Pakistan Post to introduce ATM, biometrics for pensioners

ISLAMABAD - In a bid to facilitate old-age pensioners and Benazir Income Support  (BISP) beneficiaries, Pakistan Post Office is going to introduce ATM and biometrics system in the country.

The initiative is being started as part of Pakistan Post innovative measures. The BISP beneficiaries and pensioners have to wait in long queues to get their money where sometimes greedy people look for a chance to deceive poor women and aged people in guise of help, official sources said on Wednesday.

"Pakistan Post realizing the situation, is to embark on a reform agenda which would not only help the poor and aged to receive their money at their door step but would generate handsome money for the department", he added.

The sources said in the first phase, Pakistan Post would launch biometrics system in the country and would give money to such people at their homes after thumb verification.

The sources added:"the posts agent would reach their homes and would provide the BISP and pension money after verification through biometrics system". Similarly, the sources said in second phase, the department would launch ATM network through one link with which pension and money order could be received without any troubles.

The launch of these services would also ensure transparency in the department system.

Moreover, the sources said Pakistan Post was also in negotiations with Western Union for receiving foreign remittances. The move would help to improve financial health of the organisation. After connecting with IFS, Pakistan would become connected with worldwide postal services.

"The organisation is also planning to launch online parcel, cash and delivery system under the e-commerce format. Domestic courier market is around Rs 30 billion, e-commerce market is around Rs 2-3 billion, which is expected to reach Rs 60 billion in 2017 and post's share in courier market is Rs 450 million".

A logistics company is going to be established with an investment of around Rs.800 million in the areas including GPS enabled trucking fleet, Ware houses, distribution channels (upgrade post offices, HR training) and information technology (data centre, back-end systems, retail management etc) brand recognition. "Pakistan Post expects to double its revenue in coming years", he said.

Source: APP