Pakistan Post

Pakistan Post (Urdu: پاکستان ڈاک‎), is a state enterprise which functions as Pakistan's primary and largest postal operator.[1] 44,000 employees through a vehicle fleet of 5000 operate traditional "to the door" service from more than 13,000 post offices across the country, servicing over 50 million people. Pakistan Post operates under the autonomous "Postal Services Management Board" to deliver a full range of delivery, logistics and fulfillment services to customers. In addition to its traditional role, Pakistan Post also offers services such as Postal Life Insurance and Pakistan Post Savings Bank. It also operates services on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, by acting as a collection point for tax and utility bills.[2]

Pakistan Post
Native name
پاکستان ڈاک
Formerly
Department of Post & Telegraph
State-owned enterprise
IndustryPostal Service, Courier
Founded14 August 1947
HeadquartersAiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat G-8/4 Islamabad,
Capital Territory,
Pakistan 44000
Key people
Murad Saeed (Federal Minister for Postal Services), Muhammad Akhlaque Rana (Chairman & DG)
ProductsCourier express services
Freight forwarding services
Logistics services
Revenue ₨14.77 billion (US$89 million) (FY 2018-19)
Number of employees
44,000
Websitepakpost.gov.pk

History
Main article: Postage stamps and postal history of Pakistan
1850s Scinde Dawk stamp
Scinde Half Anna

Middle ages

During the Mughul Empire and Samma dynasty, an early postal system developed along the banks of the Indus River in Sind beginning in the 13th century. The system consisted of runners or "dak" (ڈاک) who would carry letters from one point to another and then hand it off to the next runner who would do the same.[3] Runners were paid according to distance traveled and weight of the letters. The system extended from Thatta in the south, through Kotri and Hyderabad and as far north as Sukkur. The system later expanded into lower Punjab (Multan and Bahawalpur). Letters could be exchanged by over two dozen runners before they reached their destination.

British period (1843-1947)

In February 1843, following the Battle of Miani, Sind fell to the British followed by Punjab in 1845. Sir Bartle Frere became the Chief Commissioner of Sindh in 1850 and improved upon the postal system by introducing a cheap and standard rate for postage, independent of distance traveled.[4] In 1851, runners were replaced with horses and camels which proved to be beneficial as it quickly and efficiently transported mail, connecting government offices and post offices. In 1855, the Scinde Railway began taking over most mail routes however camels and horses were still used in regions where the railway had not yet reached. By 1886, the North Western State Railway was responsible for transporting most mail up and down the country. The postal system by now had been expanded from Karachi in the south to as far north as Gilgit.

Post-Independence period (1947-present)

Pakistan Post was established following its independence from Britain under the modified Post Office Act VI, 1898[5] and became operation on 14 August 1947. Pakistan Post fell under the Department of Posts and Telegraph in the Ministry of Communications. The Office of the Postmaster General was established in Lahore.[5] In November 1947, Pakistan joined the Universal Postal Union as its 89th member.[6] In 1948, Pakistan Post issued its first postage stamps, a set of four stamps commemorating the country's independence. In 1959, an "All-up-Airmail" scheme was introduced by which all letters were airlifted between stations on an air network. Sikorsky helicopters of Pakistan International Airlines were used to deliver mail within East Pakistan.[7] In July 1962, the government bifurcated the old department[8] and independently placed Pakistan Post under the Ministry of Communications. In January 1987, "Urgent Mail Service" was introduced in the country[9] and in April 1987, "Local Packet & Parcel Service" was introduced.[9] On 1 January 1988, five-digit postal codes were introduced nationwide.[9] Between 1 August 1992 to 6 July 1996, the post office was separated from the Ministry of Communications and was made an independent corporation.[10] From 1 December 1992, a new "Overseas Postal Circle" with its headquarters in Islamabad was launched, to streamline foreign mail. Prior to the Islamabad facility, all international mail was received and sent through Karachi. Between 2006 and 2007, mail was sent using 19 domestic airports including Chitral, Karachi, Lahore, Moenjodaro, Multan and Skardu.[11] During the same period, four international airports were also used: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.[11] In 2007, the Pakistan Post embarked on a new vision which included a logo change. On 3 November 2008, the department was placed under the postal division of the newly created Ministry of Postal Services.[12] Senator Israr Ullah Zehri was appointed its first minister.

