One Year of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir Under Siege. August 05, 2020 (2020-6A)

Kashmiris have been resisting Indian state oppression ever since 1947. On 5 August 2019, India unilaterally and illegally attempted to alter the internationally recognized disputed status of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) in sheer contravention of international law and corresponding UNSC Resolutions. This illegal act was preceded by imposition of an unprecedented military siege and communication blockade that continue to date. The defenseless people of IOJ&K remain deprived of their fundamental human rights and freedoms including rights to life and health despite rampant deadly pandemic of COVID-19.

 

Government of Pakistan has constantly been sensitizing the international community through political, diplomatic and media outreach about ongoing Indian state-terrorism in IOJ&K. While innocent Kashmiris are still subjugated to military siege, a special postage stamp is issued on 5 August 2020 to mark 365 days of an unprecedented spate of arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings and other gross abuses of human rights in IOJ&K. The stamp depicts one of the worst incidents of Indian state-terrorism in IOJ&K as elaborated below:

a.    The Sketch of an innocent Kashmiri, Bashir Ahmed, who was martyred by Indian Security Forces on 1 July 2020 in Sopore, with his 3-years old grandson crying for his grandfather's life, reflect India's heartlessness and utter barbarity towards Kashmiris.

b.  Indian Soldier shooting an innocent Kashmiri infront of his grandson vindicates Pakistan's stance that India is perpetrating worst state-terrorism in IOJ&K.

c.    The Map of IOJ&K is bound by a barbed wire which symbolizes how Kashmiris are cut off from the rest of the world because of continued military siege and communication blockade in IOJ&K.

d.    Blood-stained figure 365 represents the number of days for which IOJ&K has been besieged by Indian security forces since illegal and unilateral actions of India on 5 August 2019.

e.    A blood-soaked cutter in the middle symbolizes the killing spree in IOJ&K by tyrant Indian forces, particularly after 5 August 2019.

f.     The wording "The Struggle continues" mentioned in the bottom left of the stamp, shows Kashmiris resolve to continue to fight for their freedom against all odds.

g.    Human figures in red and green colors at bottom depict Kashmiris. The red ones symbolize Kashmiri martyrs who lost their lives at the hands of fascist Hindu regime while striving for freedom; the greens are the ones still surviving Indian state-terrorism and are continuing struggle of their forefathers.

h.    "Kashmir Pakistan Ki Sheh Rug" written on the left side, depicts importance of Jammu & Kashmir for Pakistan and resonates our resolve that Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to rid our Kashmir brethren from the atrocious Indian rule.

i.      The overall frame of the postage has 52 border cuts showing that Kashmir is under brutal Indian siege for last 52 weeks.

j.      Rs 58, cost of the Stamp links it to 5th August (8th month of the last year) when India unilaterally and illegally revoked special status of IOJ&K through abrogation of Article 370 & 35-A, of Constitution of India.

On one year of Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir Under Siege, Pakistan Post is issuing a Special Postage Stamp of Rs. 58/- denomination on August 05, 2020.

World Population Day 2020. July 11, 2020 (2020-6)

World Population Day:- Attaining Balanced Population Growth Pakistan's progress on most health, education, and demographic indicators has slowed down according to the Population Census 2017 and the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017-18. These trends signify a worsening of existing inequalities and imbalances, threatening the country's shrinking resource base as well as its future prosperity. The situation warrants urgent corrective actions at all levels of State and society.

As a key measure, Pakistan must lose no further time in joining the countries of the region and the Muslim world in achieving a rate of population growth that is sustainable. This will have to be much lower than the current (1998- 2017) high growth rate of 2.4%. In this regard, a National Task Force constituted by the Supreme Court has already identified eight broad sectors and thirty-three specific recommendations for implementation by Provincial Governments, regions and the Federal Government. These recommendations have been endorsed by the Supreme Court and approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The idea of balanced population growth has historically evoked disparate, ambivalent and often negative responses in the country .The endorsement by all concerned of a new "national narrative" is, therefore, the first of the Task Force's recommendations under "Advocacy and Communication".

Pakistan is a uniquely created, richly diverse nation-state with enormous potential but it currently ranks 150th among 189 countries on the Human Development Index 2017. There is a need to eliminate preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, ensure adequate nutrition and education for all, provide access to clean water, and eradicate poverty.

National Narrative on Population:- Parents have the right to freely and responsibly decide the number and spacing of their children to fulfil the fundamental rights of their children and family by maintaining a Balance/Tawazun between their family size and resources. The Government and society have the responsibility to facilitate parents to achieve this balance by providing universal access to family planning information and services, thereby achieving sustainable development.

Sustainable population growth means growth in which this tawazun is maintained. It must prevail, at the macro level, between essential human goals and population numbers; the numbers and quality of citizens; natural resources and the people they sustain. At the micro level, tawazun must be attained between the births of children and their mother's capacity to recuperate and breastfeed them; between the size of the families and their capacity to ensure the rights of each member. All eminent religious scholars the world over have endorsed birth spacing as one way to ensure balanced family size.

While family size remains a private choice, separate from the public domain, parents' right to have as many children as they desire must be balanced with their responsibility to ensure that each child is brought up under the care of a healthy mother. Certainly, family planning and birth spacing should be driven by informed choice and free will, and not coercion. But the State is responsible for fulfilling all citizens' rights to the information and to the services they need in order to make, and act on informed choices.

