Birgunj. Finance Minister Rameshwor Prasad Khanal has stressed the need to resolve the shortcomings seen in revenue leakage through necessary cooperation and coordination with the bodies concerned.

Speaking at a meeting of the Revenue Leakage Control Coordination Committee held at the Birgunj Customs Office today, Minister Khanal urged all concerned bodies to carry out activities in coordination to control smuggling. He directed the concerned authorities to control the smuggling of bags from the place where they are being transported instead of catching them on the road.

“I request you to take necessary action by separating between those who bring goods for daily living and those who smuggle goods,” Khanal said. He was of the view that all state bodies should take effective steps to control revenue leakage through coordination and cooperation among themselves.

“All agencies are the same. We are not competitors. Revenue is not only the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance but also of all the state agencies. Therefore, it is necessary to work hand in hand,” Minister Khanal said, adding, “I will direct them to jointly resolve the shortcomings seen in revenue leakage.” ’

Minister Khanal stressed the need for coordination and collaboration among local administration, customs office and all three security mechanisms to prevent illegal smuggling and export. “It is necessary for all the three security agencies to cooperate in information coordination. I urge you to pay attention to that. ’

On the occasion, Finance Minister Khanal said that the border employees and revenue employees should behave politely and civilized in their speech and behavior with the service seekers. He called on all the employees to work according to their sentiments as we are working for the service recipients.

Uttar Kumar Khatri, chief of the Finance Ministry, said that it was the right time to control the smuggling of money. “I request the bodies to execute their works in a right way as there will not be any political pressure and influence to carry out works at present,” he said. ’

Director General of Department of Revenue Investigation Tirtha Raj Chiluwal urged all concerned to take effective steps to control smuggling taking place from the border. Director General of the Department of Customs, Shyam Prasad Bhandari, underscored the need of joint efforts to control revenue leakage.

Similarly, Chief District Officer of Parsa, Bhola Dahal, pledged to take planned steps in coordination with the stakeholders to control revenue leakage.

Chief Customs Administrator of Birgunj Customs Office, Bishnu Prasad Gyawali, said that the revenue collection of Birgunj Customs Office was encouraging. “In the first three months of the current fiscal year, 89 per cent of the target has been collected,” he said, adding that the revenue collection in the first three months of the last fiscal year was 12.34 per cent increment. ’