ISLAMABAD, June 23: Western Union, a leading money transfer company, has chosen the Pakistan Post for its Club 500 Award 2005-06 for its best performance.

The award was given to the director general Pakistan Post in an impressive ceremony on Saturday. Federal minister for communications Muhammad Shamim Siddiqui, high officials of the postal department and Western Union were present on the occasion.

The Club 500 programme was founded in 2003 and its main purpose is to motivate agents to achieve the highest standards of customer service.

Speaking on the occasion Shamim Siddiqui hoped the award would further encourage the postal department officials to improve their service.

He said that after the Pakistan Post’s joint venture with Western Union, much improvement had come in the money transfer system. The remittances, which would earlier take weeks to reach Pakistan, are now transferred the same day. It will not only facilitate people but also increase foreign exchange reserves of the country, he said.

The minister said that Pakistan Post was the only department, which covers the whole country including the far-flung areas and initiation of such modern facilities would go a long way in transforming the lives of people.

Commenting on the award Jean Claude Farah, regional vice-president for Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan, said that Pakistan Post had been one of the best partners in the money transfer system.

DG Pakistan Post Arshad Khan said the Pakistan Post had been playing an important role not only in transacting money in partnership with Western Union but also contributing to foreign exchange reserves of the country.

He said they had established 1,400 centres from where money could be transferred adding that this would be further expanded.