By Abdul Ghani

Alibaba Group is set to collaborate with Pakistan Post Office Department (PPOD) for the automation of its sorting centres under the prime minister’s directives.

According to an official document available with Wealth Pakistan, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) is the lead ministry for implementing the prime minister’s directives.

The development marks a move towards greater automation of PPOD postal processing infrastructure, potentially improving the handling and sorting of mail and parcels through technology-based systems.

The document further states that Alibaba Group is expected to submit an unsolicited proposal by September 15, 2026, which will provide the basis for moving forward with the proposed collaboration.

 The initiative is part of a broader set of measures currently being pursued by Pakistan Post.

The document also lists the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Cashless Economy initiative and the National Action Plan under the National Gemstone Policy 2026–30.

Under the cashless economy initiative, the Ministry of Finance is the lead ministry, while Pakistan Post signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in March 2026 for the collection of non-tax revenues.

Pakistan Post has also requested the Finance Division to facilitate the opening of a RAAST-linked account in line with the national cashless economy initiative.

The first phase of the cashless initiative will cover 85 General Post Offices (GPOs) and target 65 percent of PPOD revenue receipts, the document states.

The proposed Alibaba collaboration, however, represents a separate technology-focused initiative aimed at modernising Pakistan Post’s sorting operations, with further details expected following the submission of Alibaba Group’s proposal by the September 15 deadline.

Credit: INP-WealthPk