RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Postal Service has been facing a Rs12.5 billion annual deficit and the government is struggling with stabilising the department’s financial position by introducing new services including e-commerce, mobile money order and logistic facilities in the country.

“We are working hard for putting the house in order and to earn double the amount of the deficit,” said Federal Minister for Postal Services Murad Saeed at a ceremony held at the General Post Office (GPO) Saddar, on Friday.

The event was organised by the Post Master General (PMG) Northern Punjab Circle Hafiz Zafar Ali Malik to introduce officers and field staff to the minister.

Minister vows to make the enterprise highest revenue generating govt organisation in a year

Employees of the GPO, PMG Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan also attended the event.

Mr Saeed said the department has incurred huge losses and the deficit for the last five years has been recorded at Rs52 billion. He said the government is planning to computerise postal services so it can provide faster services.

He said there are no plans currently for privatising the organisation and that the government is working on improving the financial condition of Pakistan Post.

“People will see the difference within three months,” he said.

“Pakistan Post is heading towards e-commerce, rebranding, mobile money order and enhanced logistic facilities via a network of 12,000 post offices across the country,” he said.

The minister said Pakistan Post has a market of Rs80 billion and it can capitalise on its market share with enhanced services and attractive packages.

“We have 40,000 officials and field staff who can bring about a positive change,” he said.

The minister urged Pakistan Post employees to conduct their duties with dedication to overcome the deficit and to make their organisation a profitable one.

“I have set the target of a year to make Pakistan Post the organisation that generates the most revenue in the country,” he said.

He expressed concern over the dilapidated condition of post offices across the country and said he will replace all the missing facilities in the outlets.

Hardworking employees will be awarded and those who are negligent will be taken action against, he said.

The minister added that he has been meeting with the private sector to bring about a change and that Pakistan Post will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Bank of Pakistan to improve services for overseas Pakistanis and get a share of the remittances.

The government will also put a stop to the illegal transfer or money such as hawala and hundi, he said,

The minister urged the media and public to help Pakistan Post recover.

Asked about the allotment of contracts for utility bills and driving licenses to two private courier services during the PPP government, he said: “I will definitely take action and cancel all such costly contracts”.

The Pakistan Post Employees Union presented eight demands including the promotion of employees, addressing the shortage of staff, a weekly off on the weekend such as in other departments of the federal government, the restoration of bonuses and honorariums and the improvement of the service structure.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018