Pakistan Postal Service exceeds revenue target by 14pc, Senate body told

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Communications met with Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai in the chair here on Monday. The DG Pakistan Post briefed the committee, highlighting that the Pakistan Postal Service exceeded its revenue target by 14 percent this year.

Plans for expanding Nadra Counters, processing and delivering CNICs, and deploying 85 GPOs and 20 high-performing post officers were also discussed.

The committee addressed the urgent matter of a public petition appealing for the conversion of a road project to the National Highways Authority (NHA).

The petitioner emphasized the demand of the people of Balochistan for the road from Digri Shabozai to Taunsa Sharif Road (N-70 to N-55 - Length 175km in Balochistan and 65km in Punjab) to be handed over to the NHA. The petitioner informed the committee that the Balochistan Assembly passed a joint resolution for this transfer, but no action has been taken.

Senator Danesh Kumar expressed concern that despite the project being intended to be funded 60 percent by the federal government and 40 percent by the Balochistan government, only 27 percent of funds were granted by the federal government.

He urged the remaining 73 percent to be granted for project completion and requested a documented progress report. The committee lamented the 6-year delay and the funds granted without progress, questioning accountability.

The committee decided to summon stakeholders, including provincial chief secretaries, the secretary of the Finance Division, Planning Division, and secretary C&W, to resolve the matter. The committee deferred the matter until February 22.

Regarding NHA recruitments, it was reported that the process, halted due to an ECP ban during General Elections, it was briefed that the NHA approved the FPSC as the testing agency for recruitment however, the FPSC showed an inability to conduct test, NHA being autonomous body. It was a perused that other entities like NUST and COMSATS are now being approached for the recruitment process.

The meeting was attended by senators, Danesh Kumar, Umer Farooq, and Muhammad Akram. The secretary communications and other senior officials of the relative departments were also in attendance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024