Research and Collection Services

Research & Collection Services (Private) Limited (RCS), a member of the PATHFINDER GROUP was established in August 1995 with the objective of provision of services eg verification of antecedents of employees, due diligence, recovery of bad debts and re-possession of vehicles from defaulters, security/risk surveys, investigative services (insurance & bank fraud), etc.
Background Verification and Screening
Pakistan is host to a large number of illegal immigrants having fake documents. Even those with legal nationality have been found in possession of fake degrees and forged certificates. Hiring a person for a position he/she is not qualified for undermines an organisation's ability to overcome challenges to its development and business growth. The overall environment in Pakistan warrants pre-employment background checks and vetting of individuals to prevent infiltration of undesirable elements in any organisation.
RCS has expertise in this field whereby it covers: (1) home addresses (2) employment records (3) electronic media (4) criminal and civil record history (5) records of human rights violations (6) military service records (7) motor vehicle records (8) credit reports (9) education verification (10) employment verification (11) license/certification/registration verification (12) personal references (13) substance abuse (14) white collar crime record (15) lineage and biases (16) physical and mental fitness (17) unsuitability to carry weapons (18) ability to operate in stressful and adverse conditions and (19) NADRA Verisys based ground checks.
Security Survey & Audit
RCS employs scientific approach to conduct security audit and survey to assess vulnerabilities and then recommends measures under a phased programme to ensure that safety and security profile is improved to meet international standards thus placing information, lives and material of an organisation in green region of limitations. The investment return, as a result, is immense and invisible but if recommendations are ignored resulting in some disaster this ruins reputation of an organisation. It is not just a few affectees who are aggrieved because of a catastrophe that could have been avoided had the organisation implemented recommended safety measures but the negative impact is obvious. Even where safety measures are in place, complacency sets in as time passes, that is why experts suggest intermittent visits, rehearsals and training of new inductees to keep all concerned abreast with safety and security requirements. Larger organisations raise their own integral sections dealing with the discipline of safety and security under either HR or an independent entity.
The recent Regent Plaza incident in Karachi magnifies the importance of conducting security survey and intrusive audit of facilities and installations where threat to life of public is at stake. This tragedy could have been avoided had Regent Plaza administration acted responsibly and employed the services of experts who would have pointed out the absence of emergency exits and firefighting arrangements. RCS has security experts to conduct intrusive and detailed security audit and surveys and has a large clientele. Periodic reviews ensure latest practices and trends are incorporated and on ground working is harmonised and woven into overall organisational standard operating procedure. RCS has experts in different fields such as Electronic Security, Fire Fighting, Physical Guarding and has on call expert(s) in other fields.
Inquiry, Legal Assistance & Debt Recovery
Wilful default and financial embezzlements are common in private sector. Debt recovery loses its impact due to long drawn procedures of our judicial system, sometimes spread over decades. RCS handles such cases through a negotiated-cum-judicial process to reduce losses to clients. RCS has experts pertaining to Social Sector, Criminal and Civil related inquiries, having ex-officials of FIA and NAB to probe into white collar crimes through intrusive inquiry, causes and reasons leading to an incident/occurrence of any nature ranging from fake manufacturing to fire incident, financial misappropriation, security mishaps, etc and measures recommended to avert chances of recurrence of incident of similar nature.
Survey & Studies for Social Sectors
A given project is technically and financially evaluated by experts after client's approval. Teams led by experts are deployed for physical survey making best use of network at RCS' disposal. Data collection through interviews, face to face interaction is recorded on prescribed forms. Experts steer and guide the teams as per requirements. Collation and interpretation of data is made and grey areas plugged. Transformation of data into study is ensured on scientific lines enabling a client to apply all available options to mitigate risks while conducting planning and subsequent execution of a project.
Past Experience involving major projects inludes; (1) On behalf of the Primary Education Directorate, Government of Balochistan, RCS conducted following three surveys covering nearly 1,200 villages in the entire province, starting in March 1997 and completed in 45 days. (a). Validation study under MPA/MNA Construction Program covering 263 schools in 13 Districts to identify (i) schools actually operating, details of teachers and students by grade and gender, (ii) each constructed building where no school existed, determine reasons for non-operation of such schools and (iii) determine what these non-operational school were used for and whether these could be made operational. (b). Human Resource Survey: Visit 558 villages to determine the population profile, report age-wise and gender-wise all children enrolled and attending schools, record children not enrolled in schools, report the number of government or non-government schools in the village, determine community interest in separate schools for girls. (c). Report of Community Support Schools: Visit 360 Community Support Schools in 25 Districts to determine enrolment figures, details of parents' representation and participation in school development process, level of support by field officers of Directorate of Primary Education and representatives of sponsoring organisations, financial support for schools generated by village education committee/parents. (2). In October 1997, Primary Education Directorate, Government of Balochistan again entrusted RCS with a contract to conduct validation of BEMIS Census Data by visiting between 1,000 to 1,200 schools and validation of student enrolment from school registers and of staff members and recording this data on prescribed forms. (3). For the first time in Pakistan Television Corporation's history the collection of licence fees was outsourced. After a bidding process in which RCS was the highest bidder (Rs 441 Million), RCS was awarded the contract in May 1998 for collection of TV/VCR/Dish Antenna licence fees on an all-Pakistan basis for 1998-99. RCS' bid was far in excess of PTV's own record collection of Rs 260 million. Despite various hurdles created by vested interest within PTV, RCS collected licence fees in excess of Rs 600 million.
(The writer is Chief Operating Officer, Research and Collection Services)