By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 27: An electronic payment (e-payment) system of customs duty has come into operation.
Finance Minister Janardan Sharma launched the electronic payment (e-payment) system of customs duty on the occasion of the 70th International Customs Day on Wednesday.
With the introduction of the e-payment system, entrepreneurs are now able to pay customs duty online.

Minister Sharma expressed his confidence that the e-payment system would make it easier to pass customs checks by staying at home and facilitate revenue collection.
"A 'new era' has begun with the launching of the e-payment system in customs. It will serve as an important tool for business facilitation, customer service and time saving," he said, adding that the system would also help improve the work of customs staff.

He said that 'Vehicle Scanner' will be used at the customs point at the earliest as the work of bringing the vehicle scanner has reached the final stage.
Minister Sharma said that the vehicle scanner would be used not only for checking the goods but also for national security. "We start the e-payment system. We will soon be launching scanners at major customs offices. It will be an important tool for national security, not just to determine what goods have arrived in the customs," he said.

He said that the scanner would be important for monitoring the items that may pose a threat to the security of Nepal and the neighbouring countries.
He also said that quarantine and laboratories of international standard would be set up at the customs points as demanded by the private sector.
He assured that the government would continue cooperating with the private sector and take suggestions from them as a guideline in policy formulation.

FM Sharma said that the recent growth in international inflation has put some pressure on foreign exchange reserves, adding that the economy had not reached the collapsing stage.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the propaganda made by some to intimidate the private sector and the general public, he said that the government would dismiss such illusions from the results.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini stressed the need for efficient manpower and continuous practice and training for the proper operation of technology.

He said that the private sector, which contributes 70 per cent to the economy, would benefit more from the customs reform.
Marasini said that the cooperation of the private sector was a must for the reform of customs.
On behalf of the private sector, President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Vishnu Agrawal demanded that the customs valuation should be improved.

He added that the economy was being affected due to a lack of proper pricing as valuation is being done from the traditional system. That is a reason for the new generation being discouraged to take a career in business, he said.