Wildlife Series Duck December 31, 1992

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
The largest and typical surface feeding or dabbling duck. The male largely grey above and below, in breeding season finely pencilled and vermiculated with black, glistening metallic dark green head and neck separated from chestnut breast by narrow white collar. Rump, tail-coverts and two up-curled central tail feathers black. Metallic purplish blue mirror on wing bordered in front and behind by black and white lines conspicuous in flight, yellowish green bill, orange legs. Female brown and buff streaked and spotted with black, an irregular dark line through the eye. Breeds in small number in Kashmir, mainly winter visitor in lower Sindh.
Nests on a pad of weeds thickly lined with down under a bush or grass clump near edge of the lake lays 6-1 0 greenish grey to yellowish stone eggs.
Frequents shallow reedy jheels and marshes, rarely in ponds, rivers chiefly vegetarian feeds on corms, seeds and shoots of equatic plants.
GREY-LAG GOOSE (Anser anser)
A common winter visitor and believed to be the ancestor of all our domestic breeds. Plain ashy head and pale fore-wing, remainder of plumage grayish except white upper-tail covers ad dark tail bar. Bill, legs and claws pink.
One of the largest grey geese with heavy flight and gait, best distinguished by its pale grey fore wing, orange bill and pink legs. Breeds in lowland, moors and marshes, highly gregarious, congregates in considerable flocks on jheels where-ever abundance of food, comparative freedom from molestation and extensive cultivation of winter crops in the surrounding supply the essential requirements.
Associate in large groups, spend daytime squatting belly to ground or resting on one leg on mud spits in the jheels and rivers. Almost exclusively vegetarian.
GADWAL (Anas strepera)
Male generally dark brown 4~i grey with whitish belly and very black tail end. A glistening white patch on trailing edge of wing, broadly bordered in front with lack, conspicuous in flight. At rest a chestnut patch in front of this black and white speculum is a good pointer.
Female dark brown mottled with buff, also with yellow legs. Diagnosed in flight by white wing mirror as in males but at rest this usually concealed. Flocks usually found on shallow, reedy jheels and marshes. Winter visitor and perhaps our commonest and locally abundant migratory wildfowl found in association with other ducks on suitable water. It is a mixed surface feeder, gregarious and largely vegetarian and a very silent bird in it winter quarters sometimes also dives for food and can do so very effectively when wounded or evading capture.
Winter visitor, breeds in northern Europe and Asia.
COMMON SHELDUCK (Tadorna tadorna)
A handsome, strinkingly coloured duck, chiefly white, black and chestnut with a distinctive bright red upturned bill and pink legs. Adult males have greenish black glistening neck and head. Rest of the upper parts white with two broad black bands along either side. Bright green wing speculum bordered above by a chestnut patch. Below white, a broad chestnut hoop or girdle round breast and shoulders. A broad black band from breast to vent and conspicuous red knob above base of bill. Female considerably smaller and duller in colour with chestnut breast feathers edged with black vermiculations.
It is casual and uncommon winter visitor on open lakes and large rivers, winters from southern part of its breeding range to North Africa, Arabia, India, South China and Japan. Normally gregarious and occurs in small parties. Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans insects and worms, also algae, seeds, leaves and tubers of aquatic plants.
(Contributed by: Sindh Wildlife Management Board)
To focus world attention on the need to protect and preserve this vulnerable wildlife species of Pakistan Postal Services Corporation is issuing a set of four special postage stamps of Rs. 5/- value each depicting different species of Ducks on December 31,1992. It is part of the series on wildlife stamps being issued by Pakistan Postal Services Corporation since 1975.

Islamic Cultural Heritage Al- Hamra Spaln December 14, 1992

The Spain in 1490 was a geographical expression embracing Leon, Castile, Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia. The first two constituted the Christian Kingdom of Castile. The last three shared a Christian Arogoness monarch.
Once all these above were under Muslim rule. But in 1490 the only Muslim Kingdom of Granada ruled over truncated Andalusia in the South. Earlier 1469, Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile, though neither had as yet succeeded to a throne.
The Andalusia Peninsula had been settled by Muslims (Arab and Berber) from the year 711, when Tariq bin Ziyad started the Muslim era in Jabal al-Tariq (Gibraltar as the West calls it) and which ended, after the meandering course of events in Granada in 1491. Muslim Andalus state once ruled Spain for 800 years from Gibraltar in the South to the Pyrannes Mountains on the borders of Spain and France. The Muslim period had risen to high peaks of civilization, enlightenment, knowledge and culture but then suffered drastic decline.
The Jews had also settled and flourished during this 800 years of Muslim rule. Most of the Jews arrived with the Muslim conquerors in the eighth century.
The 800 years of Muslim Andalus or Muslim Spain brought about the evolution of three desperate peoples - Muslim, Jewish and Christians into cohabitation to a degree unknown elsewhere because of the Islamic spirit of tolerance and equal justice.
In the year 1491, the last Muslim Kingdom of Granada fell to the Christian invading army.
After this followed a protracted civil war with rival Christian princes and princesses pursuing conflicting dynastic rights to achieve acceptance as a Christian bastion and an European country: this work was taken up as a sacred task by the Christian monarchs and clergy. Spain underwent a pathological mutation that infused its leaders with a resolve to purge this new nation of its non-Christian minorities which in turn brought about the infamous Inquisition and forced expulsion of Muslims and Jews whereby Spain lost its heritage but the voyage of Columbus gained for Spain a continent and the new-found commerce and wealth.
The Muslim contribution to the rural and urban development of Spain, to the agricultural and industrial growth of Andalusia and, above all, to its educational and cultural progress, were most inspiring. Muslim scholars, with the support of Muslim governments of the time in different provinces, started not only a number of institutions of higher learning like the Universities of Cordoba Seville, Toledo, Granada, Malaga etc., but also built great centres of historical and scientific research. Unfortunately, after the fall of the last Muslim Kingdom of Granada, we Muslims have almost forgotten our great and marvelous achievements and put them on the forgotten shelf of oblivion. Besides our worldly achievements, we have also forgotten the researches undertaken by our scholars of Muslim Spain in the field of the Quran, the Sunnah and the Fiqh.
It is said that when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabelle first entered Granada after the last Muslim Kingdom in Spain surrendered on Jan. 2, 1492, both of them and their courtiers marveled at the beauty of the fortified palace of Alhamra and the treasures this last truncated Muslim Kingdom contained.
The splendour that was Granada and the unsurpassed grandeur of Cordoba dazzled Europe; and just as spectacular were the contributions of Muslim genius of Andalusia like Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Abul Qasim Al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) Al-Zarqati (Azarquiel), Jabir Aflahal-Ishbiti, Al-Bitruji, Al-Idrisi, Aqul Abbas el-Nabati, Ibn Baitar, Ibn al-Awan, Qazi Qasim al Andalusi among others.
Yet in the centuries that followed while Muslim lost a Andalus the legacy of almost 800 years of Muslim presence on the Iberian peninsula could still be seen in Spain's languages, food, traditions, architecture and music. But the official version recorded by the fall of Granada was that it was a great Catholic victory over the "infidels'.
To show our gratitude to the rich cultural heritage and to appreciate the intellectual and scientific advance in all fields of life by the Muslims of al Andalus beside learn valuable lessons, the Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami (World Muslim Congress) had been tying for over six years to mobilise the Ummah Islamiyah and others to hold suitable commemorative programmes. In this respect last year in November 1991, at Lahore, the Motamar AI-Alam AI-Islami itself held the first-ever international Islamic Seminar on the "Cultural Heritage of Muslim Spain. At Lahore it also held the first-ever 'Exhibition' on the unique cultural laboratory of AI-Andalus which projected an exquisite blend of all arts and knowledge. Both these two global programmes by the Motamar Al -Alam AI-Islami were inaugurated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Pakistan at Al-Hamra Complex, Lahore on November 14th.
Allama Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, incomparable not only in his vision of Islam but also in his reservoir of knowledge made Al-Andalus, the Muslim Spain, a cherished subject of his poems.
These poems reveal Iqbal's intense passion for the resurrection of the past glory of Islam.
Iqbal's mission was to persuade Muslims of the world that their past has been glorious and that there was no reason why their future should not be so as well. One of his notable poems Masjid-e-Qurtaba was inspired by his visit to the magnificent Mosque of Cordoba. This poem exhorts the Muslim Ummah to initiate a re-awakening:
"Wake up, my friend and defile no more with chains"
"The supreme Divine gift of the nature born free"
"The river Kabir flowing by the city of Cordoba still beckons the Muslims."
In the thrilling poem entitled, "Hispania', Allama addresses Spain:
"Hispania: of Muslim blood you are a noble repository"
"That makes you sacred like the Great Haram, for me".
"Etched in your soil are the forehead prints of the worshippers of old." "Floating in your winds are the sounds of prayer-calls of ages ago".
That itself is a reason for the Muslim Ummah: people, institutions, nations, to keep the memories of Al-Andalus the Muslim Spain alive and commemorate its cultural heritage.
The distinction of Muslim Spain, compared to other great Muslim empires, was that it was a bridge for cross-cultural interaction between Islam and the West, and it was the pathway of renaissance in the West.
(Contributed by: World Muslim Congress, Motamar Al-Alam Al-Islami, Karachi)
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on December 14, 1992.

