January 26: Rasuwa customs office has collected revenue of Rs 4.33 billion although the exports have been nil. The revenue was collected from the customs valuation of Chinese goods imported from Rasuwagadhi checkpoint from mid-July to mid-December of the current fiscal year.

According to Chief Customs Officer Ram Prasad Mainali, Rs  4,33,45,09,000 has been collected within the span of six months. Since the onset of the Covid-19 infection, the Chinese party has been delivering only nine containers of goods to the Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi on a daily basis.

The revenue was collected from traders, businessmen and private companies. However, the export to China remains zero.

Nevertheless, the revenue collection has increased by almost two and a half times compared to the last year. During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, revenue worth Rs 1.72 billion was collected by the customs office.

According to the customs office, a wide range of small and big products are imported via the Rasuwa customs point. Some of the imported products include vehicles, hydropower equipment, apples, walnut, ready-made garments, footwear, children's toys, fabric rolls, electrical goods etc.

The customs office has set a target to collect Rs 6.81 billion revenue from customs duty this year.

The increase in revenue is a direct impact of an increase in import of vehicles. The customs office informed that more than 1,000 vehicles including cranes, tippers, ambulances, microbuses, minibuses, jeeps and cars have been imported since last year.

Only quarantined workers have been deployed at the Friendship Bridge with the purpose of controlling the Covid-19 infection. The office also informed that only the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and customs officials are allowed to enter the place alongside the drivers and workers wearing PPE.