148th Birth Anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. (2024-15)

Founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah called by the Nation Quaid-i-Azam - Great Leader was born in Karachi on 25th December 1876. He got his early education in Karachi. Since boyhood, he was brilliant and promising, zealously devoted to his studies and fired with the ambition to grow up to be a great man. No wonder he did achieve greatness by his extraordinary qualities of mind and determination.

After passing the matriculation examination at the age of 16, he left for England where in 1896 he qualified himself as Barrister-at-Law from Lincoln's Inn. Back in India he started practicing as a lawyer in Karachi at the age of 20. Later he moved to Bombay where he established a very successful practice. He began taking part in the country's freedom movement since the early nineties. In 1910, he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council. He remained associated with the Council and its successor, the Central Assembly, for over 30 years. In 1913, he joined the Muslim League, an organization formed in 1906, to safeguard the legitimate interest of the Indian Muslims, who numbered about one third of the country's population. He became president of the All India Muslim League in 1916. Throughout his subsequent political career, he fought fervently for the just interests of the Indian Muslims, and championed their cause with devotion and courage.

Convinced by the past experience that as a minority community, the political interests of Muslims and their distinct cultural identity could never remain safe after the withdrawal of British rule from the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent, he put forward the plan envisaging the establishment of a separate home land - Pakistan in the areas where the Muslims were in majority. In 1940, the famous Pakistan Resolution was passed at Lahore demanding the creation of Pakistan as an independent, sovereign country. Thereafter, the achievement of Pakistan as a separate homeland became Jinnah's dominant aim which he stead fastly pursued, and by dint of his exceptional statesmanship, constitutional acumen, and intelligent advocacy, he ultimately succeeded in getting the Pakistan idea accepted by the Indian National Congress a predominantly Hindu political organization - as well as the British Government.

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan after its emergence as a new country on the 14th August 1947. He died in Karachi on 11th September, 1948.

CHILD ART COMPETITION NATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION 'KURRACHEE-2024' December 13, 2024 (2024-14)

The basic concept behind 'Child art' is to bring out the creativity in the young and express their ideas to the world. To encourage and promote this art on-spot painting/drawing competition in 2 hours during Stamp Exhibition, and to achieve a milestone in the world of Philately, Pakistan Post is issuing a special sheet of postage stamp depicting "Art Work" by the children, designs of which are taken from the "Stamp Drawing competitions" held by Pakistan Stamp Society (formerly Stamp Society of Pakistan)/ Pakistan Post as a live event during the annual National Stamp Exhibition at Karachi.

The Pakistan Stamp Society (formerly Stamp Society of Pakistan) has organized various National Stamp Exhibitions and Stamp Drawing Competitions jointly sponsored by Dawn Media Group, the Philatelic Federation of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Post Office based on FIAP rules at Expo Centre, Karachi. During the last nine years, this was held under the banner of the "Life Style Exhibition" organized by Dawn Media Group.

The Pakistan Stamp Society (formerly Stamp Society of Pakistan) is among the pioneering Stamp Society with over 150 members and has been proactive in disseminating knowledge and awareness through regular exhibitions. In collaboration with the Dawn Lifestyle and the patronage of the Philatelic Federation of Pakistan, the exhibitions have been popular. Some new stamp collectors rejuvenated as collectors and some also participated in the Asian and International exhibitions after due accreditation and judging at Expo Centre, Karachi over the last two decades.

The Pakistan Post, Dawn Media Group, Pakistan Stamp Society (formerly Stamp Society of Pakistan), and Philatelic Federation of Pakistan made it possible to print the country's first-ever stamp design which was selected through the LIVE Stamp Drawing competition in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016 in Sheet of Eight. These stamps depict drawings of the previous year's young winners and were issued on the First Day of the Exhibition.

This Youth Painting Competition is divided into two age groups. Group "A" for children from 4 to 10 years old and group "B" from 11 to 17 years. The competition is announced in the newspapers, and many children from all major schools of Karachi / Sindh participate in the competition alongwith their teachers and parents. Participation and interest of children has increased each year and we have now seen entries from all over Pakistan.

The children have portrayed the given topics in their paintings in a very creative manner which are judged by Mr. Adil Salahuddin (Late), Sitara-e-Imtiaz, and Senior Officials of Pakistan Post, every year, and four awards are given in each age group.

