QUETTA: Pakistani export can increase if Pak-Iran bilateral relations are normalized. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) must develop close liaison for industrialization and export of indigenous goods to Iran. Iranian meat requirement is about worth $1 billion per year. Meat plants may be established at Quetta and Taftan for export of meat to Iran and Gulf. Cattle farming may also be set up in the bordering areas with Iran for generation of foreign exchange.
This was stated by Collector Quetta Dr Saeed Jadoon while giving an interview to Customs Today.
The Model Customs Collectorate of Quetta exceeded its assigned revenue target of all duty and taxes with the collection of Rs1400.00million during April of Financial Year 2016-17. The collectorate was assigned revenue target of Rs1398.00million under the same head for above said month.
He said the performance of Quetta Collectorate is brilliant by exceeding all the duty taxes for entire financial year (July to June 2016-17). The anti-smuggling efforts have also been accelerated resulting in increase of revenue and seizures.
He said the collectorate showed increase in revenue because ports’ clearance is enhancing day by day. He added that the revenue performance is also exceeding. Smuggling through trucks and buses has almost ended, he said.
The collector said due to improvement in policies to stop the smuggling trends, effective checks on clearances at customs stations import/export have also increased. Reinvigorated enforcement efforts with Frontier Corps and police, smugglers have been forced to conduct legal import/export through customs stations.
Explaining the details of revenue collected during the month of April FY-16-17, he said the Quetta Collectorate generated Rs557.00million income against the assigned target of Rs513million under the head of customs duty. He further said the MCC Quetta received Rs597.00million sales tax whereas the collector said the collectorate got Rs33.00million against the assigned target of Rs15.00million of Federal Excise Duty. During above said period, the MCC Quetta earned Rs213million against the assigned target of Rs170million under the head of With Holding Tax for the month of April.
Answering a query, the collector stated that another avenue for business community is the processing and storage of fresh fruits produced in Balochistan. The plants for processing of fresh fruits for preparation of Jams, Juices and other byproducts may be set up at Quetta for the export to Iran, which will give us a competitive advantage on competitors like India. The collector concluded that above said activity will encourage the private sector and generate precious foreign exchange for the country.