International Conference on Nutrition December 5, 1992

Freedom from hunger and malnutrition was first recognized as a basic human right with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and reaffirmed as recently as 1989 in the Convention of the Rights of the Child. In many countries great strides have been made since 1948 to improve the food and nutrition situation. However, in virtually all countries malnutrition in all its forms persists and in some countries and among certain population groups it has actually increased. To alleviate malnutrition, attention must continue to be given to increasing the production and availability of food and, most importantly, to ensuring that the poor have adequate access to it. However, increased emphasis needs to be given to improving a broad range of health, social and economic conditions, if improvements in the nutritional well-being of all are to be achieved and maintained.
To meet this challenge, a global, intergovernmental meeting on nutrition, the International Conference on Nutrition (ION), is being jointly organized by FAQ and WHO and will be convened in December 1992. The proposal for sponsoring the ION was approved by the FAQ Conference in November 1989 and by the WHO World Health Assembly in May 1990.
The preparation of the ION is under the overall direction of a Joint FAQ/WHO Streering Committee, and a Joint Secretariat has been established at the FAQ headquarters in Rome to coordinate all ION preparations. These are being undertaken in close collaboration with the other United Nation\'s organizations that are members of the Administrative Committee on coordination\'s Sub-Committee on Nutrition (where the idea of a global meeting was first advanced), and with several bilateral agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The Conference will examine nutrition problems and their causes, as well as the means to prevent them. Special attention will be given to the nutrition problems encountered by poor people throughout the world, ranging from famine and food insecurity to nutrition requirements and the increasing incidence of chronic diet-related diseases.
The overall objectives of the Conference are - to identify the problems of malnutrition, either of deficit or excess, related factors, their magnitude and geographical distribution, their causes and impact on the population and measures to overcome them at world, regional and national levels;
- to develop and adopt a strategy and proposals for action to reach agreed nutrition and dietary goals;
- to mobilize additional financial resources for concentrated efforts by governments, non-governmental organizations and international organizations to implement the strategy through immediate and long-term proposals for broad-based national and international action;
- to increase awareness of the magnitude, causes and consequences of malnutrition and of the benefit of sound nutritional status in order to create momentum behind actions and for a human nutrition focus within the Fourth Development Decade; and
- to establish a global system of collecting and disseminating information on year-to-year changes in nutrition status of at-risk population groups.
These broad objectives will be refined and focused further as the preparation for the Conference proceeds.
In many countries, it is envisaged that the process of preparing for the ION will, in itself, lead to an increased awareness of the scope and causes of nutrition problems and of how they could more effectively be addressed. Each Member country should prepare a country paper summarizing their nutrition situation, including the extent and causes of nutrition problems, past experience in addressing them and plans for future action. These country-level preparations will be complemented by a series of regional or sub-regional workshops, which will provide the opportunity to synthesize ideas and approaches for improving nutrition and will contribute to the development of the ION agenda. A umber of theme papers and case studies will also be commissioned, which along with the results of the regional activities, will lead to a comprehensive assessment and analysis of nutrition problems and their causes, and a global plan of action.
In addition to all relevant segments of the public sector, the participation of non-governmental organizations and the private sector in preparing for the ION is particularly encouraged. Similarly, given the importance that public awareness and information will have in meeting the ICN\'s objectives the effective use of the media will also be a key to the success of the ICN preparations.
(Contributed by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Islamabad) To commemorate the International Conference on Nutrition, Pakistan Post is issuing a special postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on December 5, 1992.