Services

Pakistan Post is not merely confined to a number of postal services. Its areas of activities span on larger scale. The national character, strong brand recognition and a wide network of post offices bestows a unique position to the Pakistan Post in playing a vital role in the economic and social development of Pakistan. It serves as the principal agency for the government in implementing key policies. Pakistan Post is providing a variety of services on behalf of many federal and provincial government departments. In December 2018, Federal Minister for Communication and Postal Services Murad Saeed launched the Pakistan Post Mobile Application.[13]

Postal services

The following are postal services offered within the country.

  1. Letter Mail (ordinary and registered)
  2. Parcel Post (Inland and International)
  3. Certificate of Posting
  4. Post Boxes

Special Services[14]

The following are special services with their date of commencement given in brackets. Not all services are provided in every post office.

  1. Air Express (Airex) (2 August 1986)
  2. Fax Mail Service (FM) (1 August 1988)
  3. Fax Money Order (FMO) (15 August 1988)[15]
  4. International Speed Post (ISP) (1 September 1986)
  5. Local Express Delivery (LES) (22 April 1987)
  6. Postal Draft Service (15 November 1987)
  7. Postal Giro Service (15 March 1988)
  8. Saving Bank Mobile Account (12 January 1988)
  9. Urgent Mail Service (UMS) (1 January 1987)
  10. Urgent Money Order Service (UMO)15 April 1988
  11. EMO (Electronic Money Order Service).[15]
  12. Pakistan Post starts collecting utility bills from home (June 2007)[16]

Federal services
  1. Payment to Benazir Income Support Programme Beneficiaries
  2. Collection of taxes: income and withholding (on NSS profit payment)
  3. Collection of Customs Duty and Sales Tax (on foreign postal articles)
  4. Delivery of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC)
  5. Disbursement of welfare/financial assistance
  6. Food Support Programme
  7. Payment to Pakistan Armed Forces Pensioners
  8. Sale of Highway and Motorway Safety books

Government owned businesses
  1. Cash Management services for Khushali Bank
  2. Collection of utility bills including electricity: WAPDA and KESC; natural gas: Sui Southern Gas Company; and telephone: PTCL[16]
  3. Delivery of NTN Certificates
  4. Payment to Capital Development Authority (CDA) Pensioners
  5. Payment to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) Pensioners
  6. Sale of PTCL phonecards
  7. Sale of Agricultural Loan Pass Books
  8. Sale of Postal Life Insurance

Provincial services
  1. Renewal of Arms Licences
  2. Renewal of Driving Licences
  3. Sale of Route Permit Fee stamps
  4. Sale of Motor Vehicle Fitness stamps
  5. Motor Vehicle Tax Collection

Private enterprise

The following are services provided in partnership with private enterprise.

  • With BISP: Payment to over 2.2 million beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Program (at GPOs and Post Offices throughout Pakistan)
  • With The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd – Pakistan (FMFB-P): microfinance services through post offices.[17]
  • Cash Management and Courier Services for Citibank

Training

In 1987, the post office established a Postal Staff College in Islamabad to provide training to its employees in various fields. Over the years it has also imparted training to employees of 57 other postal services including Albania, Cambodia, Fiji, Kenya, Maldives, Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia.[18] It also has 5 regional training centres at Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Nowshera and Quetta.

