MULTAN: Model Customs Collectorate of Multan has generated revenue to the tune of Rs 36,233 million by the end of fiscal year 2013-14 showing ten per cent increase in tax collection over the previous fiscal year.
MCC Multan has collected revenue of 10,705 million in share of customs duty during fiscal year 2013-2014. The collectorate collected sales tax of 24,912 million and withholding tax worth 310 million in the same period. The collectorate collected revenue of 306 million in share of federal excise duty in fiscal year 2013-2014.
Although MCC Multan witnessed 10 per cent growth in tax collection during the fiscal year ending June 30 but could not achieve the set target. There is approximately 10 per cent shortfall in set target of revenue collection of this fiscal year.
Model Customs Collectorate of Multan controls four divisions comprising Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal. Major initiatives were taken by the customs department to increase the revenue but due to low import volume they were unable to achieve the target.
Sources said that lots of measures need to be taken to increase the revenue by adjusting government discriminatory tax policies. There is no accurate evaluation system in customs department for import items which also leads towards low customs duty collection, they added.
It is still an encouraging event for Pakistan Customs that the revenue collection at MCC Multan increased by 10 per cent as compared to previous fiscal year.
There are some initiatives needed to be taken by Pakistan Customs to increase the revenue generation including utilization of help from Punjab police, Frontier Corps in Balochistan, political agents of Fort Munro and other law enforcing agencies to stop smuggling of different goods from Iran. Check posts created at Sindh-Punjab border to control smuggling near Sadiqabad need to be upgraded in this regard, sources said.