UNDP experts being hired to improve postal service
KARACHI, Dec 13: Federal Communication Minister Shamim Ahmed Siddiqui has said that consultants are being hired from the UNDP on the directive of the federal government to help meet WTO challenges in postal sector.
Addressing a news conference at General Post Office Complex building on Monday, the minister said that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in November last had given a clear directive as well as targets and goals to restructure the postal services in the country to meet the international standards.
He pointed out that a meeting had already been held with UNDP officials and they had been informed about the requirements in this respect. UNDP officials would give a final briefing to the communication ministry in March 2005 about their proposals with regard to postal services.
He informed that all the requirements in this respect would be finalized by March 31, 2005. Terms of reference would also be signed with them, he added. The minister said that the government wanted to bring about the required improvements in the postal services so that public confidence could be restored. Other goals in this regard included curtailment in delivery time.
Shamim Siddiqui said that a 'track and trace system' had also been introduced whereby one could ascertain that status of the urgent mail service by making a telephone call.
It could also be known as to when it had been delivered and to whom. He believed that it would not be fair to compare the postal services with the private courier services.
His argument in this respect was that the courier services target those areas, which were profitable and that their rates were also on higher side. He said that the postal service had to cater all those remote areas where business was not that profitable.
The minister said, "There are some limitations with the postal service as we cannot determine the charges for the delivery charges and stamps at our own and would have to seek approval of the finance ministry."
He said that there was no match between the private courier service and the postal service, which was in fact service-oriented. He pointed out that changes had also been introduced in the delivery of money order and at present this was being done through fax which had proved very successful. This way, he added, the money order was delivered either the same day or the next day.
He was of the view that the commission of delivery of money order through fax or the transfer of money by banks was almost the same but, according to him, the plus point with the postal service on this count was that the money was delivered at the doorsteps of the one whom the money order was being sent.
An official said that a service had also been introduced whereby arrangements had been made for tax-free delivery of parcels from Dubai. This would facilitate Pakistani workers in Dubai, who send parcels to their near and dear ones in Pakistan.
The minister pointed out that the stamps and postal rates in Pakistan were less than any other countries, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, in the entire region.
He pointed out that there was a proposal to enhance the rate of envelopes from Rs4 to Rs5. A summary in this respect has also been sent to the finance ministry for necessary approval, he added. -APP