Children draw from life and portray what is happening around them. They also become more aware of the country's current situations, which they try to depict in their paintings.

It's a real treat to see the excitement and interest of the children and a strong desire to draw and paint better than other participants in just two hours.

This is the fifth time the paintings selected from Live Stamp Drawing Competitions are depicted on stamps and the sixth time for Child Art. This effort by the organizers and Pakistan Post has encouraged the youth and opened the doorway to young artists in the country. One day they will also become serious Philatelists and Stamp Designers.

Below are the names of the selected paintings by the following young artists for the Child Art Competition eight stamps with two labels in the center issued on the day of the exhibition:

Aysha Zafar Age: 9 Years	Hammad Umer Age: 8 Years	PAK POST LOGO	Aliza Sajid Age: 14 Years	Marium Bano Age: 14 Years
Zaina Fatima Age: 5 Years	Rumausa Imran Age: 7 Years	KURRACHEE 2024	Nabia Zehra Age: 14 Years	Yashfeeb Ayub Age: 15 Years

 These drawings have been taken from past competitions.

This is a combined teamwork of Pakistan Post, Mr. Adil Salahuddin (Late), the Organizers Mr. Iqbal Nanjee (Chairman of Organizing Committee & President), Engr. Afzal Nanjee, Mr. Usman Tahir of the Pakistan Stamp Society (formerly Stamp Society of Pakistan), and the officials of the Philatelic Federation took a keen interest in organizing the events for the Philatelic World.

Pakistan Post is issuing a set of 8 Special Stamps Sheet in the form of Stamp Sheet at the eve of National Stamp Exhibition KURRACHEE - 2024 being held at Karachi on December 13, 2024.

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2024, DECEMBER 11th, 2024 (2024-13)

International Mountain Day is observed annually on December 11th, and in 2024, this significant day will be celebrated with renewed emphasis on the importance of mountains to life. Mountains are the cradles of rivers, the sources of freshwater, and the homes of a rich array of flora and fauna. However, they are facing unprecedented threats from climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable land use. On International Mountain Day 2024, the global community will come together to raise awareness about the crucial role mountains play in supporting biodiversity, regulating the climate, and providing livelihoods for millions of people. The day will be marked by events, campaigns, and initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable mountain development, protecting mountain ecosystems, and preserving the cultural heritage of mountain communities.

The theme for International Mountain Day 2024 is "Mountain solutions for a sustainable future innovation, adaptation, and youth". This year's theme focuses on empowering mountain communities through innovation, adaptation, and engaging the youth, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future.

K-2:- K-2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen or Chhogori is the second highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest, at 8,611 metres (28251 ft) above sea level. It is located on the China-Pakistan border in the Gilgit- Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. K-2 is known as the Savage Mountain due to the extreme difficulty of ascent. It has the second-highest fatality rate among the eight thousanders. with around 800 successful summits and 100 fatalities, about one person dies on the mountain for every four who summit. It is more difficult and hazardous to reach the peak of K-2 from the Chinese side, thus it is usually climed from Pakistan side.

Nanga Parbat :- Nanga Parbat (literally, Naked Mountain) is the ninth highest mountain in the world at 8,126 meters (26,660 ft) above sea level. It is the western anchor of the Himalayas around which the Indus river skirts into the plains of Pakistan. It is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan and is locally known as 'Deo Mir', 'Deo' meaning 'huge' 'Mir' meaning 'mountain". Nanga Parbat one of the eight-thousanders, is an immense, dramatic peak rising far above its surrounding terrain, Nanga Parbat is also a notoriously difficult climb. Numerous mountaineering deaths in the mid and early 20th century lent it the nickname "killer mountain". Nanga Parbat forms the western anchor of the Himalayan range and is the westernmost eight-thousander. It lies just south of the Indus River in the Diamer District of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. Not far to the north is the western end of the Karakoram range.

