KABUL - Afghan Finance Ministry has collected Afs 31.5 billion through customs, Afs 21 billion through taxes and Afs 17.5 billion through non-tax revenues in the past six months.
According to the officials, this year’s revenue has amounted to over Afs 70 billion, compared to last year’s Afs 52 billion.
“The hike in revenue is not due to increase in taxes. There are three reasons behind the boost in revenue,” said Ministry’s spokesperson Ajmal Hamid Abdul Rahim.
He listed fight against corruption in the customs, appointment of experts in various departments and establishment of modern and computerized systems as the main reasons behind the increase in revenue.
Meanwhile, Integrity Watch Afghanistan believes  that billions of Afghanis still go to waste in customs department in the capital and in provinces due to endemic corruption.
“The Afghan government has managed to garner more in revenues and has taken necessary measures to reduce corruption. However, more needs to be done to curb corruption in order to collect more revenue through customs and other financial organs,” said Said Akram Afzali, head of Integrity Watch Afghanistan.

It is worthwhile to mention that that the set target for this year’s revenue is Afs 132 billion; however, the current figures from the revenue indicate that the set target will be surpassed by the end of the year.(Agencies)