The 135th anniversary of Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialised agency of the United Nations, was celebrated throughout the world on Thursday. It was also celebrated in Pakistan with full zeal and school children visited GPOs. Functions were held at all provincial headquarters, while a special function was arranged at Postal Staff College here.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Federal Communications Secretary Saifullah Khan Sherwani highlighted the role of UPU in regulating, monitoring and development of postal services throughout the world. He assured full support to Pakistan Post in all its efforts for improvement and modernisation of postal services in Pakistan.
Director General of Pakistan Post Mohammad Ahmad Mian said that Pakistan was an active member of the UPU and chairman of many committees. He also highlighted the role of the UPU in development of postal services in Pakistan. He said that so far 810 motorcycles had been distributed among the delivery staff utilising the UPU Quality of Service Fund involving a sum of 860,360 dollars in three phases.
Pakistan Post also received 72,000 dollars from the UPU to replace vehicles in earthquake-hit areas. Similarly, a project for the installation of surveillance system had been approved, costing 203,788 dollars, which was being implemented. Not only this, an internet-based inquiry software had been installed with the help of the UPU, which had reduced inquiry time of foreign express mail from months to hours, he added.