ISLAMABAD: The Information Industry (IT) is one of the major sources of revenue for the Customs AFU along with the E&P and Pharma Industry.
This was stated by Wajid Zaman, Deputy Collector, Imports, Air Freight Unit (AFU) Islamabad, while giving an exclusive interview to CustomsToday.
He is optimistic that the Customs AFU Islamabad will not only surpass the revenue collection target for the month of January FY17-18 but also exceed the revenue collection target for 3rd Quarter (January to March)FY 17-18.
He said the Air Freight Unit (AFU) performed wonderfully during the month of December and second quarter (October to December) of Financial Year (FY) 2017-18.
The Deputy Collector said “I as Deputy Collector AFU Islamabad am responsible for ensuring that a levelled playfield is provided to all the importers. He added that the AFU is responsible for treating all the importers equally. Accentuating staff’s level of motivation, he said we work even beyond the working hours to facilitate importers if and when such need arises.
To a query, he said if, during the checking of goods declaration, it is found that any statement in such declaration or document or any information so furnished is not correct in terms of any matter relating to the assessment, the goods, without prejudice to any other action, can be impounded for the purpose of revenue collection.
The Deputy Collector opined that the government’s decision to impose Regulatory Duty (RD) on the import of luxury goods is a healthy decision because it will discourage the trend of importing vanity merchandise including expensive automobiles, yachts, luxury watches, designer apparel, jewelry, bottled water, and branded food items including coffee and tea.
Describing the details of revenue performance during 2nd quarter (October to December) FY17-18, Wajid said the AFU Islamabad earned an extra revenue of above Rs200million under the head of Customs Duty (CD) against an assigned revenue collection of 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2017-18. He added that, during 2nd Quarter FY17-18, the AFU received a revenue amounting to Rs915.888million against an allocated revenue collection target of Rs714.87million while it earned Rs505.00million under the same head during corresponding 2nd Quarter of FY16-17.
He told CT that, during 2nd Q FY 17-18, the AFU generated 382.64% average of achievement against an earmarked revenue collection target of CD whereas, during 2nd Quarter FY17-18, the AFU showed 383% average growth against a revenue collection of previous 2nd Quarter FY16-17.
Talking about the month-wise 2nd Quarter’s performance, he said that, during the month of December FY17-18, the AFU earned Rs366million as CD while it was assigned Rs270million of revenue target. He further added that the AFU collected Rs284million of CD during the month of November FY17-18 against allocated target of Rs228million while the AFU got Rs264million under the same head during October FY17-18 against an earmarked target of Rs215million under the head of CD.