Extraordinary Session Eco Council of Ministers 28-29 November, 1992

Pakistan is hosting the extraordinary session of the ECO Council of Ministers in Islamabad on 28-29 November 1992. On this historic occasion five Central Asian States namely; Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrghystan will be admitted into ECO. With these countries we share common history, culture and religion. These relations remained disrupted for centuries in the colonial era. After the disintegration of Soviet Union these States attained independence and are joining the FCC. These were admitted with pleasure at the first FCO summit meeting at Tehran in February this year. Afghanistan too has since applied for membership. The extraordinary session of ECO Council of Ministers is being held in Islamabad on 28-29 November 1992 to formally admit these new members.
Economic Cooperation Organisation was established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. Earlier the ROD, established in 1964 was aimed at promoting economic and commercial relations. After the Islamic revolution in Iran this spirit of cooperation between the three countries was revived with a new name called Economic Cooperation Organisation.
Aims and Objectives of ECO
i) Reduction of trade barriers in the ECO area at an appropriate time in the light of the experience to be gained within the FCC preferential tariff system.
ii) Industrial collaboration through the establishment of joint ventures based on the regional market; and through inter-industry cooperation and specialisation in production of components.
iii) Establishment of an FCC Investment and Development Bank with the participation of private sectors of the member states.
iv) Conversion of the integrated FCC Reinsurance Pool into an FCC Reinsurance Company. v) Promotion of intra-regional tourism.
vi) Provision of efficient post, telephone, telegraph and telex services within the region.
vii) Provision of efficient transport system in the region. To this end the Member States shall give priority to the construction, completion and improvement of the highways and railways.
viii) To take measures to ensure adequate shipping services and formation of an ECO Shipping Company.
ix) Expansion of air travel and. movement of air cargo.
x) To provide technical assistance and expertise to each other in various fields.
xi) To establish institutions for training personnel in the technical fields.
xii) To establish ECO Science Foundation with headquarters at lslamabad with a view to build up a pool of highly skilled, scientific and technical manpower.
xiii) Creation of an ECO Youth Foundation to promote Cultural exchange, friendship and greater contacts among the youth.
xiv) Promotion of cultural cooperation.
xv) Establishment of close cooperation among media agencies.
Organs of ECO
The task entrusted to the Economic Cooperation Organisation shall be carried out by the following organs:-
1. The Council
a) Council of Ministers
b) Council of Deputies
2. Regional Planning Council
3. Technical Committees
4. The Secretariat, and
5. Specialised Agencies
Achievements of ECO
i) The member states have signed a protocol on preferential tariffs at the First ECO Summit meeting.
ii) Meeting of a Study Group of ECO Shipping Company was held at Ankara on 30-31 March, 1992 examined the draft Agreement on the establishment of the Shipping Company and discussed its functions, the principles of establishment, capital, the distribution of shares between Government and public sectors and exemptions of duties to be granted to the proposed company.
The meeting agreed on all points except a clause pertaining to the exemption of customs duties and all kinds of taxes and duties related to the establishment and registration of the Company by the respective countries. This point will be discussed in the next meeting expected to be held in 1st week of Dec. 1992.
iii) Draft Trilateral Maritime agreement is under consideration.
iv) Draft agreement of ECO Commercial and Financial Bank is under consideration.
v) The Heads of the Central Banks of ECO countries in their meeting on 28-29 March, 1992 at Karachi agreed on the basic concepts of an ECO Investment and Development Bank.
vi) Agreement on mutual exchange of technical and industrial training is under consideration.
vii) ECO College of Insurance has been established at Tehran.
viii) ECO satellite is under study.
ix) The microwave network between ECO countries is ready for transmission of each others TV programmes.
x) Feasibility report to establish fiber optics cable link between the ECO countries is under consideration.
xi) One of the important achievement of ECO is the establishment of a regional postal union called South & West Asia Postal Union with headquarters at Tehran. The postal union aims at maintaining reduced postal tariff among the member countries, holding philatelic exhibitions and arranging common training facilities.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a stamp of Rs. 7/-denomination on November 28, 1992.

Medicinal Plants of Pakistan - Banafsha/Violet (Viola Odorata L) November 22, 1992

Pakistan is endowed with the wealth of medicinal plants. These are the natural botanical source of medicines being manufactured by indigenous pharmaceutical houses in Pakistan. These are also the basic source of modern pharmaceutical market, although today it has become an entire medical world of synthetics, with elevated prices a common man can not afford.
It is therefore the most appropriate time to consider development and organization of our medicinal plants industry to become independent in the provision of common indigenous natural drugs that are being used to treat diseases in most of our rural areas. In our country there are grown wild or cultivated medicinal plants species which possess great potentialities not in the light of their use from centuries in the sub-continent in Greco-Arab (Unani or Eastern) system of medicine but also in the light of active principles or bio-dynamic compounds being isolated from them using ultra modern screening techniques available in our country.
Viola odorata Linn. Banafsha/Violet. It is included in family Violaceae as a glabrous or pubescent perennial herb found in Kashmir and temperate western Himalayas often in mountains above 5000 ft. Leaves, roots and flowers are used in Unani medicine for bilious affections, lung troubles, cough, kidney diseases and liver affections. The herb keeps overall expectorant, diaphoretic, antipyretic and diuretic activities and as laxative in bilious affections. With other herbs useful in catarrhs and pulmonary affections.
(Contributed by: Director Research Bait al-Hikmat, Hamdard, Karachi)
To mark the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a special postage stamp of Rs. 6/- denomination on November 22, 1992.

Government Islamia College Lahore - Centenary Celebrations (1892-1992) November 1, 1992

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan\'s enthusiasm to improve the living conditions of the down cast Muslim Community of the Sub-continent, remained high and fervent even after the establishment of a College, because he could fore-see that Aligarh Institution was not strong enough to cater to the needs ot the Muslim community of British India. He believed that it was extremely necessary that the Muslims of India should be provided with a plat-from where they could assemble and evolve a common ground of understanding and line of action. In order to accomplish his goals, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan under-took extensive tours of the country and it was quite encouraging and inspiring that his movement received a tremendous, favourable response in the Punjab.
Inspired by the pioneering work done by Sir Syed, people who favoured and supported his philosophy and ambitious plans resolved to embark upon founding an organization that was named Anjuman-e-Himayat-e-Islam. Prominent among the founders of the Anjuman were Khalifa Hamid-ud-Din, Haji Mir Shams-ud-Din, Haji Mian Karim Bakhsh and Dr. Muhammad Din Nazir, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan participated in one of the meetings of the Anjuman. In his address, he said \"If Aligarh is my right eye, Lahore is my left eye, it Aligarh is my left hand, Lahore is my right hand\" This statement of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan provided an impetus to the stalwarts of the Anjuman and its supporters and the result was that in 1891, the General Council of the Anjuman adopted a resolution for the establishment of a College in Lahore.
In the year 1892, Islamia College Lahore was housed in a modest, two - room, portion of Islamia High School Sheranwala Gate, Lahore. One room was reserved for the first year class and the other was jointly shared by the Principal, the teaching staff and the College Clerk.
The Cardinal aim and object of this academic exercise was to facilitate the sons of poor Muslim parents to have access to the oriental as well as western education. The College remained to Intermediate Classes for approximately eight years.
In the year 1900, the College was upgraded and the Degree classes were introduced. In 1904 the College was shifted to a private building ultimately culminated in the creation of the state Pakistan.
In 1941 the first Pakistan Conference was held in Islamia College under the auspices of the Muslim Students Federation and the most salient feature of this conference was the memorable fact that the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah performed the opening ceremony. It was at this conference that the Lahore Resolution was renamed the Pakistan Resolution. In 1943, a branch of the Muslim Students Federation started functioning in Islamia College. The first president of the Federation was Mr. Amanullah Khan Niazi. The new president Mr. Aftab Qureshi held a meeting in the College and the students were sent to the rural areas with a view to popularizing the Muslim League among the masses. In March 1947, when there were wide spread communal riots and disturbances in India, Islamia College Lahore was declared to be the centre for relief work. The services rendered by the students of this College during those crisis-ridden days were unique, exemplary and momentous.
(Contributed by: Principal, Government Islamia College, Lahore)
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a stamp of Rs. 3/- denomination on November 1, 1992.

