HERAT (SW): Officials in Herat said that the customs’ revenue of Herat has increased by 18% since last year. According to the officials, the fight against corruption and the prevention of smuggled goods are among the reasons for the increase in the revenue.
Mohammad Noor Rahmani, head of Herat Customs told Salam Watandar that the agency’s income in the fiscal year 2017-2018 amounted to 20 billion and 155 million AFN, while in the fiscal year 2016-2017 the revenue generated was only 16 billion and 700 million AFN in total, representing an increase of 18 percent this year in comparison to previous year.
Jilani Farhad, spokesperson for the governor of Herat said that eradicating corruption from Herat’s customs administration has been the reason for added revenue this year. “Fighting the root causes of corruption will reduce the corruption and simultaneously increase government revenues”, he said.
However, Jawad Amid, a civil society activist in Herat, expressed concern about the existence of corruption in the customs’ agency of Herat, saying that 18 percent increase is a nominal progress and Herat’s custom has higher capacity generating more revenues if corruption is removed altogether.
Earlier, President Ashraf Ghani expressed his concern about the widespread corruption in Herat during his visit to this province.
President Ghani vowed to take practical steps to curb corruption in this agency; however, still much has to be done.
ENDS
