I wanted to keep this blog everything about programming but there are many other things which keep on surrounding me. From about six months ago I am frequently coming to Pakistan to establish off-shore development office of our technology company in Lahore. There are many things which I search on Google and famous search engine remain silent about them, from buying office furniture to best broad-band packages available to finding the difference that if buying electricity generators are a better bet or battery operated UPS. Actually I never get to find any of the required information and eventually found myself searching in local market where negotiation skills are a key and if shop vendors suspect that you came from abroad or is educated and would not like to fight for pennies then it’s their right to rip you off. For that core reason I found myself knowing all major computer vendors in Lahore’s Hafeez Center and giving away a whole day to find out best developer chair on McLeod road in the best possible rates.
I wanted to write a blog about all those little bits of precious information every time because I know there will be a whole lot like me who would be going through the same thing and Google remain silent about everything they ask, mostly my confusion was all around where I should write, Ciitronian being turned into a technology blog and starting another blog takes a lot of effort which someone lazy like me is not able to do in last six months, so, chances are there will not be one in another six months. I am starting right from here today as the trigger came when I wanted to post a letter back to England and there was no information available at all on Internet, except the Pakistan Post website which I guess is giving away obsolete rates and then I went on to find this out myself again in 42C heat of June. Maybe the below information save someone else doing the same:
There are 2 major types of companies who provide international postage service, one is Pakistan Post who carries ordinary post along with registered, speed post and parcel delivery, other are couriers their selves which are DHL, FedEx, UPS, TCS etc.
My Letter weight: 25g
Sending from Lahore, Pakistan to London, United Kingdom
Pakistan Post
Ordinary mail: Rs.65 (delivery time 7-10 days)
Registered ordinary mail: Rs.165 (delivery time 7-10 days)
International Speed Post : Rs.1765 (delivery time 4 days)
UPS
Courier: Rs.2560 (delivery time: I asked on Friday, they told me it will be delivered on Monday – 3 days)
TCS
Courier: Rs.2260 (delivery time 4 days)
Pakistan Post Office opening times: This is important as this was the key that whether you should go out at 2pm in the scorching sun to post your letter or you can wait until 7pm for the weather to cool down.
Pakistan Post Office, Gulberg II: 8:30am to 7:30pm
I expect that other periphery post offices such as in Model Town extension, Muslim Town etc. have the same opening timings as well.
GPO – General Post Office, Mall Road: 8:30am to 9:00pm
View Larger Map – Pakistan Post Office locations in Lahore
I ended up posting my letter from GPO with a registered ordinary mail in Rs.165, for the Speed Post they required a copy of Pakistani National ID card, I never had that so couldn’t, keep one in your wallet if you are planning to go for Speed Post or anything above ordinary mail, I never had a bad experience with Pakistan Post earlier so fingers crossed that it will go through in time, however, the guy at Gulberg-II post office told me that mail from Pakistan Post reaches UK in no time but takes longer to process as of strict controls that there might be some terrorism related correspondence going on (who do that in this technological age?)
Anyway, time to wrap-up, expect a lot more to come here, however, I will need your help, if you find any information here which is not correct or if you want to add anything or simply just because you came here from Google and this blog helped you, forget not to leave a comment.
All the best!
UPDATE (29th June 2011): The letter that I sent through registered ordinary post and is mentioned in this blog reached it’s destination today after 18 days.
i have sent my package from Pakistan Post to USA Chicago . I used their express service, they gave me the tracking number which always shows that it never reach there . But when i ask the person to whom i sent . It was delivered . So Yet Pakistani
Post service require to improve.
All i can say about pakpost is that “It sucks to the extremes!!!”
I wonder if all the third world countries have post offices and posting service procedures as pakpost.
You can’t use them if you are a foreigner not having an NIC, (why the hell do WE fight for Pakistanis’ rights in our countries! are we idiots??)
They force you to use the most expensive service they have, assuring you any cheap service will never make it to the destination.
BTW, receiving mail here is even more funnier, they open you package, take whatever they like, repack the package and then charge you repacking fee.
Where will you experience such things in the world man? It happens in Pakistan only!
my parents send me a parcel from lahore to sydney its almost 20 days they send ordinary post but i havent rcv yet ..i dont know from where can i check my tracking no i have tacking no but there is no option i find in website to put tracking no and see result
Hi, interesting piece.
just a correction registered mail is not ordinary mail, it is a category by its self. therefore it is incorrect to state: registered ordinary mail.