4th Islamic Scouts Conference & 6th Islamic Scouts Jamboree Islamabad August 23,1992

The Idea of holding of 4th Islamic Scout Conference and 6th Islamic Scout Jamboree in Pakistan in 1991 was conceived after attending the 3rd Islamic Scout Conference and 5th Islamic Scout Jamboree in August, 1989, in Oman, Jordan in which the Conference authorities entrusted the task of holding the above events in Pakistan.
Previous Conferences and Jamborees were held separately.
BOREES
1st Islamic Scout Jamboree - 21-27 January, 1982 Qatar.
2nd Islamic Scout Jamboree - 02-10 September, 1983 Libya.
3rd Islamic Scout Jamboree - 14-24 August, 1984 Algeria.
4th Islamic Scout Jamboree - 02-10 October, 1987 Egypt.
5th Islamic Scout Jamboree - 01-10 August, 1989 Jordan.

CONFERENCES
1st Islamic Scout Conference, 1982 Qatar
2nd Islamic Scout Conference, 1987 Egypt
3rd Islamic Scout Conference, 1989 Jordan
During the Three previous Islamic Scout Conference, Scout officials from Muslim countries have endeavoured to form an International platform to activate and coordinate the activities of Muslim Scouts, around the world with a view to bring Muslim youths together. In the last Islamic Conference at Amman, Jordan, an organised a International Union of Muslim Scouts an Executive Committee of the IUMS comprising members from Pakistan, Jordan, Algeria, Qatar, Palestine, Senegal along with Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, Secretary General Rabita Alam-e-Islami as its Chairman was formed to organize and pursue the International Union of Muslims Scouts objectives. Members of IUMS is open to Scout Association from all Muslim countries of OIC and recognized Muslim Scout, Associations in non Muslim countries.
The Headquarters of the International Union of Muslim Scouts at Rabita Alam-e-Islamic Building, situated in Makkah Mukkarama.
Pakistan Boy Scouts Association in collaboration with the International Union of Muslim Scouts (IUMS) is organising the 4th Islamic Scout conference and 6th Islamic Scout Jamboree from August 22-30, 1992 at International Islamic University, Islamabad and Sumbol Park, National Headquarters, Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, Islamabad respectively. More than 40 Muslims countries are participating including the countries of Muslim Majority in the world. These events are of greater importance for the Muslims get to gather in particular. More than one thousand scouts and Scout Leaders from QIC countries other Muslim Scout Association are expected to participate.
The President and Chief Scout of Pakistan has already given host consent to inaugurate the 4th Islamic Scout conference at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan will inaugurate the 6th Islamic Scout Jamboree at Sumbol Park, National headquarters of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association.
The venue of the conference, Islamabad the capital city of Pakistan is located against the backdrop of the Margalla Hills at the northern end of the Potohar plateau. In contrast to its twin city Rawalpindi. It is a lush green specious and peaceful.
The Jamboree site of the 6th Islamic Scouts is situated near Aabpara, the famous place of the Islamabad the site measures 35 Acres of land with newly constructed National Headquarters of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association with all possible facilities.
Eleven national Jamborees of Pakistan have so far been held for which the Postal authorities had almost issued the commemorative postal stamps, First Day Covers and leaflets.
(Contributed by: Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, Islamabad.)
To commemorate the 4th Islamic Scout Conference and 6th Islamic Scout Jamboree, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of two commemorative postage stamps of Rs.6/- each denomination on August 23,1992.

