Srinagar, Apr 24: Chief Postmaster General J&K Circle, John Samuel on Tuesday, said new post offices would be set up in the frontier areas near Line of Control (LoC) and four more mobile post offices would come up along 300-km Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
 “Initially it was difficult to think to introduce new post offices in JK particularly in far-off areas. But now we have ensured that every village and every town has a post office and we have decided to introduce post offices near LoC which will connect people with external world,” Samuel told Greater Kashmir  on the sidelines of a news conference here.  
 He said post office would be introduced in north Kashmir’s frontier town of Uri in May or June this year. “Apart from introducing post offices in areas close to border, we are planning to establish mobile post offices on Srinagar-Jammu Highway for Amarnath Yatris,” Samuel said, adding that postal services were on the path of revival.
 Chief Postmaster General said his thrust was to develop staff in the General Post Office. “Another topmost priority for me is to develop staff and encourage them to maintain excellent customer relationship and in fact we have been focusing on that part by tying up with universities who ensure us staff development,” he said.
 Samuel said for the first time in the history of postal services in the state, an All India Postal Football Tournament would be held in Srinagar this year. “Last year after a gap of 37 years an All India Athletics Meet was held here. This year all the football teams from every state of India will participate in the football tournament. It will be a great passion for the people of Kashmir and a great opportunity as well,” he said, adding that holding of the tournament was an honor given to Kashmir.   
 He said new staff members will be recruited according to the sports quota. “Organizing tournaments is part of a strategy to develop staff and priority will be given to sports quota in further recruitments,” Samuel said. 
 He said other tournaments will be organized in future. “The concerned postal circle will hold cricket, football, badminton, athletics and kabbadi tournaments. Various cultural events will also be organized in future,” he added.
 “Three more invitation tournaments are scheduled to be held which will include central institutions as well. Among them will be: Speed Post Football Tournament, Postal Life Insurance Cricket Tournament and India Post Badminton Tournament.”
 Samuel said stamp exhibition and a letter writing competition for children will also be held in the Valley. 

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST