February 11: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat on Sunday visited the Mechi Customs Office, Kakarvita, Bhadrapur Customs Office and the Inland Revenue Office, Bhadrapur in Jhapa.

The Minister, who was here to attend an inaugural session of the 15-day fifth Damak Festival organised by the Damak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inspected the offices and held interactions with the local business communities.

Talking to media following the inspection, the Minister instructed the customs offices to focus on meeting the monthly revenue targets.The Minister also insisted on combined efforts among the customs offices, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the Revenue Office to control cross-border smuggling of goods.

"The nation's income will reduce if the revenue collection decreases and a fall in the revenue collection will hamper the government's investment in education, health and other public service sectors," Mahat said.

 At the programme held at the Mechi Customs Office, the Minister said the significance of the office will further increase with the expansion of the Asian Highway.

 Office's customs officer, Ram Prasad Regmi, apprised the Minister about a declining trend of revenue collection. Regmi added that revenue collection from the customs office was on the decline the government as not according priority to the office.

During the minister's visit to Bhadrapur Customs Office, Bhadrapur municipality mayor Ganesh Pokhrel and the business community urged the Minister to improve physical infrastructure of the customs office. (RSS)