ISLAMABAD: Customs Department collected more than Rs 131.616 billion taxes from eastern and northern borders during the last three years.
This was revealed by Federal Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir during the question hour at the National Assembly (NA). He said that the revenue collection from border trade has experienced a threefold increase during FY 2015-16.
Giving detail, the minister said that the country generated duty amounting to Rs 3,017 million from the Pak-Afghan border trade, Rs 12,325 million from Pak-Iran border trade and Rs 116,274.43 million from Pak-China border trade during the last three years.
According to the documents submitted in the NA, the Quetta Customs (Pak Afghan border) collected total taxes collected under all heads at Rs 568 million in 2013-14, Rs 1010 million in 2014-15 and Rs 1439 million in 2015-16. The Quetta Customs (Pak Iran border) generated total taxes collected under all heads at Rs 2176 million in 2013-14, Rs 3530 million in 2014-15 and Rs 6619 million in 2015-16.
The Gwadar Customs (Pak-Iran border) has collected d total revenue under all heads at Rs 418.427 million in 2013-14, Rs 632.377 million in 2014-15 and Rs 1435.618 million in 2015-16.
Similarly, the Customs Preventive (Pak-India border) collected total taxes under all heads at Rs 23,127 million in 2013-14, Rs 29,834 million in 2014-15 and Rs 28951 million in 2015-16. The Gilgit Customs (Sost) (Pak-China border) collected taxes under all heads at Rs 806 million in 2013-14, Rs 1229 million in 2014-15 and Rs 1692 million in 2015-16.
Dastgir said that his ministry was in constant contact with Customs authorities for curbing smuggling. “All agencies are present on our borders. We have started collecting revenue from Pak-Iran borders now. There is some issue of policy in this regard,” he said, adding that the ministry would implement all recommendations made by members of the assembly in this regard.
