The Bill Machine Project, yet another initiative of the government to facilitate the public for making hassle-free payment of their utility bills, is to be launched very soon in Lahore.
This was stated by Public Service Division Director-General Brigadier Mirza Babar Aziz Beg while briefing the newsmen here on Saturday on current public services projects introduced by Nadra.
The automated kiosks (bill machines) developed by Nadra not only will have the capability of providing an electronically secure authenticated scratch card collection on a round-the-clock and throughout the week (24x7) basis, but will also be providing a congenial and helpful environment to utility companies consumers. This system will be backed by a strong customer care support through on site supervisors and Nadra Call Center nation-wide, he added.
He said in the first phase, bill machines will be set up at Nadra Swift Registration Centers (NSRCs) and utility companies' service centers, while later the same would be installed at locations within population density areas providing an easy access to public.
The project has been designed against pre-defined international parameters with flexibility to provide access and operability control to the user. This would also ensure personalised security settings for transaction as per user requirement.
He said that Nadra has planned to install around 500 bill machine units within 12 months and has already installed 41, including 35 in Karachi and 6 in Islamabad. By June 2006, 241 bill machines will be installed throughout the country, including 70 in Karachi, 45 in Lahore, 46 in Islamabad, 25 in Multan, 25 in Sargodha, 10 in Sukkur, 10 in Quetta, and 15 in Peshawar.
Nadra plans to install these machines up to tehsil level and by December 2006 the number of bill machines will be increased to 500, he stated.
According to the DG Public Service Division, till now Nadra has entered into agreement with the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). Besides utility companies, Nadra has also entered into agreement with telecom companies like Ufone, Instaphone (Pakcom), Paktel and DV Com.
"We are also in final stages of signing a contract with World Call," he said, adding Nadra is also in the process of discussing the contracts with remaining Wapda companies.
He said there was a crucial need to provide automated time efficient systems that invoke customer loyalty. Utility companies will be providing a value-added service to their customers through a state-of-the-art mode nation-wide, supporting their image of an organisation that supports new technology, consequently, leading to a positive image and increased goodwill in the market.
The concept of bill payment system has been developed, keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the masses and Nadra has tried to provide maximum ease to the general public.
He claimed this is the first time in Pakistan that arrangements have been made to pay utility bills through computerised system in cash. There has been an overall increase of 652 percent in the trend of bill payments through the bill machines during February as compared to December 2005. (last two months).
According to him, this increasing trend in using this facility shows the trust bestowed by the public in this user-friendly modern system which has been designed as per the ISO-8583 standards.
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