On 26 October 2015, in an interview to the media, "A Pakistan Post official told the media that a new, comprehensive plan to revitalize the department had been chalked out, including staff training, electronic money transfer and tracking facilities etc. The aim is to bring the entity up to international standards of customer satisfaction."[19]

On 15 October 2013, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) of 10 member nations from Asia and Europe, in its 20th meeting at Baku, Azerbaijan decided to establish the "ECO Postal Staff College" at Islamabad, Pakistan to help train postal services staff for the 10 member nations.[20] The 10 member nations were Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.[20]

In 2016, "Pakistan has been re-elected to the Council of Administration (CA) in the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the main decision-making body of the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the development and cooperation of International Postal Service."[21]

Post offices

Post offices in Pakistan by Fiscal Year (July to June):[22]

Fiscal YearUrbanRuralTotal
1990–19911,86711,54613,413
1991–19921,90911,47113,380
1992–19931,98311,21313,196
1993–19941,97011,31513,285
1994–19952,02611,29413,320
1995–19962,09211,32713,419
1996–19972,02411,19213,216
1997–19982,04411,25013,294
1998–19992,10310,75112,854
1999–20002,10310,75112,854
2000–20012,3029,93212,267
2001–20021,98310,28412,267
2002–20031,80810,44612,254
2003–20042,2679,84012,107
2004–20051,83110,49912,330
2005–20061,84510,49412,339
2006–20071,84510,49412,339[16]

Revenue

This is a chart of trend of incomes of Pakistan Post from diversified public services such as post, parcel, banking, insurance, with figures in millions of Pakistani Rupees.

YearRevenue (in millions ₨)Profit/(Loss)
194710(4)
195032(3)
195540(3)
1960656
1965981
197091(12)
1975197(28)
1980361(69)
1985630(151)
19901,214(176)
19952,045(471)
20003,281270
20054,83020
20178,000-
201814,000-
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See also

References
  1. "Pakistan Post Office Department". Pakpost.gov.pk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  2. "Pakistan Post Office Department - About us". Pakpost.gov.pk. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  3. George Burrow, "The Stamps of the Scinde District Dawk", American Journal of Philately, National Philatelical Society of New York, Staten Island Philatelic Society, and the Brooklyn Philatelic Club, vol. 3 (1890), pp. 383-6; at p. 384.
  4. Encyclopædia Britannica, New American Supplement, XXVII, p. 39 (1907)
  5. 50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 155
  6. 50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pgs 155
  7. Karapex '87 Stamp Exhibition souvenir. Organised by Pakistan Philatelic Society, Karachi pg 11.
  8. 50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 156
  9. 50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 157
  10. 50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pgs 157–158
  11. Major Traffic Flow by Airports during 2006–07 Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
  12. Year-Book-2007-08 (PDF). Islamabad: Government of Pakistan, Privatisation Division. May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  13. "Pakistan Post launches new mobile app in major revamp efforts". The Express Tribune.
  14. Ahmed, Sultan "A Critical Look at the Special Service" in PakPost vol 1 no 1 pg 51. Published by Pakistan Post, Islamabad
  15. https://timesofislamabad.com/pakistan-post-office-earning-remittances-services/2016/08/30/, 'Pakistan Post Office earning through remittances services', The Times of Islamabad newspaper, Published 30 August 2016, Retrieved 18 February 2017
  16. Mian, Bakhtawar (8 June 2007). "Pakistan Post starts collecting utility bills from home". Dawn. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  17. "Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance". Akdn.org. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  18. "Foreign Participants, Postal Staff College". Director General, Pakistan Post. Archived from the original on 14 April 2003. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  19. http://www.dawn.com/news/1215351, 'Pakistan Post', Dawn newspaper, Published 26 October 2015, Retrieved 20 February 2017
  20. https://www.ecopsc.org/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=112, Economic Cooperation Organization Postal Staff College, Islamabad, Pakistan, Retrieved 17 February 2017
  21. http://www.app.com.pk/pakistan-re-elected-to-un-body-on-intl-postal-service/, 'Pakistan re-elected to UN body on international postal service', Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Published 7 October 2016, Retrieved 20 February 2017
  22. http://nation.com.pk/business/02-Jun-2016/highlights-of-pakistan-economic-survey-2015-16, 'Highlights of Pakistan Economic Survey 2015-16', The Nation newspaper, Retrieved 20 February 2017
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