Rizvi stressed that the postal service had been transformed into a modern and fully computerised organisation to compete with private couriers.
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Postal Services on Thursday sought legal opinion from the Ministry of Law and Justice on the Postal Bill 2019 presented by Senator Khushbakht Shujat.
The chairperson of the committee, Senator Shujat presented the bill before the Senate on March 8, 2019, which was discussed in depth in the meeting.
As meeting started, Senator Shujat said that being the presenter of the bill, she would not like to chair the meeting and offered members of the committee to lead the session.
Subsequently, Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hasan and Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi chaired the meeting.
Shujat informed the panel that Postal Office Act 1898 was a very old law, which did not meet the requirements of new age and needed several amendments.
Meanwhile, Postal Services director general (DG) and secretary apprised the committee that after reviewing the bill, some suggestions regarding punishments, fines, powers and definitions of services had been suggested by the department.
Moreover, under an agreement with National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) 15,000 outlets would be opened throughout the country.
Pakistan Post adopts modern technology
They said that postal services had 46,000 employees and Rs16 billion out if its total budget of Rs18 billion was spent on salaries and pensions but the department was not in loss.
Shujat observed that until powers were transferred to the departments and they were made independent, they could not deliver in the true sense, adding that guest houses of the postal services throughout the country needed to be upgraded.
Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi said that condition of the Chakwal General Post Office (GPO) was miserable and it required maintenance and asked authorities to present detailed report on the issue in the next meeting.
On a query by Senator Mirza, it was informed that if the standing committee would recommend then Pakistan Post employees serving in parliament could be given one-month bonus in July.
The committee referred the suggestions to the law ministry for legal opinion.
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