Paying utility bills set to become easier
ISLAMABAD: The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) of Pakistan has finalised the arrangements for countrywide launch of its Kiosk Pilot Project to facilitate consumers in paying their gas, electricity and water bills without a hassle.
Nadra’s newly developed system of utility bill payments would facilitate consumers to pay their utility bills through kiosk (ATM like machine) without standing in long queues.
It has been planned to install 500 such machines all over the country down to tehsil level with in a period of one year. Nadra is planning to make the Kiosk Machine operational, as a pilot project in Karachi and about 25-30 machines are likely to be installed by September 2005 and further adding another 50 machines by December 2005.
In the first phase the machines would be installed at National Swift Registration Centres (NSRCs) and subsequently at customer care centres of the utility companies.
The machines will be deployed in the cluster of two to three and each machine could effectively handle 300 to 350 customers in 24 hours.
The project has been set up with a major objective to assist the public to pay their utility bills in an easy and smooth way without wastage of time and facing any problem.
The system, being introduced for the first time in Pakistan, encompasses the payment of utility bills in cash. Although consumers can pay their utility bills through cheques, ATM, credit/debit cards etc, however all these arrangements are not as easy for a common man as kiosks concept.
A Nadra official said that the system was based on the existing technologies of biometric identification and is Computerised National Identification Card Centric.
It is designed to enable consumers to pay utility bills and perform electronic transactions following proper authentication through the biometric and online verification system using the computerised national identity card. It has been designed as per the ISO-8583 standards.
A common man could use this system by registering himself at any NSRC and he can also nominate other persons for the payment of his utility bills.
The system would not only alleviate the problems of general public, but will also facilitate the utility companies bill collection process, financial reconciliation and easy transfer of money.
It also offers a convenient and low-cost alternative for payment of bills and other financial transactions without compromising on the customer service and efficiency and the consumer would not be paying any additional cost while paying their bills through these kiosks.
Nadra had already provided the services of this system to Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation and negotiations with these companies are in final stages while a contract between Nadra and Sui Southern Gas Company has already been signed.
Nadra has also initiated contract negotiations with other utility companies with a view that public could pay their all type of utility bills through kiosks.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to Nadra office on 1st April 2005 had directed it to immediately launch utility bills kiosk payment system to provide relief to the general public. - Internews
Source: Gulf Times Newspaper