Parcel Post

Postage

The rate of postage on parcels is Rs.150.00 for the first 250 grams, and part thereof , up to a maximum weight of 20 kg.

Click here to view Parcel Post Rates

Contents

Anything may be sent in a parcel, excepting articles the transmission of which is prohibited. A parcel may contain one (but must not contain more than one) written communication of the nature of a letter, or having the character of a personal communication provided that the communication is addressed only to the addressee of the parcel itself.

Weight and Size

A parcel must not exceed 20 kg in weight, and must not be of a kind which, owing to size, shape, manner of packing, or any other cause, cannot be carried by post without serious inconvenience or risk.

The size allowed for a parcel is­:

  • Greatest length – 1,070 mm
  • Greatest length and girth combined – 2,000 mm

For example.-A parcel measuring 1,070 mm in its longest dimensions may measure as much as 760 mm in girth, i.e., around its thickest part, or a short parcel may be thicker, thus, if it measures not more than 1,000 mm in length it may measure as much as 1,000 mm in girth, i.e., round its thickest part.

Make up of Correspondence

  1. Parcels must be so packed and correspondence of every kind must be so made up as not only to preserve the contents from loss or damage in the post, but also not to injure other correspondence.
  2. Any letter or parcel containing anything of a fragile nature should be marked or labelled “FRAGILE”.

Packing-General

  1. Subject to the special methods of packing prescribed for certain kinds of articles transmitted by parcel post shall be packed and enclosed in a reasonably strong case or cover, fastened in a manner calculated­(a) to preserve the contents from loss or damage in the post ;(b) to prevent the contents being tampered with in the post ; and(c) to protect other postal articles from being damaged in any way thereby.
  2. Parcels containing liquids, substances, which easily liquefy, eggs and articles of glass or other fragile materials shall be clearly marked on the outside “FRAGILE”.

Special methods of packing for certain kinds of Articles

  1. Articles of glass or other fragile materials, liquids, substance which easily liquefy, oils, eggs, fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, butter an other greasy substances, colouring powders, cheese and other strong smelling articles transmitted by post shall be packed in the following manner (a) articles of glass or other fragile materials shall be securely; packed in boxes made of metal, wood, or strong corrugate cardboard so as to avoid any risk of injury to postal officer and damage to other postal articles;(b) Liquids, oils and substances which easily liquefy shall be enclosed in receptacles hermetically sealed. Each receptacle shall be placed in a separate box of metal, strong wood or strong corrugated cardboard containing sawdust, cotton, or other sponge, material in sufficient quantity to absorb the liquid contents o the receptacle in the event of the leakage of receptacle ;The lid of the box shall be fixed in such a manner that it does no become easily detached.(c) Eggs, butter and other greasy substances shall be placed in an inner cover which shall be securely closed. This inner cover shall itself be placed in an outer cover of wood, metal or leather which is sufficiently strong to prevent the contents from escaping in the course of transmission by post. The outer cover shall contain sawdust, cotton or other spongy materials in sufficient quantity to absorb any contents that may escape through the inner cover;(d) Colouring powders shall be enclosed in an inner cover, which shall be securely closed. This inner cover shall itself be placed in an outer cover of metal, wood, leather or cardboard;(e) fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, cheese and other strong smelling articles, shall be placed in receptacles which are rat-proof and do not allow the smell of their contents to escape.
  2. Viscera (whether human or otherwise) transmitted by post shall be packed in the following manner:(a) the viscera shall be placed in a glass bottle or jar which shall be closed with a tight fitting stopper or cork. In cases where alcohol has been used to preserve the viscera, a ring of bees wax or candle wax shall be placed round the lip of the bottle or jar. The stopper or cork shall be kept in place by means of a tight fitting cover made of bladder or leather. The stopper or cork shall, in addition, be sealed;(b) the glass bottle or jar shall itself be placed in a strong wooden or tin box containing a layer or raw cotton three-fourths of an inch thick ; and(c) the box shall itself be enclosed in a cloth cover. This cover shall be securely closed and sealed. The seals shall be at intervals not exceeding 3 inches along each seam. The seals must be of the same kind of wax and shall bear distinct impression of the same device. The device shall not be that of a current coin or merely a series of straight or crossed lines.Articles which require special packing are sent at the sender’s risk, the Postmaster General accepting no liability in the case of either loss or damage, even if the packets are registered. ­
  3. If insecurely packed, they will be stopped. The public are warned that such insecurely packed packets come within the category of articles ” likely to injure other postal packets in course of conveyance or an officer of the Post Office ” and are therefore prohibited from being sent by post. The senders of such packets are liable to penalties under the Post Office Ordinance, whether the packets are sent by letter or parcel post.
  4. Any articles sent by Letter Post which cannot from the nature of its contents be transmitted thereby is, if admissible by Parcel Post, treated and charged as a parcel, irregularly posted. If inadmissible by Parcel Post, the packet is liable to be detained and dealt with as the Postmaster General may direct.

Manner of Prepaying Postage

The postage on a parcel, and also the registration fee if the parcel is to be registered, shall be prepaid fully by means of postage stamps affixed or impressed thereon or, if the space available is insufficient, on a label firmly attached to the parcel.

Note.-If wax cloth is used as an outer covering for a parcel (see Rule 60), it is advisable that the postage stamps should always be affixed to a tie-on label.

Manner of Posting

  1. (1) A parcel must not be posted in a letter box. It should be marked “Parcel Post” and presented at the counter of a Post Office, and the sender, who must himself affix the postage stamps, should see that thee weight, size, and postage are in order before leaving.
    1. if the postage thereon has been fully prepaid at the rate applicable to a letter, printed matter open packet, newspaper, or parcel and admissible to that class, be forwarded as such ; and
    2. if the postage thereon is unpaid or insufficiently paid at the rate applicable to the cheapest class of postal articles to which it is otherwise admissible, be charged with double postage, or double the deficiency in the postage, subject to a minimum surcharge of Rs.5.00 at the rate applicable to that class.

Warehousing Charges

The warehousing charges payable on an Inland parcel shall be Rs. 50.00 for each day it remains undelivered after the expiry of the period men­tioned in Rule 34 (d) (1) during which it is held free of charge.

Delivery of Registered Parcels

No registered parcel shall be delivered to the addressee unless and until he signs a receipt in the form prescribed by the Postmaster-General and pays any accrued warehousing charges due on the parcel.

Liability to Detention

In cases where the transmission of letters would be delayed were the whole mail indiscriminately dealt with, parcels may be kept back till the next dispatch.