ISLAMABAD: There are too many exemptions on imports under the head of Income Tax. Because of this, the Air Freight Unit (AFU) has been facing decline for the past months.
During the month of March FY2016-17, the AFU surpassed the Sales Tax because pending payment of Rs50 million under the head of ST had been released by the Pakistan International Airline (PIA). The AFU is providing business-friendly atmosphere to the business community because business activity depends on entrepreneurs. The DC AFU appreciated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s wording on Tuesday that the government is formulating policies that are in favour of the business community.
This was stated by Islamabad Customs Air Freight Unit Deputy Collector Shahid Jan while talking to Customs Today in an exclusive interview.
He said the customs will follow the policies and vision of FBR Chairman Dr Irshad to achieve the targets of Financial Year 2016-17 as the revenue collection position of the AFU is better under the head of all duty taxes during the month of March which is better against the corresponding year 2015-16.
He said the AFU collected Rs220million CD during the month of March 2016-17 whereas it collected Rs218million during the same month of corresponding year 15-16. The AFU collected Rs385million ST during March 2016-17 whereas it collected Rs304million ST during the same period of corresponding year.
During the month of March 2016-17, the AFU received Rs190million Withholding Tax while it did Rs160million under the same head during corresponding year 2015-16.
He said the AFU Islamabad processed 70 percent of Goods Declarations (GDs) under WEBOC (Web Based One Customs developed by PRAL ‘Pakistan Revenue Automation Ltd’) and the rest of 30% was processed by the One Customs. Very few of governmental offices and embassies and individuals, who are having no NTN, are allowed to file GDs through one customs other than all the business entrepreneurs using WEBOC.
Explaining the details regarding the imported items coming through AFU Islamabad, he said most of the imported items are related with the IT companies which import both hardware and software.
The department will focus on anti-smuggling campaign and collection of duty/taxes in order to surpass the targets, he said, adding the confidence level increased among customs staff after outstanding performance of the Islamabad collectorate during the first three quarters when it surpassed the assigned targets with the reasonable margin.
He said “The customs department is definitely a revenue generating agency but customs staff also serves the people to save them from unlawful practices .i.e. smuggling, drugs trafficking, under-invoicing and many others”.
The department has brightened the future aspects, and official-level decision making process is surprisingly fast within the custom department, he said.
Rising from Pakhtoon family, Shahid Jan is the first person of his family who joined public service sector and has been serving in the customs for the last 16 years with devotion. His supporting staff said the deputy collector AFU is a nice person and always treats his lower staff with patience and humble manners.
Shahid Jan said the Islamabad Customs showed better performance during January-June of fiscal year 2015-16 as compared to the last fiscal year 2014-15 in revenue collection, impounding non-duty paid vehicles and goods.
