Kathmandu : Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has stressed on the need to make the customs administration simple and people-oriented.

While inspecting and briefing the customs department on Thursday, Minister Sharma said, “Satisfaction of service recipients is important. Pay attention to it and work to the best of your ability with honesty and transparency.”

Minister Sharma directed the Ministry of Finance and related bodies to work diligently to transform the consumerist economy into a productive economy as it would play an important role in policy making.

He said that the basic level people should also be able to use the discount facility provided by the government.

He said he had heard complaints from foreign returnees that they were suffering at the airport customs.

He also inquired about the possibility of exempting customs duty on domestic goods brought by Nepalis returning from foreign employment.

He stressed on the need to use international treaties to one’s advantage as the trade sector is the lifeline of the country.

Chairman of the Revenue Advisory Committee Mahesh Dahal and member Nirmala Hari Adhikari said that the agriculture sector, which contributes 25 percent to the GDP, could not come under the purview of revenue. He argued that it could not happen.

Similarly, Rs 48 billion in revenue arrears, Rs 58 billion in arrears due to pending cases in the courts, Rs 12 billion in value added tax arrears and Rs 55 billion in arrears.

Director General of the Customs Department Yamlal Bhushal and Deputy Director General Shyam Prasad Bhandari said that although there are 27 customs offices in the southern border and nine customs offices in the northern border area, only eight customs offices have 96 percent share of the customs.

The highest collection is 35 percent from Birgunj Customs Office, 25 percent from Bhairahawa, 10 percent from Dry Customs, 9 percent from Biratnagar Customs, 2 percent from Kailali and 1 percent from Krishnanagar Customs Office.

Customs accounts for 45 percent of the country’s total revenue.