QUETTA: Under the leadership of Chief Collector Muhammad Sadiq, the Collectorate of Customs showed outstanding performance and has collected Rs100 billion during FY2021-22, which is a record. Collection of Rs100 billion in the outgoing fiscal is 53 per cent or Rs34.7 billion higher than the collection of Rs65 billion in the previous fiscal year 2020-21.
Customs Appraisement collected over Rs18.2 billion against the target of Rs22.9 billion. The revenue collection fell short due to political and geo-political issues. Administrative issues in the province, change of government in Afghanistan and prolonged closure of the borders at a time when large quantity of fresh fruit is imported from Afghanistan impacted revenue collection.
Bazarcha at Pak-Iran border was also closed in June 2021. Bazarcha has become the second largest trade and business center after Taftan. Ceramic tiles, cement, clinker and dates etc are imported from Bazarcha.
Moreover, there had been a significant decline in high tariff products including dry fruits, nylon, green tea, cloth and glass. Further, import duty was exempted on white spirit and methylene Hexonic acid and LPG, which are imported from neighboring country, affecting revenue collection.
Similarly, Enforcement Quetta and Enforcement Gwadar performed well and seized smuggled goods worth billions of rupees. Customs Gwadar collected Rs62 billion due to massive import of petroleum products. Most of these imports were made by M/s Byco Petroleum. Baluchistan Customs also seized smuggled narcotics worth Rs4.0 billion.