New parcel service with Pakistan from Saturday

DUBAI - Working in liaison with a local company based in Dubai Cargo Village, the Pakistan Post Office (PPO) will introduce a new parcel service with effect from August 9, to all parts of Pakistan.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Mon 4 Aug 2003, 11:47 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Nov 2023, 2:05 PM

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the new service that would come as a boon to Pakistani expats in the UAE, CEO Sonic Express, Roshan Akhtar said, "The company has introduced this service in liaison with the Pakistan government for the first time in the UAE and the rates charged for delivery in any city or province are uniform, i.e. a 5kg parcel will be delivered for Dh62 (by air) to any city, town or village in Pakistan.

Any Pakistani wishing to deliver a parcel to his hometown can visit a cargo agent in Dubai who will then forward the parcel to Sonic Express from where it will be sent through the proper channels, including customs, and recieved at any nearby airport and then delivered by the PPO at the corresponding address.

Initially, the delivery of parcels will be made to Karachi and Islamabad only. "It will take three days for parcel delivery to main cities and four days to remote areas, but it could be sooner after the system starts running smoothly," he said.

Giving details, Mr Akhtar said that in this system the parcels are sent as cargo and recieved and delivered as is done in a courier service. "We have made effective use of a postman's services, because in our society, a postman still reaches where a courier cannot," he said.

Mr Akhtar explained that the modus operandi was decided after a thorough study and research was conducted and after a visit by a PPO delegation.

At present, the service is operating from Dubai, but plans include expansion in the entire UAE and later service from Europe via Dubai is also planned. "Special boxes (upto 5kg) have been designed for this purpose," said Mr Akhtar. He said that soon the Pakistan government will give an exemption in duty on certain items which will be implemented by Sonic Express.

He further said that like any normal courier company, parcels including jewellery, un-Islamic attire, passports, currency, pornographic materials or any other undesirable items will not be carried. He said that because delivery charges were being paid in dollars to the PPO, therefore, leakage of precious foriegn exchange will also be prevented.