Middle ages

During the Mughul Empire and Samma dynasty, an early postal system developed along the banks of the Indus River in Sindh beginning in the 13th century. The system consisted of runners or "dak" (ڈاک) who would carry letters from one point to another and then hand it off to the next runner who would do the same.^[3] Runners were paid according to distance traveled and weight of the letters. The system extended from Thatta in the south, through Kotri and Hyderabad and as far north as Sukkur. The system later expanded into lower Punjab (Multan and Bahawalpur). Letters could be exchanged by over two dozen runners before they reached their destination.

British period (1843-1947)

On 17 February 1843, following the Battle of Miani, Sindh fell to the British followed by Punjab in 1845. Sir Bartle Frere became the Chief Commissioner of Sindh in 1850 and improved upon the postal system by introducing a cheap and standard rate for postage, independent of distance travelled.^[4] In 1851, runners were replaced with horses and camels which proved to be beneficial as it quickly and efficiently transported mail, connecting government offices and post offices. In 1855, the Scinde Railway began taking over most mail routes however camels and horses were still used in regions where the railway had not yet reached. By 1886, the North Western State Railway was responsible for transporting most mail up and down the country. The postal system by now had been expanded from Karachi in the south to as far north as Gilgit.

Post-Independence period (1947-present)

Pakistan Post was established following its independence from Britain under the modified Post Office Act VI, 1898^[5] and became operation on 14 August 1947. Pakistan Post fell under the Department of Posts and Telegraph in the Ministry of Communications. The Office of the Postmaster General was established in Lahore.^[5] On 10 November 1947, Pakistan joined the Universal Postal Union as its 89th member.^[6] On 9 July 1948, Pakistan Post issued its first postage stamps, a set of four stamps commemorating the country's independence. In 1959, an "All-up-Airmail" scheme was introduced by which all letters were airlifted between stations on an air network. Sikorsky helicopters of Pakistan International Airlines were used to deliver mail within East Pakistan.^[7] In July 1962, the government bifurcated the old department^[8] and independently placed Pakistan Post under the Ministry of Communications. In January 1987, "Urgent Mail Service" was introduced in the country^[9] and in April 1987, "Local Packet & Parcel Service" was introduced.^[9] On 1 January 1988, five-digit postal codes were introduced nationwide.^[9] Between 1 August 1992 to 6 July 1996, the post office was separated from the Ministry of Communications and was made an independent corporation.^[10] From 1 December 1992, a new "Overseas Postal Circle" with its headquarters in Islamabad was launched, to streamline foreign mail. Prior to the Islamabad facility, all international mail was received and sent through Karachi. Between 2006 and 2007, mail was sent using 19 domestic airports including Chitral, Karachi, Lahore, Moenjodaro, Multan and Skardu.^[11] During the same period, four international airports were also used: Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.^[11] In 2007, the Pakistan Post embarked on a new vision which included a logo change. On 3 November 2008, the department was placed under the postal division of the newly created Ministry of Postal Services.^[12] Senator Israr Ullah Zehri was appointed its first minister.

Postal services

The following are postal services offered within the country.

1. Letter Mail (ordinary and registered)
2. Parcel Post (Inland and International)
3. Certificate of Posting
4. Post Office Boxes

Special Services^[14]

The following are special services with their date of commencement given in brackets. Not all services are provided in every post office.

1. Air Express (Airex) (2 August 1986)
2. Fax Mail Service (FM) (1 August 1988)
3. Fax Money Order (FMO) (15 August 1988)^[15]
4. International Speed Post (ISP) (1 September 1986)
5. Local Express Delivery (LES) (22 April 1987)
6. Postal Draft Service (15 November 1987)
7. Postal Giro Service (15 March 1988)
8. Savings Bank Mobile Account (12 January 1988)
9. Urgent Mail Service (UMS) (1 January 1987)
10. Urgent Money Order Service (UMO) (15 April 1988)
11. EMOS (Electronic Money Order Service).^[15]
12. Pakistan Post starts collecting utility bills from home (June 2007)^[16][17]

Federal services

1. Collection of taxes: income and withholding (on NSS profit payment)
2. Collection of Customs Duty and Sales Tax (on foreign postal articles)
3. Delivery of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC)
4. Disbursement of welfare/financial assistance
5. Food Support Programme
6. Payment to Pakistan Armed Forces Pensioners
7. Sale of Highway and Motorway Safety books

Government owned businesses

1. Cash Management services for Khushali Bank
2. Collection of utility bills including electricity: WAPDA and K-Electric; natural gas: Sui Southern Gas Company; and telephone: PTCL^[16]
3. Delivery of NTN Certificates
4. Payment to Capital Development Authority (CDA) Pensioners
5. Payment to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) Pensioners
6. Sale of PTCL phonecards
7. Sale of Agricultural Loan Pass Books
8. Sale of Postal Life Insurance

Provincial services

1. Renewal of Arms Licences
2. Renewal of Driving Licences
3. Sale of Route Permit Fee stamps
4. Sale of Motor Vehicle Fitness stamps
5. Motor Vehicle Tax Collection

Private enterprise

The following are services provided in partnership with private enterprise.

• With BISP: Payment to over 2.2 million beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (at GPOs and Post Offices throughout Pakistan)
• With The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd – Pakistan (FMFB-P): microfinance services through post offices.^[18]
• Cash Management and Courier Services for Citibank