KABUL (SW): The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) has warned to suspend movement of goods if necessary steps are not taken towards curbing ‘extortion’ of transporters by different government departments in Kabul.
The ACCI representatives said on Monday that different governmental institutions ‘extort’ money on different excuses from businessmen and transporters in Kabul, and if the practice is not stopped till 12 December, transportation activities will be put to a halt.
Sayam-u-Din Pesarley, spokesman for the ACCI said that governmental institutions including, municipality, police, customs, and members of the parliament extort money at the entry point to Kabul for different reasons from the transporters. “By 12 December, 2016 if these problems are not solved, be assured that we will halt trade activities, especially transportation, then government can deal with the problems of how to make available daily consumer products to the general public”, he said.
He added that the government does not care about tax payers but many high profile government officials roam around without paying a penny as tax.
Khan Jan Alkozai, the Vice President of the ACCI said on the occasion that rampant corruption exists at the Income Tax and Revenue System in the Ministry of Finance. “Corruption and other problems exist in the collecting, balancing of income tax and revenues, we have raised extortion issue several times. Goods once taxed in one center are not accepted by the others”, he lamented.
Meanwhile, Ajmal Obaid Rahimzai, spokesman for Ministry of Finance told Salam Watandar that the MoF executes all laws in consultation with the private sector.
“We never take any action without keeping in mind the interests of the private sector. Any change in our policy is always consulted with the private sector”, he said. The MoF spokesman acknowledged that preventive measures against illegal tax collections have been taken.
ENDS
