Pakistan Suspends Exchange of Postal Mails

• 06 Nov 2019

In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped the exchange of postal mails with India without any prior notice.

• Under Universal Postal Union (UPU) rules, when a country decides to suspend postal exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped.
  
  • The UPU’s International Bureau too has to be notified.
• Apart from UPU rules, three other agreements cover postal exchange between India and Pakistan:
  
  • Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948
  • Exchange of Postal Article, 1974
  • International Speed Post Agreement, 1987

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

• Universal Postal Union is the specialized agency of the United Nations.
• It was established in 1874 and is the second oldest international organization worldwide after International Telecommunication Union (1865).
• Its headquarter is located in Bern, Switzerland, and consists of 192 member countries.
• The UPU consists of 4 bodies:
  
  • The Congress
  • The Council of Administration
  • The Postal Operations Council
  • The International Bureau
• It frames rules for international mail exchange and fixes rates for international postal services.
• It performs advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance where needed.
• India joined the UPU in 1876.

Source: The Indian Express