Collection of duties and taxes by the Customs department during the first seven months of current fiscal year has dropped by 15 percent against the corresponding period. According to the data collected from dry ports in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan, total collection stood at Rs 76.56 billion up to 31st January 2017 against Rs 78.24 billion during the corresponding period, thus a drop of 15 percent.

It may be noted that the revenue target set for the period was Rs 90.37 billion. Recovery at the Model Customs Collectorate stood worst where revenue drop reached to 42 percent against 6 percent in Lahore and 5 percent in Faisalabad.

On the count of Customs duty, total collection at all the three dry ports registered a drop of 2 percent up to 31st January 2017 to the tune of RsRs 23.72 billion against a target of Rs 24.11 billion, followed by 22 percent in sales tax to the tune of Rs 44.07 billion against a target of Rs 56.25 billion and 13 percent in withholding tax to the tune of Rs 8.43 billion against a target of Rs 9.71 billion.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017