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Polio Free Pakistan Mother’s Vision-Daughter’s Mission Commemorative Postage Stamps October 10, 2009: (2009-14)

Polio Free Pakistan Mother’s Vision-Daughter’s Mission Commemorative Postage Stamps October 10, 2009:- Polio Eradication is the largest public health initiative in the world involving millions of health workers world-wide in a global campaign to rid the world of this disease that once crippled hundreds of thousands of children. In 1988 following resolution of the World Health Assembly, a world-wide effort was initiated to defeat polio through mass immunization campaigns.

In Pakistan under the leadership of the Islamic World’s first woman Prime Minister, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, a nation-wide drive was launched to defeat polio and save the children from being paralyzed for life by a disease that is preventable.

The first round of the national polio eradication campaign was held on 27^th April, 1994. The then Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto launched the drive by administering the first polio drops to her youngest daughter Aseefa who was 2 years of age then and setting an example for mothers to follow all over the country. Addressing the launch ceremony at the Prime Minister House, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto said “To me all Pakistani children are like Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa and although I am the country’s Prime Minister, I am also a mother”.

Special polio centers were established all over the country where mothers and caretakers of children up to 5 years of age came in large numbers to get their children immunized against polio. The nation had responded to the call of their Prime Minister and the first polio campaign was a resounding success. The campaign then continued through the years reducing each year the number of Pakistani children falling prey to the crippling polio virus. According to official figures the country was reporting over 23,000 cases of polio each year before the initiation of the campaign which has dropped in 2008 to 117 cases.

By the year 2007 the number of polio cases had been brought down to just 32 with complete eradication in sight. However, the gains in the fight against polio were rolled back due to the unrest and militancy in parts of Pakistan with the country by the end of 2008 reporting 117 cases and the trend continuing during 2009.

The Government of Pakistan People’s Party which had initiated the campaign has resolved to face the remaining challenges and take the mission of their leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to its logical conclusion who had envisioned a Pakistan where no child ever would be paralyzed by polio, a disease that could easily be prevented and for which a vaccine was available in the country.

The present Government according the highest priority to polio eradication in the health sector had launched a number of new initiatives to improve coverage of polio vaccination and reach every child under 5 years with the polio drops.

The appointment of Aseefa Bhutto Zardari is a major stride taken in this regard. Aseefa was the first-ever child to receive polio vaccination in the country and has resolved to translate the vision of her mother in to a reality by advocating for and leading the polio eradication campaign nation-wide. Aseefa will reach out to mothers across Pakistan appealing to them to actively participating in each polio campaign. Two Commemorative Postage Stamps of Rs.5/- denomination, one with Urdu and the other with English Caption are being issued by Pakistan Post on October 10, 2009 to commemorative this major stride forward in protecting and preserving the health of the children of Pakistan.

60th Anniversary of The People’s Republic of China Commemorative Postage Stamp October 01, 2009. (2009-13)

60^th Anniversary of The People’s Republic of China Commemorative Postage Stamp October 01, 2009:- Pak-China friendship spans over half a century, and is imbused by a high degree of trust and commonality of interests. It has matured into a comprehensive strategic partnership, of immense mutual interest and of special significance for Pakistan’s security and economic development.

The all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan has withstood the test of time and has prospered notwithstanding changes in the international, regional and domestic environment. Both sides are committed to strengthening good-neighborliness and friendship, developing cooperation and deepening strategic relations between China and Pakistan. There is a mutual recognition that it serves fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and will promote peace and development in the region.

Political fundamentals of the relations remain sound, and are reflected in the frequent high-level exchanges, bilateral cooperation, understanding and support for each other’s position at international for a and extensive coordination enables the two sides to exchange views on the evolving strategic and global issues. Cooperation at multilateral forums is also proceeding satisfactorily.

