Sher Khan Port revenue jumps 58 percent: Official

KUNDUZ (Pajhwok): The government collected about two billion afghanis revenue from transit duty on commercial goods at the Sher Khan Port in northern Kunduz province during the past 16 months, showing an unprecedented increase, an official said on Wednesday.

Maulavi Ishaq, head of Sher Khan Port customs office, during an interview with Pajhwok Afghan News said the port generated about two billion afs revenue during the past 16 months.

He said 812 million afs revenue was collected previously and the new figures showed a 58 percent increase. He said the revenue jumped after its collection procedure was simplified and corruption tackled.

“We are trying to further relax the issuance of visas to traders and we expect more increase in the revenues in the future,” Maulavi Ishaq added.

Abdul Matin Yousufzai, the Kunduz Chamber of Commerce president, said traders still faced issues in obtaining visas on both sides of the port and demanded an early solution to the problem.

“There have been still some problems for traders at the port, visas are not issued to traders and drivers on neither side of the port, while the duty on coal transit from Tajikistan has also increased from six dollars in the past to nearly $40,” Yousufzai said.

Sher Khan is one of the important ports of the country which connects Afghanistan with Tajikistan.

aw/ma