ISLAMABAD: Deputy Collector Islamabad Dry Port (IDP) Saleha Zakir Shah said that collection of revenue is our second priority but vigilance is our topmost priority.
Talking with Customs Today during an exclusive interview, she said that she believed on teamwork and having trust in people. She added that during the first half of Financial Year 2018-19, the Islamabad Dry Port (IDP) staff worked hard and made all clearances according to law.
Miss Shah said, “I am very thankful I got this hardworking team at IDP which helped me a lot to surpass the assigned revenue collection target for the first two quarters of FY18-19.”
She said that due to increase in duties and taxes, imports have decreased as compared to the last financial year whereas due to discouraging imports, local items buying has been enhanced. She said that imports affected due to dollar fluctuations and tariff structure. It is good to discourage imported luxury items to promote local products and for the promotion of exports, the government is also following the policy to discourage imports.
She said that State Warehouse has a number of short-range walkie-talkie sets which were detained in different operations and one of these sets may be given to the IDP for departmental use, adding that this could enhanced coordination among Customs dry port staff. She added that metal detector may be purchased for use of IDP whereas intercom at Customs offices at IDP may also be set up.
Deputy Collector said that our main revenue spinner is M/s Attock Refinery. Through this single importer a huge quantity of revenue under head of Customs Duty (CD) added into the account of IDP during first half of July to December FY18-19. She said the Prime Minister (PM) House auctioned vehicles through the support of IDP.
Answering another query regarding tax culture, she said that unless we shift from indirect taxes to direct taxes, tax culture cannot be developed and it is our duty to pay taxes to promote the national economy.
