Tag: Asia

Measures taken to modernise Pakistan Post: NA body informed

Pakistan Post Director General Arshad Khan informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications that measures have been taken to transform Pakistan Post (PP) into a modern organisation through the use of information technology.

The NA committee meeting was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Brig (r) Zulfiqar Ahmad Dhillon.

The PP DG informed the committee that out of 85 general post offices (GPOs), 25 GPOs had been computerised while the rest would be computerised by June 2007.

Arshad Khan said that work on military pensions had been computerised in big cites including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Sargodha and Lahore. He said the process was being presently computerised at 30 GPOs, covering 80 percent of the total military pensions. He said the Pakistan Postal Service had introduced a modernised delivery system to reduce delivery times.

Modernised mail and delivery systems have been arranged to ensure prompt delivery for customers, he added. PP will facilitate consumers in paying utility bills and traffic fines. A separate PIA ticket counterwill also be established at each GPO.

The PP DG informed the committee that inspection cells had been strengthened to avoid corruption and fraud. Committee members Tahir Shah, Syed Gulzar Sibtain, Akhtar Khan Kanju, Dr Rozina Tufail, Afsar Begum, Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Nawab Yousaf Talpur, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Farooq Azam Malik also attended the meeting.

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Indian courier services could become dearer

Sending packets through private courier companies could get expensive, with the Government proposing to stipulate higher tariffs for mails less than 150 g

The draft Postal Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the ongoing Budget session, has proposed to impose a tariff on mails carried by courier companies that is fives times the charge taken by the Postal Department

So, while a 20 g mail is charged Rs 5 by the post offices, the same will cost Rs 25 if you send it through a private courier. The rationale for the differential tariff is that the Government is giving up its monopoly on low-weight mails

While the earlier draft of Postal Bill had completely barred private courier companies from carrying packets weighing more than 300 g, the revised proposal removes this ban but on the other hand imposes a higher tariff rate for packets that weigh less than 150 g

This means that consumers could cough up as much as Rs 200 for sending a packet weighing 140-150 g through private courier companies even as the post office will charge only Rs 40

Currently, charges taken by courier companies are not regulated

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Blue Dart Revenue Up at 182.31Crores

Blue Dart Express Limited, South Asia’s largest integrated air express courier and package distribution company, today declared its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007 at their Board Meeting.

Income from operations for the 1st quarter 2007 was Rs. 181.66 crores, an increase of 19.53% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year, and profit before tax for the quarter was Rs. 23.43 crores despite the induction of two Boeing 757 aircraft in the 2nd quarter of 2006.

Anil Khanna, Managing Director, Blue Dart Express Limited said, “Strengthening of our infrastructure, especially our aviation system, is critical to meet increasing demand and ensuring service excellence. The induction of two B757 freighters provides greater capability to service our customers, and reinforces our commitment to facilitate India’s trade and commerce. In the last quarter Blue Dart handled approximately 17 million shipments weighing over 42,000 tonnes.

“This year we have also planned to add 57 new facilities, 11 of which have already been made operational in the last quarter. Further, our ground network is being fortified to offer customers a one-stop distribution capability unmatched in the country. Currently, we are the only player in the domestic air express segment offering an unrivalled payload of 250 tonnes each night through our dedicated fleet of 2 B757s and 4 B737s”, Anil Khanna added.

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Oriental Bank and India Post in pact for rural lending

Oriental Bank of Commerce on Tuesday signed an MoU with India Post to extend rural credit in Chandrapur and Warora districts in Maharashtra; and Mapusa, Vasco and Vadgaon districts in Goa

“In the pilot project, the bank will provide short-term consumption credit worth Rs 20,000 per beneficiary,” said Mr Ravi Taneja, Deputy General Manager, social lending and priority sector department, Oriental Bank of Commerce

“The loans will be collateral-free and not require a guarantee. The repayment period will be up to two years,” Mr Taneja added

Post-offices will identify prospective borrowers, assist in the filling up of loan application forms and forward them to the bank branch concerned for disbursement. The bank will pay a commission of Rs 600 per loan to India Post and also decide on the status of the loans

The post-offices will help in opening savings bank accounts for potential borrowers. They will assist in recovery of loans but will not be liable for defaults or any dispute arising between the borrower and the bank

“The postmen who understand the local flavour and are acquainted with the local people will be deployed for the execution of the scheme,” said Col. K.C. Mishra, Postmaster General, India Post

India Post is already working with Corporation Bank in Goa. It also has an agreement with Union Bank of India and plans to sign MoUs with Dena Bank and Bank of Maharashtra

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DHL launches trade advisory services

DHL announced on Monday the introduction of trade advisory services, which provides a host of facilities that will expand the comprehensive suite of products under the global DHL Global Trade Services (GTS) platform

The new services complements other key features of the DHL Global Trade Services, which comprises importer and exporter of record services, customs brokerage services, and trade automation services, said a DHL release

Since its launch in late 2006, Global Trade Services has helped to facilitate cross-border trading by aiding businesses manage complex duty regulations, shorten lengthy business processes, and lessen the stress of global trade management

Trade advisory services comprises four distinctive features covering supply chain security services, trade opportunity services, customs and trade capacity building services, and goods classification services

Supply chain Supply chain security services focus on two major security initiatives, including the US Customs and Border Protection authority’s C-TPAT (customs-trade partnership against terrorism) and AEO (authorised economic operator), which is initiated by the World Customs Organisation

Trade opportunity services leverages DHL’s network of customs professionals and experience of operating in different markets to simplify trade processes

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