The Birgunj Customs Office, which handles the largest volume of Nepal's foreign trade, collected Rs 49.92 billion in revenue during the first four months of the current fiscal year. This amount falls significantly short of its target of Rs 70.44 billion for the period, the state-run national news agency RSS reported.

According to RSS, Chief Customs Administrator Dipak Lamichhane attributed the shortfall to an increased number of public holidays in the months of Asoj (mid-September to mid-November) and Kartik (mid-October to mid-November).

The office reported that 70% of its revenue comes from petroleum products, industrial raw materials, and vehicles. Monthly revenue collections stood at Rs 12.16 billion in Shrawn (mid-July to mid-August), Rs 13.23 billion in Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), Rs 13.47 billion in Asoj (mid-September to mid-November), and Rs 11.4 billion in Kartik (mid-October to mid-November).

The Birgunj Customs Office had collected Rs 49.18 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal year.