Balkh: Over a billion afs collected in revenue

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Revenue Department in northern Balkh province says it has received more than one billion afghanis in income after the formation of the caretaker government.

Haji Nisar Ahmad, director finance, told Pajhwok Afghan News the department had received 114,771,987 afghanis after the formation of the new caretaker government.

He said the revenue was more than the target set by the Ministry of Finance. It was collected from businessmen, industries, transportation and acquisitions.

He added the department would pay salaries to about 25,000 people, including families of martyrs, the disabled and retirees.

Ahmad said all the employees of the customs department were serving in their position and on one was fired.

A number of residents and businesspeople call tax collection the government’s prerogative but want it to be spent on development and reconstruction projects.

Hafizullah Zazai, a businessman in the province, believed the revenue collected was commensurate with the earnings of the people.

He said countries were developed on the basis of efficient tax collection and Afghanistan must spend its revenue on development projects.

Mohammad Muradi, who owns a production firm in Mazar-i-Sharif, said the customs’ duty was high and their work was often delayed by customs.

sa/mud