Dr. Mahat asks customs employees to work honestly

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 25: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has instructed the customs employees to work dutifully and with dedication.

While inspecting the Bhairahawa Customs Office on Monday, Minister Dr. Mahat said, "Currently, revenue mobilisation is low, there are many reasons for this. Imports were stopped some time ago, due to which the customs duty was reduced. Due to the decrease in domestic economic activity, the revenue was reduced,” he said.

According to a press statement of the secretariat of the Minister, Minister Mahat said that at the same time, there is a trend of misusing the border and outside the border using other means to import goods that is affecting revenue mobilisation.

There is also a coordination committee with security agencies, he said and added that the government was serious about the entry of goods into the country illegally, which hit revenue collection.

Instructing the employees to work honestly, Minister Dr. Mahat said, "No one has got this responsibility, many people have not been able to be a part of our state system. There are many citizens who wish that I had the same qualifications, that we too would have been given some responsibility. Along with the responsibilities received, you should be satisfied with the salary given by the state. If someone says that this is not enough for him/his, he/she should leave that place. No one is allowed to shirk responsibility.”

He said, last year revenue collection recorded decline due to reduced import of goods. The trend of smuggling has been increasing, he said, adding that this trend should be stopped in coordination with the security agencies.

Stating that he was equally serious about the needs of the Department, he said, “The Ministry of Finance is serious about this. Whatever is needed in the system, modern machines are needed, if there is any obstacle in the work due to the lack of other subsidiary structures, the ministry is ready to remove that obstacle. Give us a list of required materials and we will complete it.”