KARACHI, Nov 27: The Pakistan Post Office has already earned 15 per cent additional revenue through Eid mail.
Official sources told Dawn that while the Eid- related postal activities would continue for another few days, mail bound for foreign countries was already on its way. “It is through mail for foreign countries that the PPO earns most of its revenue. We continue to distribute mail countrywide till a few days before Eid.”
The postmaster general of Sindh, Mohammad Ahmed Mian, confirmed that the Eid-related mail earned the PPO an additional 15 per cent revenue. He added that the postal department had made special arrangements at all the post offices and district mail offices. “A large number of postage stamps and stationery have been supplied to all the six GPOs in the PPO Sindh circle. Additional counters have been set up since 15th of Ramazan.”
When asked whether the Oct 16 explosions employing parcel bombs had adversely affected the business of the PPO or not, Mr Mian said that on the contrary the postal department’s revenue had gone up. “We have had meetings with the high-ranking officials of the police force who told us that while it would be difficult for them to depute policemen at all the post offices in the circle, they would make it binding on the police mobiles to visit at least 55 post offices every day, especially during the peak hours.”
He said the PPO had decided that from then on all parcels and letters would be opened at the counters of the booking offices. “We have issued instructions to all the post offices that no letters and parcels will be accepted unless the senders open the articles on the counters. The articles will be afterwards repacked and retaped. The postal authorities realize that this process will be both cumbersome and time-consuming but it is being employed to facilitate both the senders and the receivers of the mail,” he explained.
PPO sources, however, pointed out that since local booking offices were in hundreds in the entire southern circle, safety devices could not be installed at all the post offices.
The PMG said that the police officials also promised to train the PPO staff how to keep a watchful eye on terrorists. “Because we need the most strength at this time of the year, PPO officials will start their training after Eid.”
He said metal detectors had been installed at all the important GPOs and post offices. “Similarly, a scanning machine has been installed at the foreign post office which checks all the mail coming in and going out of the country. The machine has been provided by the Universal Postal Union and officials have been trained to operate it.”