Pioneers of Freedom (Series) August 14,1992

SYED SULEMAN NADVI
Syed Suleman Nadvi was born in 1884 in village Deesna of District Patna. His father, Hakeem Syed Abul Hassan had a great respect amongst the masses because of his piety, politeness and nobility. Syed Suleman Nadvi acquired his primary education at his home and attained Arabic education at Phalwari Shareef and Madras-e-lmdadia Darbhanga for some time. In 1901, he attached himself with Darul-Aloom Nadva for higher religious and Arabic education. The academic atmosphere at Nadva was quite exemplary, which polished Syed\'s literary taste. At Nadva, Syed got opportunities of acquiring bounty from great scholars like Maulana Farooq Charyakoti, Syed Muhammad Ali, Maulana Hafeezullah and Maulana Shibli Naumani. At Nadva, Syed acquired skill in writing laudatory poems in Arabic and Persian.
Syed was the most dignified student of Maulana Shibli Naumani and was greatly influenced by him. He got a special skill in writing and oratory under the able supervision of Maulana Shibli Naumani. He also acquired training in philosophy, literature and history from Nadva. He was very keen in research methods and possessed great mastery in criticism. He had a great trend towards mysticism and simplicity.
Syed attached himself with a paper titled \"AI-Nadva\" of Maulana Shibli Naumani in 1904 and became its editor in 1906. He acquired a great command in Arabic language and literature at Darul-Aloom Nadva. He was a prompt and an eloquent orator of Arabic. In 1908, he was appointed teacher of Modern Arabic Literature, Science and Religion at Darul-Aloom Nadva. During this time, he wrote two books under the title of \"Daroos-ul-Adab\" which have still great importance in Arabic literature. He was appointed as Secretary Education of Darul-Aloom Nadva in 1915.
NATIONAL SERVICES
Darul Aloom Nadva, although a religious institution, was also making efforts in creating political consciousness amongst the Muslims of India. Many religious scholars attached with this great institution were staunch supporters of the movement launched by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Syed Suleman Nadvi, like his teacher Shibli, did not wish that the Muslims should join the Congress. He advised the Muslims to keep themselves aloof from the Congress. He believed that if India succeeded in attaining freedom at any time, the Congress will play the role of a lion and the ~ Muslim League would become its victim like a fox.
His attachment with Al-Nadva and AI-Hilal, made him fully aware of the political conditions of the Muslims of the world in general and of India in particular. Syed was also conscious of the changes which were taking place in the beginning of the 20th century. Through the above mentioned circumstances it appears that Syed kept informed the Muslims of India about the alarming situation and designs of their foes. During the Khilafat Movement, Syed also used his pen forcefully to give momentum to the movement. He also accompanied the delegations of the Khilafat Committee to Europe, where he projected the rights and demands of the Turkish as well as the Muslims of India. Syed had declared India as \"Darul Harrab\" because of her peculiar conditions.
During a conflict between Sheriff of Mecca and Shah lbn-e-Saood, Syed led the delegation of Khilafat Committee to Hejaz in 1926. Syed, while representing the sentiments of the Muslims declared without hesitation that a democratic system should be introduced in Arabia. He also participated in the Conference of Motamar-e-Alam-e-Islami at Mecca in the capacity of its Vice President.
Syed with his untiring efforts eliminated the effects of Shuddhi and Sanghtan Movements launched by Swami Shirdhanand. By this way, he not only protected the Muslims but also guarded their Islamic entity and religious beliefs. Syed not only worked at educational front for the well being of the Muslims but also participated in every movement which was meant for the liberation of the Muslims of India.
Syed attached himself with Shibli Academy in 1916 from where he published some important books which later played a prominent role in the training of new generations. He was a great scholar and a historian of repute. He possessed great skill as a critic of poetry. He was a great admirer of \"Seerat-un-Nabi\" written by Maulana Shibli Naumani and credit of its completion also goes to him. He wrote \"Seerat-e-Aysha\" in 1910 and Arz-ul-Quran\" in 1918. He also wrote a book on Umar Khayyam, in which he has discussed his services in detail. He published collection of his essays \"Naqoosh-i-Sulemani\" in 1939. He also wrote a detailed history of Maulana Shibli Naumani. He delivered sermons on the life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), which have also been translated into English. He produced \"Daroos-ul-Adab\" and also prepared a dictionary of new Arabic words.
He was awarded the degree of D.Litt. by the Muslim Aligarh University in 1941 on account of his services rendered by him in education, literature and religion.
Syed was very much disappointed on account of atrocities inflicted upon the Muslims at the time of partition. He decided to come to Pakistan although he was requested by the Prime Minister of India to stay. He came to Pakistan in 1950 and was appointed President, Board of Taleemat-e-Islamia in 1950. This Board was a part of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. He died in 1953.
MAULANA MUHAMMAD SHIBLI NAUMANI
Maulana Mohammad Shibli Naumani was born in May 1857 at village Bandol of Azamgarh. His father, Sheikh Habibullah was a Raees-e-Azam of the city, a successful industrialist and a lawyer of great repute. Shibli was the eldest son of his father, whose birth was celebrated with great pomp and show.
Shibli completed his education in 1876 and had acquired sufficient command over Arabic, Persian and the understanding of the Holy Quran. He was fortunate to learn from great scholars of the time like Maulana Muhammad Farooq, Maulana Abdul Hayee Farangi Mohalli, Maulana Irshad Hussain Mujaddadi, Maulana Faizul Hassan Saharanpuri and Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi. But Maulana Muhammad Farooq left a lasting impression on his personality. These religious scholars equipped Shibli with real knowledge in various fields. His literary taste was polished and trimmed by Maulana Muhammad Farooq to a large extent and he was very much impressed with the capabilities that Shibli possessed. Shibli was quite satisfied with the education he had attained from various sources. But two things disappointed him very much. Firstly, he was unable to get an employment of his own choice for a period of seven years (1876-83). Secondly, the movement of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for spreading Western Education was a point of worry for him because he was trained in traditional/oriental studies. This, how-ever, did not allow Shibli to give up or surrender. Instead he faced the circumstances very boldly and courageously. He practiced as a lawyer at Azamgarh for sometime, but soon left this profession. Then he began to assist his father in his business, but this too did not suit his temperament. In fact, Shibli\'s destination was somewhat different.
In the beginning, he was against the educational scheme of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, but later he had to compromise with the thoughts of this great reformer. This change came in Shibli\'s personality, when he had the occasion of working with Sir Syed Ahmed Khan at MAO College, Aligarh. Some times, affinity with great personalities and the impact of their thoughts is so influential that it creates a great revolution in the beliefs, imaginations and lives of their associates. The same happened with Shibli and he benefited a lot from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan\'s association. In 1883, Shibli was fortunate to get an appointment at MAO College as a teacher of Oriental Sciences. This was the time when Shibli acquired skill in the art of poetry and composed many poems and odes. His poetry was a reflection of national thoughts which was because of academic environment of MAO College. Shibli successfully roused the feelings of the Muslims of India by writing/composing a Masnavi titled \"Subah-e-Umeed\", which became very popular.
At Aligarh, Shibli did not waste his time but concentrated all his energies in learning. This was because of the reasons that MAO College\'s library had plenty of rare books on various subjects. This made Shibli a good historian and writer. At Aligarh, he learnt French from Professor Arnold and taught him Arabic. His literary efforts and discourses added to the popularity of Aligarh College. An essay under the title of \"Musalmanoon ki Guzashta Taleem\" read by him in Muslim Educational Conference earned him great respect and repute. Shibli continued teaching as well as writing and published his popular book \"Al-Mamoon\", which negated all the charges leveled against Haroon-ul-Rashid by Palmer. He was able to write \"Seerat-un-Nauman\" in 1890 which indicates his attachment with lmam Abu Haneefa.
