RASC: With the warming of the weather, the work of the ice factories in Kunduz has become more prosperous, but the increase in taxes has bent their backs.
A number of owners of ice production factories state with concern, although in the last two months and with the warming of the weather, the demand of people to buy ice has increased and our work has also prospered. However, the Kunduz economy department, Municipality, Industry and Trade have given various titles to demand money from us for the name of the work permit.
The officials of these factories say that the Department of Industry and Trade wants a business license from us, the tax compliance is too high, the municipality gives the license to operate, and when you measure all this with the electricity consumption, there is, nothing left for us.
At present, the heat degree of Kunduz has reached 45, a block of ice in the markets of the city has reached 120 to 140 rupees, and there is no demand.
Shafiqullah, the ice seller, says that we used to buy each ice log for 40 to 50 Kabuli/Afghani rupees from ice factories, but since the tax on ice factories has increased, we buy an ice log for up to 100 Kabuli/Afghani rupees and sell it to people in retail form. We sell for 140 rupees.
He says that I used to sell ice in the former republican regime; there was corruption in the government, but not to this extent.
Similarly, Qand Agha, other ice retailers, talk about corruption in the ruling apparatus.
He says that the members of the Taliban group, in the name of the so-and-so administration board, obstruct the work of foreign workers under various titles, but when we give them money, they let us go.
According to the provided statistics, daily more than 22 thousand ice logs are produced and marketed in 24 ice factories in Kunduz.
Seyed Masoud, the owner of an ice factory in Kunduz, says that their business has improved this day and night, and with the warming of the weather, producing ice makes good money, but our costs are extremely high.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Ahmad Gul Hamed head of Kunduz economy department talks about providing better investment to businesspersons and investors.
He said that they are trying to address the demands of the owners of the ice factories in Kunduz, in agreement with the central authorities.
Economy department of Kunduz did not say anything about the increase in taxes on merchants, but he stated that taxes are the right of every citizen and he should pay them, because these amounts are deposited into the government treasury.
