National postal service provider Pos Malaysia Bhd will expand its integrated parcel centre (IPC) in Shah Alam to double its parcel handling capacity by 2018.

Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said the existing IPC in Shah Alam has reached its maximum operation capacity in less than two years and must be enhanced.

"We are now in the midst of expanding the IPC there so it can process up to 300,000 items per day from the current 150,000 items.

"The expansion is slated to be completed by 2018," he told reporters after Pos Malaysia's corporate social responsibility Back To School Programme for orphans here on Tuesday.

In the programme, 80 children from Pusat Jagaan Al Faizin and Rumah Nur Hikmah were presented with school uniforms, stationery, shoes and bags for school next year.

Mohd Shukrie said Pos Malaysia would also upgrade its existing sorting centre at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang into an IPC.

"We will expand its operations immediately after the contract award process for the expansion of IPC Shah Alam is completed.

"The combined capacity of IPC Shah Alam and KLIA is expected to be half a million items per day, enough to meet the current demand," he said.

Currently, Pos Malaysia sorts 350,000 to 400,00 items per day nationwide. -- Bernama