Pakistan Tourism Convention 1984 (November 5, 1984)

In pursuance of the President\'s directive Pakistan Tourism Conventions are being organized in various cities of Pakistan since 1981. The Fourth Pakistan Tourism Convention would be held in Karachi from 5th to 8th November, 1984.
The objective of the Convention is to project Pakistan as a tourist destination as well as to provide forum for business and social contacts between the members of Pakistan Tourism Industry and their counter-parts in foreign countries.
The recommendations made at the Convention for the development of tourism in the country are considered by the Government on top priority basis. Necessary steps are taken by the Government for implementation of the decisions taken at these Conventions.
THEME
The theme of the Convention is \"Adventure and Culture\". The roots of Pakistan, a country with 796,095 square kilometres of land mass, lie deep in antiquity as it has been truly a cradle of civilizations. The excavations at Moenjodaro in Sind and at Harappa in Punjab provide ample evidence about the high level of social structure & civilizations flourishing in these areas, centuries before the Aryans came to this sub-continent.
Pakistan is rich in tourist attractions as a destination in its own right. The scenery varies from the arid planes of Sind to the snow-capped Karakoram Mountains through which the world\'s greatest highway climbs over 5000-metre passes. Then it descends to the Indus Valley, from desert to lush irrigated planes, from rural villages to colourful bazaars and busy cities. Pakistan is a land of contrasts and of. diverse cultures but united by Islam.
The tourists from everywhere come to Pakistan and meet its diverse peoples from the modern city of Karachi to the rugged men of the Northern Areas. Each has his own traditions, costume, crafts, even language, but what they all share is hospitality. In fact, Pakistan offers a variety of charms to absorb people of all interests ranging from climbing and trekking to exploring its ancient archaeological sites and cultural centres.
SHAH JAHAN MOSQUE
The commemorative stamps issued on the occasion of the Convention shows different views of the Shah Jahan Mosque, located about 100 km from Karachi, past the humble dwellings of Thatta. This Mosque was built on the orders of Emperor Shah Jahan the builder of the famous Taj Mahal, who had once found refuge in Sind, when he was a Prince and engaged in war.
The Mosque is a glorious example of Muslim architecture. Its construction commenced in 1644 and was completed in 1647; the eastern range, including the great gateway, was added in 1658-59. The Mosque is in the form of a great quadrangle and its plan differs from the usual scheme, in that, to balance the main prayer chamber on the west side, an equally large chamber has been provided on the east. The two are linked by means of a double arcade covered with a series of 93 small domes. The domes also serve a practical acoustical purpose as they enable the voice of the leader or \'lmam\' to be heard in all corners of the Mosque.
The pride of the building is its glazed tile-work, which is the most complete surviving specimen of its type. The interior of the main dome is a superb starry vault in blue and white. The spandrels of the arches are filled with the conventional floral compositions in mosaic technique while on the friezes are ornamental inscriptions.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing five commemorative postage stamps in se-tenant, each of Re. 1.00 denomination, on November 5, 1984.