Compared to billions of losses being suffered by big public-sector entities, the amount of corruption in the PO should not come as a surprise considering the fact that the utility of post office has been on the decline. This is because of the increasing use of mobile phones and the internet. Now few people write letters and most money transfers are carried out through mobile phones.
Because of sending messages through SMS, the telegraph system has also lost its utility. In most countries, the telegraph system has been closed down. Besides, private couriers have affected the revenues of the PO. However, parcel services, both internal and international, of the Pakistan Post are both efficient and cheaper.
The NA committee has sought help from the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency in the recovery of the losses suffered by the PO. The panel has been informed that the rate of recovery of assets now stands at 27 per cent, and that six buildings of post offices, 258 residences and 17 plots of the department have been under encroachment.
There are 4,274 post office buildings in the entire country. The panel has decided to conduct inquiries against both the encroachers and officials of the PO, and has asked PO officials to expedite the retrieval of encroached properties.
If we take into account the declining use of postal services, the amount of corruption in the Pakistan Post is not big enough. Corruption has existed since time immemorial. There is no such thing as before corruption.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2019.
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