Ghazni customs department’s revenue up by 28pc

GHAZNI (Pajhwok): Revenue of the customs department of southern Ghazni province increased by 28 percent over last year’s returns, an official said on Wednesday.

Customs Director Mirwais Mirzai in an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News they had surpassed the Ministry of Finance’s revenue collection target by 28 percent for the ongoing fiscal year.

His department collected 422 million afghanis during the ongoing fiscal year, showing 28 percent increase over the previous year.

To a question, Mirzai linked the increase in income to sound management and transparency. “Our workers have not faced problems in the tax collection process so far,” he said.

The director said he had not received any complaint from the public about corruption in the customs department.

He said he was fighting against corruption and would take serious action against officials found guilty of committing corruption.

However, some members of the provincial council rejected Mirzai’s claims.     

A member of the council, Ghulam Sakhi Zabuli, said still many people evaded taxes. “Customs department officials commit corruption in collecting taxes; they take bribes.”

kh/ma