Gasherbrum-l:- Gasherbrum-I also known as Hidden Peak or K-5, is the 11th highest mountain in the world at 8,080 metres (26,510 ft) above sea level. It is located on the Pakistan-Chinese borderin Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan and Xinjiang region of China. Gasherbrum-l is part of the Gasherbrum massif, located in the Karakoram region of the Himalaya. Gasherbrum is often claimed to mean "Shining Wall", presumably a reference to the highly visible face of the neighboring peak Gasherbrum IV, but in fact it comes from "rgasha" (beautiful) + "brum" (mountain) in Balti, hence it actually means "beautiful mountain". There are six Gasherbrum peaks and Gasherbrum-I is Highest of them.

Broad Peak:- Board peak is the 12th highest mountain in the world at 8,051 meters (26414 ft) above sea level. Broad peak is part of the Gasherbrum massif in Baltistan on the border of Pakistan and China. It is located in the Karakoram mountain rage about 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) from K-2. It has a summit over 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long. The mountain has several summits: Broad Peak, Rocky Summit, Broad Peak Central, Broad Peak North, and Kharut Kangri. The first ascent of Broad Peak was made between June 8 and 9, 1957 by Fritz wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger, and Hermann Buhl of an Austrian expedition led by Marcus Schmuck. A first attempt by the team was made on May 29, 1957 where Fritz winteresteller and Kurt Diemberger reached the forepeak (8,030 m). This was also accomplished without the aid of supplemental oxygen, high altitude porters nor base camp support. In July 2013, a group of five Iranian climbers attempted to ascend through a new route from the southwestern face. Three of them-Aidin Bozorgi, Pouya Keivan, and Mojtaba Jarahi ascended successfully but during descent all three of them were lost and declared dead.

Muhammad Ali Sadpara was a renowned Pakistani mountaineer and adventurer. Born on February 2, 1976, in Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Sadpara made history by becoming the first Pakistani to climb all 14 eight- thousanders, including Mount Everest, K2, and Nanga Parbat. His remarkable achievements and fearless spirit earned him international recognition and accolades. Tragically, Sadpara went missing on February 5, 2021, during a winter expedition to K2, leaving behind a legacy of courage and determination that continues to inspire generations of mountaineers and adventure-seekers.

On the occasion of International Mountain Day 2024, Pakistan Post is proud to introduce a unique commemorative triangle-shaped souvenir sheet, a first-of-its-kind innovation in Pakistan's philatelic history with denomination Rs. 270/- is being issued by Pakistan post on December 11th, 2024,

DR. JAVID IQBAL (1924-2015) 100th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE SOUVENIR SHEET NOVEMBER 9th, 2024 (2024-12)

Dr. Javid Iqbal (5 October 1924-3 October 2015) was a philosopher and senior justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He was internationally known for his acclaimed publications on philosophy of law and modern Islamic philosophy in international and national journals. He authored various books on Pakistan's movement and political ideology. Apart from philosophy, Justice Javid had a prolific career in the Judiciary of Pakistan. He was a former Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court and also represented Pakistani delegation at the United Nations. He was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan in 2004.

Dr. Javid Iqbal obtained BA (honours) degree from Government College Lahore in 1944, a master’s degree in English and philosophy in 1948, and a PhD degree in philosophy from the University of Cambridge in 1954. He was the son of the poet-philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Allama Iqbal, named his book, Javid nama, after his son. He also wrote many poems to Javid Iqbal, indirectly addressing the Muslim youth in British India. Javid Iqbal later translated two of Allama Iqbal's books into Urdu Javid Nama and Reconstruction of religious thought in Islam. Like his great father, Dr. Javid Iqbal strove to present the 'liberal' side of Islam which was hidden in the mist of ignorance, blind following and sectarianism.

Dr. Justice Javid Iqbal has many reasons to be remembered. Throughout his long career he stood out as a prominent jurist and a liberal scholar. He was considered a man with a far-reaching legal scope of thought with judgments delivered by him touching many areas of life. But his contributions go beyond judgments delivered from the bench and his legal expertise. Dr. Javid Iqbal was also regarded as a scholar on Islamic jurisprudence. His numerous writings and books sought to decipher Allama Iqbal's vision and explain and expound the legacy of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Honorable Justice Javid Iqbal carved out a place for himself in the modern history of Pakistan, also reflecting on the current state of Islamic thought, society and politics and commenting on literary works. Many of his works are thought to contain important insight into the history and nature of 'ideology' in Pakistan. Dr. Javid Iqbal influenced national events in a number of different ways and he was an important figure who played a role in helping us define our culture and the place of religion in our state.

