KARACHI, March 21: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad has said that all utility forms including FIR and driving licences forms should be available at the post offices to facilitate the people.

During his visit to the General Post Office located at I.I. Chundrigar Road, he said that post offices would be fully computerized in June and July so that they could provide better facilities to the citizens and work on modern lines.

He was told that the process of making payment of pension and transaction process had been computerized and Karachi GPO would be fully computerized during the current month.

He said that federal government and Sindh government were focussing on post offices to provide better facilities to the masses throughout the country. In this regard, he said that they had restructured the network of post offices to bring innovative ideas on modern pattern.

The governor said that post offices were going into deficit in the past owing to government negligence but the present government was taking exemplary measures regarding procedures and management of post offices, and the measures had bore fruit as post offices were now running in profit.

Ishratul Ibad said Sindh government would provide all assistance to get freed the residential houses of postal department from the enchroachers.

He was informed that more than 12,000 post offices were working in the country, while 1,750 post offices were catering the needs of people in Sindh. He was told that post offices with the assistance of its agency function were also collecting electricity, gas and telephone utility bills.

He was informed that 40 new post offices had been set up in 2004-05 while 60 more new offices would be established this year. Besides, the postal department is also expanding its fax network to provide better facilities in this field to its customers, as about 500 post offices would be computerized, and 100 more post offices would be set up in Karachi and the interior of Sindh.

About provision of different services from post offices, he said that they were renewing not only driving and arms license but also running different schemes of saving deposit, besides paying pension to civil and armed forces employees. He added that distribution of Baitul Maal among deserving people was also underway with the help of post offices.

The governor said that postal department in collaboration with Khushali Bank, in the field of micro financing would provide small loans to rural people. He said it was providing loan facilities on easy terms to provide residential facilities to its low-income employees. He said that the government was also taking steps to provide its employees with health and housing facilities.

The chairman of Pakistan Postal Services Management Board, Maj (retd) Aga Hasan, said that a cheaper courier service would be introduced soon, which would be facilitated with track and trace system.

EXPRESSWAY: A high-level meeting, chaired by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, approved in principle the construction of a new expressway from Hino Chowrangi to the National Highway here on Monday.

The meeting, held at the Governor’s House, reviewed the ongoing road projects and the future needs of the city. The meeting was informed that after construction of the expressway, 25 per cent traffic load on Sharea Faisal could be diverted to this road and residents of Defence, Clifton, Qayoomabad and surrounding areas would reach the airport and the National Highway in less time.

DCO Fazlur Rehman told the meeting that talks were being held with the department concerned to begin work on pending project of an alternate road from the Toll Plaza Super Highway to the airport.

The governor told the meeting that the Civil Aviation Authority would help in constructing an underpass near the FTC flyover. — PPI