Pakistan Post mulling to launch UMS Plus, logistics, postal bank: DG

January 18, 2022: Pakistan Post has come out of the deficit and now a marked improvement is witnessed due to digitalization while new proposals are under consideration to launch UMS Plus, logistics and postal bank.

This was said by Director General Pakistan Post Khalid Javed while addressing a function in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI), here on Monday.

He said that a pilot project of logistics has been launched and hopefully its system would become fully operational within the next couple of months. About E-commerce, he said that the World Bank has also identified it as a major sector in which Pakistan should focus on its future policies.

He appreciated the role of private courier companies who have set up a quality benchmark and Pakistan Post must follow it to survive in this competitive global village. He said that Pakistan Post has no dearth of infrastructure and it would be much easier to launch a progressive logistic service within the ambit of Pakistan Post. He said that the digitization process is in full swing under public private partnership mode and it would help to provide best services even in the far-flung rural areas. He said that UMS was launched in line with the traditional mail service, however, the UMS Plus will provide much better and quality services up to the entire satisfaction of their quality conscious customers.

About “Khushali” bank, he said, "It is already in operation but we intend to further improve it with new innovative, modern and fastest means of communication. We are also contemplating a proposal to launch a separate postal bank in Pakistan”, he said and added that it would further enhance the importance of this department. He said that digital franchise post offices would also be opened very soon for which loan would also be given to the needy elements. About the receipt of utility bills, he said, "We have to deposit the collected cash on the same day in the concerned banks and in this connection, negotiations are in progress and hopefully it would become operational by the end of this month." He said that Pakistan Post would offer special rates to the bulk suppliers of mails and parcels while its rates are already very competitive for the walking customers as compared to the private courier companies.

Chief Post Master Shahid Iqbal said that Pakistan Post intends to set up its own post office in M3 industrial estate for which they need a piece of land.

Earlier Atif Munir Sheikh President FCCI welcomed the guests and said that Pakistan Post is one of the oldest institutions of Pakistan. He said the courier companies are only restricted to the major cities of the country. He said that Pakistan Post must exploit its presence to improve the overall mail system in the country. However, its rates should be competitive so that the business community could be allured to switch over from private companies to Pak Post.

Continuing Atif Munir Sheikh said that FIEDMC has approved its commercialization policy under which space could be allotted to the commercial entities in M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estates. He said that Pakistan Post should also submit a proper request so that it could be processed accordingly. He further said that Pak Post should reinvigorate its marketing system and its employees must visit personally every day the premises of bulk parcel suppliers to get maximum share in this sector.

Later President Atif Munir Sheikh along with Khurram Shahzad presented FCCI shield to Khalid Javed, Director General Pak Post. Executive Member Dr. Ijaz Nisar also handed over a shield to Chief Post Master Shahid Iqbal.

APP