Dr. Javid Iqbal's publications include the following:

·         Ideology of Pakistan (1959)

·         Stray Reflections: A Note-Book of Iqbal (1961)

·         Legacy of Quaid-e-Azam (1968, published in English and Urdu)

·         Mai Lala Faam (1968, collection of papers on Iqbal, in Urdu)

·         Zinda Rood (1984, biography of Iqbal in three volumes, in Urdu)

·         Afkare-Iqbal (1994, interpretation of Iqbal's thought)

·         Pakistan and the Islamic Liberal Movement (1994).

·         Jahan-i-Javid: Darame, Afsane, Maqale

·         Islam and Pakistan's Identity

·         The Concept of State in Islam: A Reassessment

·         Apna Greban Chaak (autobiography) (2002)

·         Khutbat e Iqbal Tasheel-o-tafheem

·         Maqalat-e-Javid

On 100th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Javid Iqbal, a Commemorative Souvenir Sheet of Rs. 100/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on November 9th, 2024. It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Post, aligning itself with the modern trends of technology is featuring a QR code on Pakistan's stamps for the first time in this issue.

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION (UPU) October 9th, 2024 (2024-11)

Universal Postal Union (UPU), established on 9th October, 1874 with its headquarters in Berne, is the second oldest international organization worldwide. UPU, with its 192 member countries, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players to ensure one postal territory world over. UPU is celebrating its 150th anniversary on 9th October, 2024. The event will be marked with festivities and arrangements of different competitions and social programs all across the world.

UPU fulfills an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and provides technical assistance to its members where needed. It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail and financial services volumes and improve quality of service for customers.

Working of UPU:- UPU comprises of following four working bodies which run its business:

1-      Congress:- Congress is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years. Plenipotentiaries from the UPU's 192 member countries gather on this occasion to decide on a new World Postal Strategy and set the future rules for international mail exchanges. In some circumstances, an Extraordinary Congress may also be convened at the request or with the consent of at least two thirds of the member countries.

2-      Council of Administration (CA) :- The Council of Administration (CA) consists of 41 member countries and meets biannually at UPU headquarters in Berne. The Council ensures the continuity of the UPU's work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies. regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues.

3-       Postal Operations Council (POC) :- Postal Operations Council (POC) is the technical and operational mind of the UPU and consists of 48 member countries, elected during Congress. The body elects its own chair and meets biannually at the UPU's headquarters in Berne.

The POC's work programme is geared towards helping Posts modernize and upgrade their postal products and services. It deals with the operational, economic and commercial aspects of the postal business. The body also makes recommendations to member countries on standards for technological, operational or other processes within its competence where uniform practices are necessary.

4-      International Bureau :- International Bureau the UPU's headquarters is located in Berne (Switzerland). It has a staff of about 250 employees drawn from about 50 different countries. Fulfilling a secretariat function, the international Bureau provides logistical and technical support to the UPU's bodies. It serves as an office of liaison, information and consultation, and promotes technical cooperation among Union members. In recent years, the International Bureau has taken on a stronger leadership role in certain activities. These include the application of postal technology through its Postal Technology Centre, the development of postal markets through potential growth areas such as direct mail and EMS, and the monitoring of quality of service on a global scale.

Regional coordinators in the field strengthens the International Bureau's ability to assist Posts of developing countries in the most effective manner. They oversee the planning, preparation, implementation and follow-up of postal development projects in their regions.

Through its Postal Technology Centre, the UPU has established a number of regional support centres in different parts of the world to support its information technology activities. These centres anage the deployment and support of UPU technology applications, products and services within their respective regions.

Pakistan & WORDS:- Pakistan joined UPU on 10th November, 1947. From time to time, UPU has provided support to Pakistan for capacity building of its officers and for the betterment of postal operations in the country. Pakistan has remained member of POC and CA during different Congress Cycles and played very active role in formulation and implementation of world postal strategies. During Istanbul Cycle, Pakistan also got opportunity to serve as co-chair of Council of Administration.

On the occasion of 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), with a Commemorative postage Stamp of Rs.150/- denomination and two Souvenir Sheets valued Rs 100 each are being issued by Pakistan Post on 9^th October, 2024