Besides, he wrote many historical literary and research articles from 1892 to 1898. The publication of these works made Shibli not only a great writer but also brought fame, respect and repute for him. The British Government awarded him with the title of \"Shamsul Ulama\" on account of his academic performance.
Because of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Shibli was able to establish connections with Nawab Umadul Mulk, Syed Hussain Bilgrami and his brother Syed Ali Bilgrami. He was awarded a Scholarship of Rs. 100/- per month by the Nawab. After he left Aligarh, he got an employment as Director of an institution \"Sarishta-e-Aloom-u-Fanoon\" established on the advice of Syed Ali Bilgrami. During his stay at Hyderabad, he was able to complete \"Al-Ghazali\" in which he has very skillfully analyzed the concepts and philosophy of lmam Ghazali. He also wrote books like \"llm-ul-Kalam\" and \"Al-Kalam\".
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Although Shibli was too much busy in his job and writing books on various topics, yet he did not ignore the religious aspect and did participate in every such activity as and when he got time. He actively participated in \"Vakf-ul-Aulad\" Bill of 1 908, Friday Holiday in Government Offices during 1912, \"Vakf-e-lslami\" and \"Fitna-lrtidad\" etc. He had a great love for Turkey and very courageously wrote an essay in \"Azad Akhbar\" in favour of Turkey. He started a paper under the name of \"Muslim Gazette\" from Lucknow in 1912. In this paper Shibli used to write essays on political issues and successfully diverted the attention of the Muslims of India towards their actual objectives. Shibli separated himself from \"Darul-Aloom-Al-Nadva\" in 1913 and came back to Azamgarh. Here he started \"Madrassa-tul-lslah\". He also founded an institution \"Darul-Musanifeen\", which he could not complete during this life time. It was later completed by his pupil Syed Suleman Nadvi.
Maulana Shibli was a great lover of the Holy prophet (peace be upon him). During his stay at Aligarh, he had produced a Journal \"Badr-ul-Islam, which was included in the syllabus of Aligarh College. On account of his respect and emotional love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), he started writing \"Seerat-un-Nabi\", but was unable to complete on account of severe illness. Before his death, he advised his pupil, Syed Suleman Nadvi that \"Seerat is the earning of my life, do complete this work ignoring everything.\" This indicates how much importance did he attach to this work.
Shibli was a great scholar and he did contribute a lot through his pen for the Muslims of India and later generations benefited to a great extent from his writing. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Majeedi by the Sultan of Turkey. He became Fellow of Allahabad University and a member of Royal Asiatic Society.
Shibli was the founder of the following institutions:
1. Shibli National School, Azamgarh
2. Darul-Aloom Nadva, Lucknow
3. Darul-Musanifeen, Azamgarh
He died on November 18, 1914.
NAWAB IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN KHAN MAMDOT
Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Mamdot was born at Lahore in 1906. His father, Sir Shah Nawaz Khan Mamdot was a great political and social figure of the Punjab. The Mamdot family enjoyed great respect amongst the masses because of its popularity, prosperity and national services. After completing his education from Government College, Lahore, Mamdot joined police service at Hyderabad Deccan. But the police services did not suit his temperament and soon he left the job.
At that time, the Unionist Party of Sir Fazal Hussain had the support of all the big landlords of the Punjab and it had also considerable influence in the Council. The Muslim League was not so popular in the province at that time. Nawab lftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot had a great political foresight and preferred to join the Muslim League. He was of the opinion that it was the Muslim League only which really represented the aspirations of the Muslims of India. His father, Sir Shah Nawaz Khan was a prominent figure of the Punjab and was loyal to the Muslim League from the core of his heart.
In 1937, when Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Au Jinnah and Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan agreed through a pact to include the Muslim Leaguers in the Assembly, the leadership of the Punjab Muslim League was assigned to Iftikhar Hussain\'s father. Iftikhar Hussain Khan supported the cause of the Muslim League and actively participated in its affairs. He became the President of the Punjab Provincial Muslim League in 1942 after the * death of his father. He wished that the Muslim League should be strengthened so that it could compete with the Unionist Party. For this purpose, he worked day and night and organized the Muslim League on sound footings in accordance with the wishes of his leader Quaid-i-Azam. He was a firm believer of party discipline and never took any decision before taking into confidence the members of the party.
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad AU Jinnah had a great confidence upon Mamdot and believed that he was very sincere and dedicated to the Muslim League. During a fund collection campaign for the Punjab Provincial Muslim League, Nawab Mamdot donated Rs. 5000/- for the purpose.
Nawab Mamdot, while presiding over a conference of the Muslim League ( at Karnal in May 1942, demanded that the Muslims of India should be given their legitimate rights and India be partitioned. He stressed upon ~ the Muslims for unity and demanded loyalty from them for the Muslim League. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was so pleased from his Karnal\'s address that he wrote a congratulatory letter to him in which he hoped that \"you will definitely follow your father\'s footprints\". Despite the fact that Malik Khizar Hayat Khan, Chief Minister of the Punjab was not sincere to the Muslim League, Nawab Iftikhar through his dynamic leadership succeeded in strengthening and expanding the Muslim League in the entire province.
Because of the flexibility in the constitution of the Muslim League, most of the prominent Muslims of the Punjab had also acquired the membership of the Unionist Party. Sir Chootoo Ram through his speeches and statements, was trying to attract the workers of the Muslim League towards the Unionist Party. Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan was fully aware of the Intrigues and conspiracies of the Unionist Party. He also knew that if a lenient attitude was adopted at this stage, the Unionist Party will succeed in weakening the Muslim League. He informed the Muslims about the pro-British activities of the Unionist Party and in this way did not allow Unionists to succeed in their vicious aims. It was his devotion and loyalty, which strengthened the Muslim League to such an extent that none had the courage to speak against this party in the province.
Nawab Sahib was a straightforward person and opposed those who followed dual policy. Because of the dual policy of some of the Muslim members of the Unionist Party, the image of the Muslim League was being shattered. Nawab Sahib firmly believed that Malik Khizar Hayat Khan was a British\'s stooge and he did not wish to see the Muslim League flourish in the Province.
This was because of his efforts that Malik Khizar Hayat Khan was ousted from the Muslim League in the beginning of 1944. Mamdot was the man who made the Unionist Party totally ineffective in the Punjab. He bitterly cirticised the policies of the Unionist Party and actively participated in the civil disobedience movement for the elimination of the Unionists from the Punjab.
During the provincial elections of February 1946, the hard work and efforts of Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot brought fruit and the Muslim League was able to capture 79 seats in the province. It was a great victory fo the Muslim League and was a clear proof to the fact that the Muslims of the Punjab had all their sympathies and support for the Muslim League and idea of Pakistan. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah congratulated Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot through a telegram at this victorious occasion.
After independence, Nawab Iftikhar Hussain Khan Mamdot remained the Chief Minister of the Punjab upto 1948. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan till 1 955. He also worked as Governor of Sindh during 1954-55. He died on October 16, 1969.
(Contributed by: Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.)
To commemorate the Pioneers of Freedom (Series) Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of three postage stamps of Re. 1/-denomination on August 14, 1992.

