RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Post has increased charges for its international mail service because of the increase in the delivery service rates of airplanes due to the coronaviruspandemic.

Approval to increase the cost of international mail was given by the Pakistan Postal Services Management Board. The new prices will be in effect across the country from May 2.

The new system has also ended the use of tickets on international mail. Senders will now receive a receipt for money charged by the Pakistan Post for delivery abroad.

The world has been divided into three dozens to determine charges. For Zone A, which consists of China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Japan, Morocco, Afghanistan, India and Korea, mail weighing between one and 50 grams will be charged at Rs200.

For Zone B, which includes the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others, postage will cost Rs270 up to 50 grams and for Zone C, which includes Uganda, Romania and nearby areas, postage has been fixed at Rs280 per 50 grams.

A spokesperson said the Pakistan Post has also introducedslabsfor registered mail from 50 grams to1 kilogramand2kg. Simple mail weighing2kgcould be charged as normal letters, he said.

The ticketing system will not be used for international mail, and instead senders will be given money receipts, he said. He explained that because they would have to attach more tickets to envelopes, people found to difficult to write their recipient’s complete address.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2020