MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Traders in northern Balkh province on Thursday decided not to pay taxes on imported goods until the government abolished a recent hike in customs duty.
The traders from the northern zone held a protest gathering at the Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Industry office in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, and said the increased duty on imported goods including some daily-use items had resulted in an unprecedented price-hike.
ArashYounisi, the Balkh chamber of commerce and industry director, said the Ministry of Finance’s move to increase the customs duty had affected the ordinary people of Afghanistan.
Younisi said they would only accept duty hike on foreign goods which were not produced inside Afghanistan or produced in low quantity.
He said the government’s decision would pave the way for smuggling of imported products.
“Tax on the wheat is increased by 100 per cent, on sugar and grains 40 per cent and a 40 percent increase on construction materials which has affected ordinary people and the local market,” he explained.
Younesi, who distributed copies of documents to journalists, said despite their opposition in meetings with government officials, the customs duty on imported goods was increased.
On the other hand, an official said that traders in response to the increase in duty on imported items had decided not to pay the taxes at Hairatan, Aqina and Sher Khan Ports.
On behalf of traders, Haji Khairuddin, told the meeting that trucks loaded with imported commercial goods remained stranded at customs offices since the past one week.
He said instead of solving problems the traders faced, the government was creating hurdles for them and as a result, the ordinary people of Afghanistan suffered.
He urged the Ministry of Finance and customs authorities to resolve the problem in consultation with traders.
Haji Asadullah, a merchant in Hairatan port, said making increases in duty was commonly practised worldwide, but it should be done in consultation with the private sector.
“This action of the ministry firstly hit domestic producers who import raw materials from abroad,” he said, adding low duty was charged on raw materials throughout the world for domestic products.
Balkh Chamber of Commerce and Industries department and traders urged the government and the Finance Ministry to cancel the increase in customs duty on foreign goods and reach an agreement with the private sector and traders.
But Shamroz Khan Masjidi, spokesman for MoF, rejected the duty had been increased and asked traders to stop spreading baseless rumours.
He said commodity codes for each imported good or material entering Afghanistan were available at customs offices in order to calculate the correct amount of duty and taxes.
But unfortunately some goods were imported to the country with different codes, he said, asking traders to enter their goods and materials into specific codes.
sa/ma
Views: 5