KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 11

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat visited the Mechi Customs Office, Kakarvita, the Bhadrapur Customs Office, and the Inland Revenue Office in Bhadrapur, Jhapa today.

The Minister, who was present to attend the inaugural session of the 15-day fifth Damak Festival organized by the Damak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inspected the offices and engaged in discussions with local business communities.

Speaking to the media following the inspection, the Minister instructed the customs offices to prioritize meeting their monthly revenue targets. He also stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among the customs offices, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and the Revenue Office to control cross-border smuggling of goods.

He emphasized that the nation's income relies on the magnitude of revenue collection. 'A decrease in revenue collection will reduce the nation's income, hampering government investment in education, health, and other public service sectors,' he stated, urging everyone to contribute to preventing revenue leakage.

During the program at the Mechi Customs Office, the Minister remarked that the office's significance would further increase with the expansion of the Asian Highway.

The office's customs officer, Ram Prasad Regmi, briefed the Minister on the declining trend of revenue collection. He noted that although the Kakarvitta point serves as one of the major transits along the Nepal-India border, it is not a government priority.

During the Minister's visit to the Bhadrapur Customs Office, Bhadrapur municipality Mayor Ganesh Pokhrel and the business community urged the Minister to focus on improving the office's physical infrastructure and to allocate a budget to compensate those whose land was acquired for official use.