July 06, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 2, 1429

KARACHI, July 5: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has given franchise licences to more than 100 people for collecting utility bills and certain other payments under its “e-Sahulat” programme.

Speaking at a gathering organised for the purpose, Nadra official Salim Rafiq said that over 2,000 individuals had been given the licences for e-Sahulat since the launching of the programme. He said Nadra expected the number to swell to around 4,000 by the end of the year.

He estimated that utility agencies in the country had a customer base of over 23 million, and said that Nadra had set a target of covering 20 per cent of these customers to use the facility of depositing their utility bills through its franchises.

So far, he said, Nadra franchises had collected over Rs7.3 billion.

The official said that anyone having a telephone connection, a computer and a little investment could get the franchise licence and start earning a reasonable amount to supplement his monthly income by collecting utility bills from people. The per bill commission, he pointed out, had now been increased to Rs5 as against the previous rate of Rs3.

He said that people would find it convenient and hassle-free to deposit their utility bills at the outlets of Nadra franchisees instead of standing in long queues outside bank branches.

Maj (retd) Jehanzeb Arshad and others also spoke.