April 13: The government's crackdown on the import of vehicles is affecting revenue collection of Birgunj customs. Birgunj customs has not recorded a single import of vehicle since the past one week.

About 1,000 new vehicles are parked at the customs’ yard and Raxaul. However, no importer has obtained vehicle clearance pass in a week, informed Harihar Poudel, chief customs officer of the Birgunj customs office.

Birgunj is the main entry point of vehicles. Customs officials said that the customs clearance of vehicles has been stopped due to the tight provision imposed by Nepal Rastra Bank in importing luxury items amid liquidity crisis in the banking system.

Even the vehicles that have arrived at the customs yard aren't inspected. Banks have stopped giving loans for cars. The importers have parked their imported vehicles in the customs yard and the warehouse of Raxaul, a border town of India.

The government has tightened imports of luxury goods as remittances have declined while imports were rising. Stating that there is pressure on foreign exchange reserves, the government has adopted a policy to reduce imports.

Banks have stopped issuing LCs even for other items. Entrepreneur Rajesh Kyal says this has created confusion in conducting business.

Chief Customs Officer Poudel informed that the import of non-luxury items from Birgunj has also decreased significantly. Along with the decline in imports, the revenue of Birgunj customs has also been affected. Poudel said that the revenue target for the current fiscal year 2078/79 will not be met.