Population Day, July 25, 1992

Today we are living in a world of 5.4 billion people. By 2001 another billion will be added. A little over 13 years from now 6.5 billion people will inhabit the earth. Population may not level off until its growth is checked in the developing countries.
The fastest growth is often in the least developed countries -those least equipped to sustain increasing demands for food, clean water, health care, housing, education and other necessities.
Many of the bigger cities are growing twice as fast as the rest of the world population. They are becoming a threat to the health, environment, socio-economic development.
Poverty, population growth and environmental destruction mean more pressure for migration. - 1 .2 billion people live in absolute poverty.
- The 1990s will see the largest increase in the population of developing countries of any decade of history.
- Poverty and population growth combine for environmental degradation.
Pakistan - a developing and one of the most populated country -ranks at No. 8 in respect of population. With 16.6 million population in 1901, it reached 32.5 million at the time of independence in 1947. Today it is estimated that the population of Pakistan has risen to the tune of 117.3 million. During the same period, 1901 -1991, the world population grew two times, the population of developing countries increased four times and the population of Pakistan increased six times.
If the population continues to grow at the same rate, it will surpass 150 million mark by the year 2000. This means that the population of Pakistan will increase nine folds during the current century (1901-2000) as compared to the population of other developing countries will increase six folds.
The improved health facilities in Pakistan have resulted in steep decline of death rate over the last 80 years while the birth rate has remained largely un-changed.
The total fertility rate in Pakistan is about 5.9 which means that on an average each woman has six children during her reproductive life span. This rate is among the highest in the world, however, death rate has declined quite dramatically during this century largely due to the introduction of modern antibiotics, the success of public health and sanitation programmes. The difference between the birth and death rate is the rate of natural increase. In the beginning of the century, the population of areas, now comprising Pakistan, was growing at less than one percent per year. Since the birth rate has remained high, while the death rate has declined, the rate of growth of population increased to over 3% per year. It is quite visible that if the birth rate remains high while the death rate continues to decline, the growth rate of population could go even higher to perhaps 3.5% per year.
As a result of rapid growth, the population of Pakistan is now composed primarily of young people. In Pakistan, more than 44% of population is under the ages of 15 and 52% of the population is between the ages of 16 and 64.
Presently, due to over population, Pakistan is facing a lot of problems like poverty, illiteracy, un-employment, lack of housing facilities, lack of schools/colleges etc. The situation thus cropped up has already driven us to frustration, aggression, drug addiction etc.
Realising the importance of this universal issue, the United Nations has stated that the World Population Day will be observed on July 11, 1992.
July 11, is World Population Day (being observed on July 25, in Pakistan due to Ashura Muharram) - a day set aside to reflect on issues of tremendous importance which affects every-one living on this planet.
Accessible family planning service is needed more than ever before to slow down the population growth and meet the reproductive needs of the human race.
Family planning is one the cheapest developing means available, and also safer to use. The family health benefits and freedom of choice it brings to women, have contributed to the rising voluntary adoption rate from 10% of couples in 1960 to 51% today.
Let us join hands in conveying the message to the masses that family planning is a basic human right and it guarantees the health of the family at large and welfare of mother and child in particular.
It is high time that we realised the importance of the problem and respond to its needs by making every citizen aware that whatever is our cause is a lost cause without population planning.
Contributed by: Ministry of Population Welfare, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
To focus world attention on the alarming growth of population, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a special postage stamp of Rs.61-denomination on \'Population Day\" on July 25, 1992.

New Definitive Postage Stamps, July 5, 1992

To meet the requirements of pasting high value postage stamps on export parcels, Pakistan Post Office has issued definitive stamps of the value of Rs. 10.00, Rs. 15.00 and Rs. 25.00.
These exquisitely designed stamps high lights some of the prestigious viz-surgical goods, leather goods and sports items. These stamps will help in reducing the printing cost involved in the issue of stamps of lower denomination, which are presently affixed on out going parcels in combination, to make up for the required value of postage.
Pakistan Post Office in this way may also aiding the promotion of our products through postage stamps in collaboration with other agencies concerned.

International Space Year (ISY) 1992

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of USA in 1986, initiated an idea of declaring the year 1992 as the International Space Year (ISY), which was discussed internationally at all relevant fora.
In 1988, an International Space Year Mission to Planet Earth Conference was held in Durham, New Hampshire, USA in which senior management officers from 17 Governmental space agencies/organisations as well as about 60 Earth observations scientists participated. The Conference agreed to establish a Space Agency Forum on International Space Year (SAFISY) which was to meet periodically to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas on ISY programmes. The major theme for ISY Mission to Planet Earth was also endorsed by the Conference.
Three Panels of Experts on (i) Earth Science and Technology, (ii) Education and Applications and (iii) Space Science were set up to carry out the recommendations of the Working Groups at the Durham Conference. A total of 57 projects were identified under these panels to be carried out under 15 Working Groups. Besides, several events and activities related to ISY 1992 have also been planned by the world scientific community.
The General Assembly, at its forty-fourth session, in its resolution 44/46 of 08 December 1989, endorsed the participation of the United Nations in the International Space Year (UN-ISY). The scope of the UN-ISY activities undertaken by the United Nations in 1991-92, in cooperation with Member States as well as governmental organisations, focuses on three major areas:
(i) Management of the resources of the Earth and its environment;
(ii) Long-term education programmes;
(iii) ublic education
In celebration of the ISY 1992, a World Space Congress is scheduled to be held in Washington, D.C., USA from 28 August to 05 September 1992, which will be organised by Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and International Astronautical Federation (IAF). This will be an unprecedented gathering of world space scientists, technologists, administrators and policy makers representing both developed and developing countries.
Ever since the inception of the ISY concept, Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has been involved in visualising a comprehensive and befitting programme for celebrating the ISY 1992. A SUPARCO-ISY Committee had also been established to formulate the national programmes for this purpose. The programmes comprise several events, such as TV & Radio Panel Discussions; publication of special articles in the national press; holding of exhibitions on space research with special reference to ISY, in major cities of Pakistan; holding of Topical Seminars on Satellite Remote Sensing and Satellite Communications etc.
Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was set up as a Committee in September 1961 with the specific objective of acquiring the capability to make use of space science and space technology for peaceful purposes, primarily aimed at the socio-economic uplift of the people of Pakistan and also to give a general fillip to the scientific and technological activities in the country.
The 30th anniversary of the launching of the first scientific rocket in Pakistan by SUPARCO falls on 07 June 1992.
SUPARCO was completely recognised and established as an independent national organization with the status of a full-fledged Commission in 1981.
During the last three decades, SUPARCO has launched more than 200 rockets to perform scientific experiments in the altitude range of 20-550 kin, and, has now all the capabilities/facilities to manufacture rockets required for high altitude scientific research.
On 16 July 1990, SUPARCO launched its first indigenously made experimental satellite named BADR-1 and is now under way to fabricate its second experimental satellite BADR-B.
(Contributed by: Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, Karachi)
To commemorate the International Space Year 1992 as well as to mark the 30th anniversary of the launching of the first scientific rocket of SUPARCO named Rehbar-1, Pakistan Post Office is issuing two commemorative postage stamps of Re. 1/- and Rs. 2/- denominations on June 7, 1992.

