67 billion against Rs.4.97 billion of the corresponding period of last year which comes to 175 %.
A number of facilitation measures were also undertaken by the Collectorate during the FY 2020-21.
Due to untiring efforts the status of existing Customs Stations have been upgraded whereby the Customs Station at Kharlachi has been designated for rebateable exports of cement in addition to simple exports.
The Customs Station at Ghulam Khan has been designated for handling transit cargo to Afghanistan in October, 2020. These measures will have significant impact in opening up of new trade opportunities for this area and would translate into expansion of bilateral trade with Afghanistan from BCPs other from Torkham.
Afghan Authorities and traders repeatedly recorded their protest against the valuation in respect of goods imported from Afghanistan. In this backdrop, MCC Peshawar in coordination with trade bodies reviewed the values of Afghan imported goods applicable for the last several years.
Accordingly, on the recommendations of MCC Peshawar, Director Customs Valuation, Karachi issued a Valuation Advice for Afghan origin goods on 31-12-2020 wherein values of such goods have been rationalized and also reduced where required.
In response to this measure Afghan authorities also reduced the valuation on fruits namely Kinno exported from Pakistan.
In automation area all Customs Stations namely Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Angoor Adda have been converted to WeBOC clearances.
Muhammad Saleem, the Collector of Customs, has attributed this impressive revenue performance of MCC Peshawar to the leadership of Syed Tariq Huda, Member Customs (Operations) and Dr. Asif Mehmood Jah, Chief Collector (North), Islamabad.
He congratulated his officers and staff on achieving the target, saying that this was achieved by the sheer hard work of all the team members and reiterated the resolve to continue their efforts further with the same zeal and fervor.