KANDAHAR: The Customs Department of southern Kandahar province on Monday said its revenue has increased by 83 percent this year.
Customs Director Saleh Mohammad Nikzad told Pajhwok Afghan News they had surpassed the revenue collection target set for the ongoing fiscal year by the Ministry of Finance.
Nikzad, who took over as the director two months ago, said the target was 2.7 billion afghanis, but they collected 2.88 billion afghanis while the fiscal year would end two and a half months later.
Kandahar customs revenue was 1.57 billion afghanis last year during the same period, he said, 1.3 billion afghanis less than this year’s revenue.
In general, he said, Kandahar customs revenue had increased by 83 percent this year mainly due reforms in the administration.
The official said he had brought some important reforms to the customs department after his appointment as the director.
Customs officials would not fully unload trucks carrying imported goods to determine their exact number, but all trucks are fully unloaded and all goods taxed.
Nikzad said he had prevented some officers from illegal earnings and transportation of goods through illegal routes with the help of border police.
Trying to implement further reforms that increase revenues, the director said it their responsibility to prevent the import of low quality food items and medicines. He said his department was working together with the public health, agriculture and other departments to control quality of imported items.
