Balkh land transport’s revenue up by 46pc

MAZAR-I-SHARI (Pajhwok): The land transport revenue of northern Balkh province reached 160.3 million afghanis in fiscal year 1397 — 46 percent up over last year’s returns, an official said Tuesday.

Transport Department officials say their income increased significantly compared to previous years.

Mustafa Sorosh, Balkh Transport Department director, told a press conference they collected 160.3 million afghanis in fiscal year 1397, showing a 46 percent increase over last year’s income.

He said they had been set 117.7 million afghanis target but they collected 160.3 million afghanis or 46 percent extra.

He said Balkh topped other province in collecting revenue nation-wide. However, he said, some powerful individuals took extortion money on goods in some parts of the city, which had created problems for them.

He urged the government to stop powerful individuals from taking taxing goods carrying transport vehicles around the city.

He said, “Powerful individuals and gunmen take money from truck drivers on the Mazar-i-Sharif-Shiberghan highway.”

He added Taliban militants also charged 7,000 afghanis per coal vehicle on the Mazar-Dar-i-Sauf road, which had a negative impact on their outcome.

He said President Ashraf Ghani had given them 500 acres of land for construction of a terminal but the land authorities were yet to allocate land for the terminal.

Pk/maa

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