Senate Standing Committee on Communications on Monday directed Pakistan Post to take strict action against those employees involved in fraud and embezzlement cases.
The meeting was held here at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai.
The meeting was also attended by Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Senator Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, and Senator Liaqat Khan Taraqai.
The committee also directed Pakistan Post to expedite work on its seven new customer services to compete with the private sector.
Earlier, senior officials of Pakistan Post informed that the committee that as many as 224 theft, dacoity, robbery and embezzlement cases were registered in Pakistan Post during the last three years, causing a loss of Rs460.8 million to the department.
The committee was informed that a total of 78 cases relating to theft, dacoity and robbery incidents took place in Pakistan Post, while 146 embezzlement and fraud cases were registered against 773 employees of the department during the period under review.
They further said that 93 per cent cases of 773 involved employees had been awarded strict punishments, while inquiry in 50 cases was still under process.
The officials said that a number of steps were taken to minimise fraud cases, adding that daily financial transactions of the organisation were Rs4.6 billion.
The officials further said that a zero tolerance policy for employees involved in fraud cases was being implemented.
The officials said that cases were reported to police, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as per rules.
They further said that the services of private security firms have been hired to ensure the security of premises.
The officials further informed the committee that CCTV cameras were being installed in important offices to improve security arrangements.
The officials added that the standard operating procedures have been revised and circulated for implementation.
The committee was also informed that 171 posts under ‘Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan’ package were advertised on August 17, 18, 2016, adding that Baluchistan Testing Service (BTS) also initiated the process; meanwhile, CBA Union of the Pakistan Post office, Islamabad Directorate General approached National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC) for suspension of recruitment process and the commission suspended memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Pakistan Post Office department and BTS. The committee directed Pakistan Post to vigorously pursue the case in NIRC.
