Afghan Post receives new mail trucks from ISAF

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Nestor Cruz | Nine new Afghan Post mail trucks sit in the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology parking lot Nov. 23 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The trucks will be stationed at each of the major provinces, speeding up mail delivery and increasing revenue for the country.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

11.23.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz 

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan - Neither snow nor rain prevented the delivery of nine new mail trucks to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Nov. 23 in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The new trucks will replace the aging fleet of vehicles currently used by the Afghan Post, which falls under the MCIT.

“We looked at the conditions of the current delivery trucks they have now,” said James Babatunde, International Security Assistance Force headquarters budget adviser. “I talked to the staff and the president of the Afghan Post and I told them the trucks are very ineffective.

“When you look at the current trucks, they break down very often and there’s no guarantee on how quickly they can repair them or availability of parts. Because of this, people don’t trust the delivery system anymore, mail is getting lost and it’s taking longer before mail is delivered from one province to another,” he added.

Babatunde and the Telecommunication Advisory Team work closely with the MCIT on various projects to help strengthen Afghan communications. With the arrival of the new mail trucks, Babatunde hopes the Afghan Post will restore public trust in the delivery system.

Working with feedback and suggestions from Rahmaty Yasin, Afghan Post president, Babatunde and the TAT came up with a solution to the mail problem.

“We decided it’s good to have at least one vehicle located at each of the major provinces and have one going back and forth,” he said. Mail normally comes to Kabul, which is the central hub. Mail goes out to the major provinces from the central hub. From those provinces mail is distributed to the villages.

“This is really going to increase the timing of mail delivery, will help improve the confidence of citizens in their Afghan Post, and we believe this will increase revenue,” said Babatunde.

ISAF representatives attended a ceremony to formally hand over the trucks to the Afghan Post staff. For members of the TAT and the 10th Sustainment Brigade, the ceremony marked the end of a five-month journey.

“Not only the TAT, but also the 10th Sustainment Brigade put a lot of time and effort into this, everything from figuring out what the requirements were to what trucks would best fill that requirement, where we’re going to get them from and actually getting them here and going through customs,” said Army Col. Beth Bierden, TAT director.

Although the arrival of the mail trucks marked the end of the project, Bierden said the TAT will continue working with the MCIT and Afghan Post.

“We will continue to work with the post office on what requirements they have and how we can better support them with other projects,” said Bierden. TAT staff members will continue asking themselves how they can best support the minister in maintaining the strength of the information and communications technology sector because it really is a strong sector, one of the successes in Afghanistan, she added.

Officials from the 10th Sustainment Brigade hope improving the local mail system will show the government’s commitment to the Afghan people.

“The addition of the modern trucks will allow the government to deliver messages, connecting the people with the provincial government,” said Army Col. Kurt Ryan, 10th Sustainment Brigade commander. “They will also facilitate the delivery of gifts and letters between family and friends.”

TAT members believe a smoother, faster mail delivery system is one step toward a prosperous Afghanistan.

“It’s about the government providing services, so every little bit we can do that gives the people confidence their government is progressing toward a strong and lasting Afghan government is a good thing,” said Bierden.

• Date Taken: 11.23.2011
• Date Posted: 11.27.2011 08:57
• Story ID: 80591
• Location: KABUL, AF