Federal Minister for Postal Services Israrullah Zehri has said that the present democratic government for the first time has allocated a huge allocation of Rs 1.030 billion under Public Sector Development Programme spread over 3 years for Pakistan Post.
Talking to APP, the Minister said that during current financial year, an initial allocation of Rs 125 million has been made to the department. "Pakistan Post (PP) with a network of 12,343 Post Offices across the country is the only government department which is offering services in the remotest areas," he added.
He said that 30,000 regular and 15,000 part-time employee are at the department's strength. "Its delivery standards and performance indicators as monitored by independent international bodies are comparable to any other efficient postal system of a country," he said. Zehri said that PP during the financial year 2008-09 earned revenue of Rs 7.7 billion which is 24 percent higher as compared to previous year revenue of Rs 6.2 billion showing a positive growth in terms of revenue earnings.
He said that the target for the year 2009-10 is Rs 9.3 billion. This indicates a growth in activity and public confidence. "Our government has launched Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). "PP has so far disbursed an amount of Rs 25.7 billion to 2.2 million beneficiaries through 8 million money orders," Zehri said.
He said that PP also disbursed financial assistance under "Punjab Food Support Scheme" and so far Rs 9 billion has been disbursed through over 10 million money orders to 1.3 million beneficiaries. "Express mail track and trace system is available at all 46 District Mail Offices of the Country," he said.
He said that a link has been established between Express Mail Track and Trace System (EMTTS) and International Postal System (IPS) to facilitate the Track and Trace of Inbound and Outbound International Express Mail Service (EMS) articles. Under "Small and Smart" scheme 100 "Small and Smart" Express Centers will be established throughout the country," he said adding that at present, 25 such centers have been established. "This is being managed through the existing establishment", he remarked.
He further said that it has also been decided that Post Offices will be established at Union Council level throughout the country. Under this scheme, over 700 Post Offices at the Union Council level throughout the country will be established. A summery to the government has been submitted in this regard. In order to strengthen the administrative set up and for smooth operation 3 new Postal Circles were established in Hyderabad, Multan and Rawalpindi, he added.
Reorganisation made from the existing establishment. "Our government has announced Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan package and my Ministry has established 49 Post Offices in Balochistan by transferring 120 posts from other circles", he remarked. In order to improve the quality of Postal Services in the country, he said that the following policy initiatives have been taken by the Ministry of Postal Services.
Post Office Department is being transformed into a modern and fully computerised organisation. 116 Post offices have been computerised including 81 GPOs while a project of Rs 486 million for Counter Automation at Pakistan Post has been prepared and submitted to the government for approval by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP).
The existing buildings will be renovated and its outlook shall be appropriately improved through a project titled Reconstruction and Renovation of Post Office building amounting to Rs 545 million which has since been approved by the government and for first phase an allocation of Rs 125 million is being provided.
Modernisation in computerisation in the Post Office makes it competitive with other private couriers operating in the country. He added that Post Offices all over the world are conscious of the delivering mail volumes. As a response diversification, and financial services, which are technology driven are being developed and publicised.