The Senate Standing Committee on Communications expressed grave concern over the institutional decline and massive financial losses incurred by the Pakistan Post, emphasizing the urgent need for either comprehensive structural reforms or a total reconsideration of the entity’s existence.
The committee here met on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Senator Pervaiz Rashid to deliberate on the performance, financial deficit, and preservation of assets of Pakistan Post, said a press release.
The committee was attended by Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan and Senior Officials from the concerned departments.
The body took a serious view of the commercialization of heritage sites, specifically expressing its displeasure over the reported conversion of the historic Murree Post Office into a café. The Chairman and members unanimously declared that postal service buildings are part of the national heritage and strictly prohibited their use for any commercial purposes that compromise their historical integrity. The Committee directed the relevant authorities to immediately halt such activities at the Murree Post Office.
During the briefing, the Committee noted with concern that despite having a vast network of 13,000 post offices and a workforce of 21,000 employees, Pakistan Post is struggling to compete with private entities.
It was highlighted that while a private service like TCS generates billions in revenue with only 3,000 employees, Pakistan Post continues to suffer an annual loss of 19 billion rupees. The panel questioned the lack of growth and digitalization, noting that even after the distribution of 2,000 motorcycles to postmen, the service has failed to modernize its operations.
The Chairman pointed out the stark contrast between the department’s financial ruin and its high-value assets. It was noted that Pakistan Post owned prime real estate in “posh” areas across the country, including an official residence for the Director General in Islamabad’s F-8 sector, yet fails to leverage these properties effectively.
The committee suggested that a professional management of the property’s value alone could yield a 15 percent return, potentially offsetting the current deficit.
The committee underscored that 30 percent of the department’s earnings come from common citizens, yet the service quality remains stagnant. The members stressed that the government could not indefinitely sustain a Rs. 19 billion annual loss.
The Chairman directed the management of Pakistan Post to submit a definitive plan for digitalization and institutional reform, warning that the “existence” of the institution is at stake due to persistent inefficiency.