Private sector’s support sought for curbing corruption

KABUL (Pajhwok): Revenue and Custom Affairs Director Gul Maqsud Azizi on Tuesday urged private-sector businesses to help the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in eliminating corruption.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on the tax calculation system, he claimed the government had fought against corruption in the past 13 and achieved many targets.

But he acknowledged custom departments were yet to be purged of corruption — a big challenge. He told businessmen to contact MoF officials in case they were asked for illegal gratification by custom staff.

Azizi said the objectives behind seminar were seeking ways of enhancing government revenue, eliminating corruption and promoting awareness about tax the calculation system. 

Officials said under the new system taxpayers would get forms from the department concerned and mention their tax obligations therein.  The system of tax payment should have been implemented in 2008.

But some businessmen adapted to the system and others offered excuses that they did not know how to follow it. He said the MoF was trying to control corruption by introducing modern revenue collection systems.

Deputy Director of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Khan Jan Alokozai said administrative corruption had badly damaged the government and the state.

“Investors want to benefit the government and people through paying taxes, but state revenue unfortunately end up in corrupt individuals’ pockets,” he regretted.

He demanded the government punish the corrupt and pledged that those who violated the law would never get support from ACCI.

nh/mud

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