Pakistan was one of the first group of countries to recognize China with diplomatic relations being established on May 21, 1951 Since then, China and Pakistan have witnessed smooth development of friendly and neighborly relations as well as mutually beneficial cooperation. The foundations of a strong friendship with China were laid by the visionary policies of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He signed the Pakistan-China border agreement on 02 March 1963, followed by the Border Protocol in 1965. These agreements paved the way for a strong, durable, multifaceted and multi-dimensional relationship in the years to come. During the period when most western countries were trying to isolate China, Pakistan took the bold step of being the first non-socialist country to sign an Air Services Agreement with China in August 1963 to link China with other countries starting a regular air service from 29 April, 1964. This gesture by Pakistan during the cold war period, aimed containment policies of the US, was greatly appreciated by the Chinese leadership.

Prime Minister Bhutto provided a clear and lucid long term framework for Pakistan’s relations with China. As a result of his vision, China became the principal source of military hardware and technology for Pakistan in addition to its involvement and support for important projects in the defence, heave industry and infrastructure Sectors.

Prime Minister Bhutto had the great prescience to see a natural role for Pakistan in the ultimate establishment of dialogue between China and the US. His words proved correct as Pakistan played a key role in the Sino-US détente by providing the back channel for normalization of their relations. Pakistan organized a secret visit to Beijing by Dr. Henry Kissinger from Islamabad in July 1971.

Prime Minister Bhutto’s vision as a statesman and conviction as a patriot is best illustrated in his role as the archite3ct of Pakistan’s strategic cooperative relations with China. The leadership and people of China as honour his contribution to this day and recall fondly his visit to China as President/Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1972, 1974 and 1976. Mr. Bhutto’s meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong during his last visit to China in 1976 is a historic meeting as it was Mao’s last meeting with any foreign Head of Government.

Prime Minister Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto maintained the tradition of a special relationship with China laid down by her illustrious father. She first visited China in 1972 when she accompanied him on a state visit and had the opportunity to meet Premier Zhou Enlai and his wife Madam Deng Yingchao. The Chinese greatly appreciate and remember the fact that even before her assumption to power as Prime Minister of Pakistan after the 1988 elections; Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto announced that her first official visit would be to China. Accordingly, she visited China in February 1989. The highlight of the visit was the Prime Minister’s meeting with Senior Leader Deng Xiaoping. The solidarity and support Pakistan showed for China under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in the difficult months following the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989 has become an unforgettable chapter in the history of Pakistan-China relations.

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s second visit to China in December 1993 took place at a time when China was celebrating the 100^th Birth Anniversary of Chairman Mao Zedong. The Prime Minister held detailed talks with President Jiang Zemin and Premier Lipeng. The visit acted as a catalyst in further improving bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan. The two sides signed agreements on economic and trade cooperation, and important infrastructure development projects like the improvement of Karakorum Highway.

China hosted XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing from 8-24 August and 13^th Paralympics from 6-17 September 2008. The Chinese leadership attached great importance to successful holding of the Olympics. This was apparent in the spectacular opening ceremony held on 08 August 2008 which was unmatched in the history of the Games.

The opening ceremony was attended by many Head of States / Government like President Bush, President Sarkozy, and Prime Minister Putin. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani undertook a goodwill visit to China to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics and was warmly received by the Chinese leadership. The Prime Minister held discussion with Chinese premier wen Jiabao in a cordial atmosphere and exchanged views on important bilateral, regional, and global issues.

The four visits of President Asif Ali Zardari to China in less thatn a year is a testament to our growing multifaceted cooperation. The two countries acknowledge the fact that in order to sustain a comprehensive cooperative relationship, substantive economic cooperation, matching with the level of political and strategic cooperation, was absolutely necessary. Economic cooperation would not only consolidate the comprehensive bilateral relations but also help in achieving common aspirations for development, peace and stability in the region.

In the last few years, the two governments have convened a number of high-level conferences/forums, inaugurated by their respective leadership in Pakistan and China, to promote economic cooperation thereby exhibiting interest, resolve and patronage to the private sector business community of the two countries. Pakistan and China now have created a clear and shared vision of the director of their economic relations. Two countries have signed over 200 Agreements/Treaties/MOUs in diverse fields. Clarity in the direction has been achieved due to the frequent exchange of ideas at the highest-level consultations between the two countries. Pakistan-China relations, which are time-tested and multi dimensional are poised to follow an upward trajectory moving from generation to generation.

On 60^th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.5/- denomination on 01, October 2009.