World Cricket Cup 1992

On March 25 1992, cheered by 87,000 cricket fans at the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground and watched by millions on television, even by people in the non-cricket playing countries, Imran Khan, Captain of the team, stepped forward and accepted the crystal trophy that was The World Cup from Sir Colin Cowdrey, Chairman of the International Cricket Conference in a glittering ceremony that ended in a display of breath taking fireworks. It was the proudest moment in the history of Pakistan cricket, a cricket history itself remarkable for the meteoric rise of a nation that had been dubbed as \"the Babes of Cricket\" when Pakistan made its first official international debut in 1952-53 after it had been given test status.
In 40 years, Pakistan had already become a major cricket force but the World Cup, the games most prestigious tournament had eluded it since its inception in 1975. Twice semi-finalists in 1983 and 1987 Pakistan had lost to the West Indies and Australia respectively to the bitter disappointment of its fans. 1992 was to be a different story. After a faltering start that nearly saw it eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the tournament, Pakistan picked itself up, got its act together and in a burst of inspired performances beat Australia and Sri Lanka at Perth, New Zealand, till then unbeaten, twice, at Christchurch and in the first semi-final at Auckland and then finally England at Melbourne in a memorable final. The prayers of an entire nation had been answered. Cricket is a team game and no individual can be given the entire credit. In winning the World Cup, every player made a valuable contribution, Indeed Pakistan\'s success can be attributed to the collective efforts of the players who had welded them-selves into a formidable combination.
This was the fifth World Cup, the first 3 were played in England in 1975, 1979 and 1983. The fourth was co-hosted by Pakistan and India in 1987. This time, with Australia and New Zealand playing hosts, there were a number of innovations. The entire tournament was played with a white ball, the sight-screens were black and the players wore coloured clothing instead of the traditional white. some of the matches, including the finals were day/night, played under floodlights. South Africa which had been re-admitted to the International Cricket Conference was allowed to participate, making it nine teams instead of the customary eight. It was played on a single league basis with each team playing the others once in he preliminary matches. As in 1987, the matches were restricted to 50 overs and were supervised by \"neutral\" umpires. But problems for teams like Pakistan were compounded by the fact that apart from adjusting to the extra-bounce of Australian wickets, the weather was to play a crucial role. The World Cup was staged at the fag-end of the Australian and New Zealand summer and by the time the final came around, the tournament was well and truly into autumn, unseasonable cricket weather with a lot of rain about. Thus to the inherent uncertainty of the limited-overs game was added another imponderable.
Preparations for the World Cup started when Pakistan played at Sharjah in October, 1991 in a triangular tournament, the other teams being India and the West Indies. After a disastrous start when Pakistan lost to both the West Indies and India in the earlier rounds, Pakistan came back strongly to beat India in the final. The Sharjah tournament enabled the Pakistan selectors to take a close look at some of the new players, exposing them to high-pressure cricket at an International level. The Sharjah tournament was followed by a brief visit by the West Indies who played 3 one-day matches, winning two of them and one match, at Lahore, ending in a tie. Sri Lanka toured Pakistan, soon after playing 3 test matches and four one-day internationals. This was the final preparation at home for the World Cup. Pakistan then left for Australia to play some warm-up matches in order to acclimatize themselves to the conditions in that country. Pakistan hopes received a set-back when Javed Miandad could not accompany the team because of an injury he sustained while practicing. But he recovered in time to join the team just before the start of the World Cup. But Waqar Yunus, Pakistan\'s main strike bowler had to return to Pakistan because of a back injury and this was a heavy blow. He was expected to spearhead the Pakistan bowling attack. There were to be other injuries during the tournament, the most notable being the shoulder-injury to Imran Khan resulting in him missing some key matches and Miandad who was stricken by a stomach ailment. Despite these handicaps and which would have disheartened most teams, the team never lost hope even though by the time it got to Perth, its position in the tournament was precarious, needing to win every match thereafter to make it to the final and keeping their fingers crossed that the weather would not intervene.
The team on its return to Pakistan was rightly accorded tumultuous receptions and taken out in processions where thousands gathered to welcome them joyfully.
Until the next World Cup in 1 996, Pakistan will wear the mantle of world champions. It is a title they eminently deserve but it confers on them an additional responsibility of living up to the high expectations of its supporters.
The World Cup has re-kindled interest in the game of cricket, not only in Pakistan where interest has always been great but in other cricket playing countries as well. This particular World Cup was seen live on television by millions who enjoyed not only the high standard of cricket but the spectacle of a tournament that resembled an on-going carnival.
But most of all, winning the World Cup has seen an upsurge of national pride and people from all regions and all walks of life have shared the joy and savored the triumph.
Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of commemorative stamps to honour the newly crowned and worthy world champions.
(Contributed by: Omer Kureishi)
To commemorate the prestigious victory of Pakistan Cricket Team in the 5th World Cricket Cup 1992, Pakistan Post Office is issuing three commemorative postage stamps of Rs. 2/-, 5/- and Rs. 7/- denominations on April 27, 1992.

National Seminar On Philately Multan 1992

Definitive stamps converted into commemoratives
Definitive postage stamps depicting the portrait of the Quaid-e-Azam (issued on 14-08-1989) were overprinted in light gray with the sentence “NATIONAL SEMINAR ON PHILATELY MULTAN 1992” 54.5mm long and 2.5mm high, to commemorate the seminar held in Multan during April 15-16, 1992. The sentence was repeated 20 times to form a block or cliché, which was then placed on the printing plate upright, sideways, sideways inverted and inverted.
While the cliches in the plate are 48 (6x8) printed over a sheet comprising 100 stamps 10x10. Each stamp measures 32.5x44.5mm while the clichés of the overprint measure 54.5x55mm. The overprint spill onto all four margins of the sheet. Some stamps therefore get all four formats of the cliches while other get only 2 or 3.
One hundred sheets of lower values; Re.1 and Rs.2 were additionally overprinted to produce 1000 stamp booklets each comprising strips of one of each value.

Muslim Commercial Bank - First Year of Privatisation.

This commemorative stamp is being issued on the successful completion of the first year of operations of the Muslim Commercial Bank, under the private sector management which took charge after its denationalization on April 8,1991.
Since it is the first Institution, which was denationalized by the present Government, to usher in its privatization policy, Muslim Commercial Bank will remain the focus of attention for many years to come. The philosophy behind the government\'s privatization policy is that it will increase efficiency and stimulate economic growth. The Muslim Commercial Bank has proved itself to be a concrete realisation of these objectives.
By the end of 1991, net assets had increased by over 25%, deposits rose by more than 26%, investments climbed by 22% and pre-tax profits shot up by 34%. Five new branches were added to the network of Muslim Commercial Bank, with a corresponding increase in personnel. Moreover, the Muslim Commercial Bank became the first Pakistani bank which had undertaken the country-wide computerisation of its branches. Today, the bank is continuing the modernisation of its network through the latest electronic communication facilities.
The stamps, in fact, does not only commemorates the denationalization of Muslim Commercial Bank but, with it also, the historic launching of the privatization programme of the Government of Pakistan.
(Contributed by: Muslim Commercial Bank)
On the occasion of Muslim Commercial Bank\'s completion of one year service since it was privatized, Pakistan Post Office is issuing two commemorative postage stamps of Re. 1/- and Rs. 7/- denomination on April 8,1992.