KARACHI, Oct 14: The Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) raised Rs31,373 million during the first quarter (July-Sept) of 2008-09, showing an increase of 36 per cent over the corresponding period last year when collection stood at Rs23,062 million.

According to official figures released here on Tuesday there had been 35 per cent increase in value of imports during July-Sept at Rs171,506 million from Rs127,298 million in the same period last year.

Customs duty collection up by 40 per cent at Rs12,845 million as against Rs9,155 million recorded in the same period last year.

The collection of sales tax at customs stage on imported goods surged by 34 per cent at Rs13,837 million during the period under review compared to Rs10,308 million collected same period last year.

The advance tax collection rose 14 per cent at Rs2,869 million in the July-Sept as against Rs2,511 million in the same period last year.

A robust increase of 40 per cent in collection of central excise duty was recorded at Rs353 million over the corresponding period of last year.

The collection of other levies at customs stage improved by 76 per cent at Rs1,469 million as against Rs835 million the same period last year.

The MCC collected Rs1,384 million on account of detections during the first quarter as against Rs883 million over the corresponding period, showing a rise of 57 per cent.

The MCC had been on a drive to check leakages and mis-declarations which helped to improve revenue collection. The authorities in the past blocked 1,270 computer IDs and passwords which were being fraudulently used for clearance of goods.

In yet another move the MCC have issued notices to 3,700 such IDs and passwords holders and on getting not proper reply would also block them which further help to save leakages and mis-declarations.

It has come into the notice of customs authorities that on large scale NTN are being issued and are being mis-used for clearance goods. Similarly there are instances that sales tax registration numbers are also easily available for such fraudulent operations. In many case NTN and sales tax registration numbers do not tally.

Another positive measure taken by the MCC is the grouping of import goods into four sectors. This has once again developed expertise in checking and evaluation of different goods which are even of technical nature.