Once known for their quick service, fast delivery, efficient staff and friendly environment, the federal capital’s post offices are now presenting a picture of utter neglect both in terms of looks and services.
Owing to such indifference by the postal authorities towards the upkeep of 63 post offices (including six night post offices) in the rural as well as the urban areas, business of the private courier services is in full bloom as people now prefer them for delivery of their letter envelopes, parcels and boxes.
During a survey of these post offices and in interviews with the public that goes there for delivery of money orders, parcels or simple letters it was found out that the number has drastically declined, almost by half, during the last ten years.
A number of factors contribute to this public disinterest, namely poor services, rude behavior, shortage of counter clerks and above all old and rickety buildings which present the looks of ghost houses.
Take the example of Karachi Company, G-9/4 Post Office, the second main postal service point after the GPO Melody, G-6. Here, the building is dark, understaffed and the officers in charge are either too occupied to listen to the public complaints or they are short-tempered guys ready to shout at you.
Last year in April, one of the staff members of G-9/4 post office had escaped with the cash deposited against utility bills. It took almost eight months to retrieve that money and until then the consumers had to pay the bills along with fine as their money was not deposited. They included widows, retired government employees and middle class families for whom it was a bomb shell that they had to re-deposit their bills in the coming months. The matter was resolved only after a painful delay of seven to eight months.
Another post office in G-8/4 is also a place few customers would visit for the purpose of registered post, money order or even delivery of ordinary letters. The building gives a look from a distance as if it had not been white-washed for centuries.
The board showing the sign “Post Office” is discoloured giving the impression of an abandoned building. Inside too is not much attractive as the staff is less-welcoming. Something has gone terribly wrong with these post offices which used to be icons of service and delivery, said an elderly resident Muhammad Hameed who is a retired government employee. People used to prefer post offices to the private courier companies even for handling and delivery of their important documents, gifts and parcels, he further said.
It was because they had established themselves as trustworthy service delivery points. Unfortunately, this trust is shaken because public letters are lost, parcels are mishandled and envelopes are opened. Under these circumstances, the people of Islamabad are fast losing their trust in postal services which is unfortunate.
A senior official of the Post Office when contacted said the public perception about the post offices and their services was still positive. It is only because of the shortage of funds and staff in some cases that we are facing problems which however would soon be overcome.
