Pakistan Post launches export parcel service ‘EMS Plus’

The Pakistan Post on Saturday launched an export parcel service ‘EMS Plus’ for small traders to deliver their consignments in foreign countries within 72 hours at minimum rates.

Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed formally inaugurated the service in a ceremony at the Pakistan Post head office.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Media Affairs Iftikhar Durrani, Secretary Postal Services Pir Baksh Khan Jamali and Director General of Pakistan Post Naseer Ahmed Khan were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, the minister said Pakistan has an honest leader in Prime Minister Imran Khan and under his vision, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is taking measures to transform all loss-making state institutions into profit-generating organisations.

Similarly, he said, effective steps are being taken to steer the Pakistan Post out of losses and make it a profitable entity.

The EMS Plus is one of such measures which would help Pakistan Post, Saeed added.

He said that with this service, which had been initially launched as a pilot project in Faisalabad, Sialkot and Lahore, parcels of up to 30 kilogrammes can be booked for six countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Japan, United Kingdom, Thailand and Australia.

The parcels would be shipped to the designated countries same day by air, he added.

Saeed said the service would be extended to other foreign countries in the second phase, likely by next month.

Initially, the service was to be launched for the entire world, however, due to some technical problems it was started for six countries, he added.

The minister said advertisements would be floated in the newspapers during the current week to hire the services of courier companies in respective countries.

Counters would be established at airports with deployment of Pakistan Post staff for timely dispatch of the consignments, he added.

He said the prime minister wanted a business-friendly environment in the country and his government was taking all possible steps for ease of doing business, particularly for small businesspersons.

He further urged the business community to prefer the EMS Plus as it would cost them almost 175 percent less than the amount charged by private courier firms.

The minister said the Pakistan Post would soon offer its services for online shopping through its website as many multiple commodities had shown interest in selling their brands through it.