ISLAMABAD, June 7: Pakistan Post on Thursday launched a unique service of collecting utility bills from home, sparing the consumers from the trouble of going to the banks and stand in long queues.

This revolutionary step “of collection of utility bills payments from your doorsteps” was part of new vision of Post Office which also includes more than a dozen other new services from computerisation and interlinking of all the 12,000 post offices to initiation of fast money transfer system, express mailing facilities to introducing a new corporate logo and customers-friendly initiatives in order to put the postal department on modern lines to enable it match international standards.

According to the new initiative, Post Offices will collect PTCL phone and SNGPL bills payments from doorsteps of consumers through crossed cheque on a nominal fee of Rs 20 per bill. At present, the system will be introduced in Karachi and will soon be extended to other cities.

Consumers will call a post office for the collection of their utility bills. A post office agent will come to the house of the consumer and collect the bill payment.

This will go a long way in saving people including women, children and the elderly from taking the trouble of going to banks where they are made to stand in long queues even in sizzling heat and severe cold waiting for their turn to deposit their utility payments.

Apart from this, about 300 post offices in all the big cities including Islamabad have also started receiving utility bills payments. Unlike banks which offer only a few hours for utility bills payment, the post offices are open from 9 am to 9 pm.

At banks one is required to wait for hours outside to deposit the bills; which has been made so easy by the Pakistan Post - one just needs to go to a nearest post office, hand over the money to the official concerned and receive receipt.

Now to make it more easier, the post office will also start collecting bills from doorsteps of consumers.

The new vision was launched in a simple but very impressive ceremony here at the Postal Staff College attended by federal communication minister Muhamamd Shamim Siddiqui, chairman Pakistan Post Arshad Khan, secretary communication Tariq Mehmood and other high officials of the postal department, PTCL and SNGPL.

Briefing the gathering about the new initiatives, Mr Arshad Khan said Pakistan Post, previously considered merely a mailing organisation, has once again revived its poise to be the ultimate hub of public service initiatives.

He said it is the only organization which covers 100 per cent population through its network of 12,000 post offices located in every nook and corner of the country.

In view of the fast changing market dynamics, it had become necessary to revamp its various functions to effectively meet challenges of today, he added.

The Chairman said a comprehensive plan had been prepared under the “New Vision” to transform the mailing department into an efficient, customers-friendly, modern and self-sustainable organization.

According to him, post offices will become the hub of social and commercial activities in every community. He also briefed the audience about the targets and goals set for covering all areas of operations.

The federal minister highly appreciated the new initiatives taken by the incumbent chairman Post Office.

He said it had been his dream which was transformed into practice by the Post chief. He said the collection of utility bills from doors is a unique initiative in the history of Pakistan.

Later on while responding to a question, the minister said steps would also be taken to expand postal services in far-flung rural areas where people have no mailing facilities and have to travel long distances to just post a letter.

In such remote regions, people are usually less educated, not aware of the modern facilities like computer and internet so they wholly and solely depend on post offices as a means of communication.