Expressing serious concern over the increasing terrorist activities, including dispatch of contraband and other anti-state material, the Interior Ministry has asked the Postal Services Ministry for taking necessary measures to check such activities. National Assembly Standing Committee on Communication that met with Sufyan Yusuf in the chair here on Thursday, examined "Establishment of Pakistan Private Courier Services Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Bill" moved by Belum Hasnain, MNA. The bill seeks to provide an institutional mechanism regulating courier sector.
Briefing the parliamentary panel Belum Hasnain said the need for such Bill has been felt in the wake of increasing terrorist activities which would help keep check on dispatch of anti-state materials through various courier services. The Interior Ministry has expressed concern through a letter to the Postal Services Ministry, asking it to take necessary measures to check such activities. She said currently private courier services are operating sans regulatory framework. The law would provide an institutional mechanism for regulating the courier industry. Similarly the government is also considering legislation to regulate sale and purchase of explosives, including acid. The communication ministry officials apprised that the government has also acknowledged the importance of such mechanism and a comprehensive Law in this regard has been drafted which will be placed before the Committee for further consideration.
The parliamentary panel supported the establishment of the regulatory body, however officials of the Postal Services declined to support it and proposed that Ministry of Communication may be enabled through the distribution of work/rules of business to regulate the private courier companies in the absence of a private Courier Companies Regulatory Authority Act with a proposed amendment to the relevant section of PPSMB ordinance. On declaring the Ministry of Communication as regulator it would ensure regulation of courier market, prescribe financial, physical and operational criterion to operate the business, define, establish and monitor enforcement of service standards. Later it was decided that both the Bills will simultaneously be considered resulting in a better legislation on the subject in next meeting.
The committee expressed reservations on the delay in investigation and taking legal action against those officers who were involved in the fraud cases of Pakistan Post. Pakistan Post officials revealed that 530 cases of fraud, irregularities, and embezzlement etc to the tune of Rs 559 million have been unearthed during last five years (2009-14). Around Rs 107 million has so far been recovered while 219 officials were dismissed, 75 removed, 56 sent on retirement while in 169 cases pay was reduced. The committee recommended to the Pakistan Post to fix minimum time (SOPs) to inquire into the fraud cases at departmental level. The Pakistan Post officials further said that 12,000 post offices would be computerized in two phases during 6 years to block the means of fraud in the department. A PC-1 worth Rs 7.4 billion has been submitted to the Ministry of Communication and finalisation it would be submitted to the Planning Commission.
The committee chairman expressed reservations over reports that post officials took Rs 500 per form of BISP. The DG Pakistan Postal Services assured the committee that stern action would be taken against persons involved in such heinous crime.
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