Balanced population growth ensures wellbeing, prosperity, safety and security which is the common aspiration of the people of Pakistan. The attainment of this imperative goal is possible through three inter-linked principles:

Rights:- The first principle recognizes that all citizens of the country have fundamental rights, which are enshrined in all religious teachings, the Constitution of Pakistan and the international covenants (ICPD, FP2020, SDGs) to which Pakistan is a signatory. This includes the right to adequate shelter, nutrition, health and family planning, education, employment opportunities and gainful livelihoods to improve the quality of life.

Responsibilities:- The second principle is the recognition that, to attain these rights, individuals, and parents as well as the State have distinct responsibilities to fulfill. Parents ought to act responsibly and have the number of children they can provide with the basic rights and needs, e.g., nutrition, health, and good upbringing, while the State remains responsible for providing necessary services and resources, such as family planning and health services, quality education, proper housing, and job opportunities.

Balance-Tawazun:- The third principle recognizes the need to strike a balance, or tawazun, in all aspects, especially between rights and responsibilities. This implies a tawazun between population growth and available resources and regenerative capacity."Tawazun" is intrinsic in Nature and commanded in Islam and other faiths as a prerequisite for peace and well-being.

On World Population Day 2020, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs 20/- denomination on July 11, 20

International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking "SAY NO TO DRUGS" June 26, 2020 (2020-5)

Drug Abuse is a global issue and Pakistan is no exception. Proliferation of drugs / psychotropic substances and continuous increase in number of drug addicts remains an emerging challenge. The matter poses a grave threat to life of the masses in general and youth in particular. The fact requires special and immediate attention towards this menace. ANF is playing significant role against war on drugs, and its endeavors in drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction and international cooperation are commendable. The menace of drug abuse cannot be countered effectively unless all segments of the society join hands for the purpose, as the eradication of drug abuse is a shared national obligation for all the section of society. The National Anti-Narcotics Policy 2019 lays specific emphasis on federal and provincial organization to play their role in establishment of Drug Free Society.

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking will be observed on June 26th across the world including Pakistan to raise awareness on drug abuse. It is an occasion with much conscious fervor for creating mass awareness among the masses regarding hazards of drug addiction and illegal trafficking. With reference to this day and with aim of creating awareness against drugs in youth and general public, ANF wants to make postal stamps that can help to reduce the drug trend in people. In addition, ANF is sponsoring many awareness campaigns and links with various federal, provincial institutions and other private organizations regarding reducing the drug trend and creating awareness among general public, whose fruit full results are being seen.

Being the premier drug law enforcement agency of Pakistan, ANF is zealously putting concerted efforts for eradication of drug abuse. On one hand it is busy in creating awareness among the general masses, on the other hand it is adopting stringent measures to control the flow of illicit drugs and precursor chemical. Over a period of time, use of narcotics has surreptitiously crept in our society. Our youth is more vulnerable to this menace.

DDR Directorate ANF presents a softer image and undertakes its obligations while joining hands with public. ANF undertakes Awareness Ventures, Harm Reduction Programs and Addict Treatment Projects, hence adopting aconviction based rejection to drugs. It remained engaged in conducting Drug Demand Reduction activities since its inception. In Addition, DDR Directorate assists in creating bondage between ANF and General Public through NGOS, CBOs, Sport Organizations, and Community Gathering etc. It gives out its message through public gathering, print media, pamphlets, posters / handouts, advertisement boards etc. It works on the code that if

there is no demand then there will be no supply of drugs, so the efforts of DDR are homed to convince the people to say "No to Drugs" by themselves. Objectives.

a.    Arrange and conduct national training programs relating to Drug Abuse Prevention/ Drug Demand Reduction.

b.    Arrange audio-visual and print material to support training and other Drug Abuse Prevention activities.

c.    Maintain lists of NGOs / CBOs for cooperation and networking.

d.    Reduce the demand of illicit drug through Preventive Education, Rehabilitation and Harm Reduction Programs.

e.    Identification, preparation & implementation of projects in relation to Drug Abuse Prevention / Drug Demand Reduction.

f.     Maintain liaison with national and international organizations connected with research on drug abuse issues.

g.    Arrange and conduct research / surveys relating to drug abuse issues/Drug Demand Reduction.

h.    Develop expertise within DDR, to provide meaningful assistance for Demand Reduction activities to ANF Regional Directorates, Provincial Government Agencies, NGOs / CBOs, & others.

Drug is a natural or chemical substance that adversely affects a person's physical and mental health if abused. Drug Abuse has become a global problem, which is causing irreparable harm to society and humanity at large. To combat the drug spread is a shared social and national responsibility not just of the individual or the state but all of us. All members/ organizations of the Society have a duty to play a vital role to protect our society against drug outbreaks. Joint social cooperation is the foremost need for a healthy "Drug Free Society"..

In the context of the above, ANF understands that, the Pakistan Postal Services postal stamps/ envelops can send a clear and loud message to create awareness against drugs in general public and in the urban areas as well as for furlong and remote rural areas.

On International Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking, a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.20/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on June 26, 2020.

Mujahideen of Tehreek Pakistan, Mahmud Ali (1919-2006) February 18, 2020 (2020-4)

 

"We'll never compromise on Kashmir" were the last words of Mr. Mahmud Ali who died of a heart attack during a school function in Lahore on 17th November 2006. These words encapsulate his unwavering belief in social justice and the right of all people to live with dignity, free of exploitation. It is this belief that drove him to fight for the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for Muslims and other marginalised peoples of the sub-continent; and it is this that made him support the freedom struggle of the Kashmir Muslims until his dying moment.

Born in Sylhet on September 1, 1919 to Moulvi Mujahed Ali and Musammat Mujtaba Chowdury, Mahmud Ali lost his father when he was a toddler. His uncle, Moulvi Munawwer Ali who married the young widow, raised him like his own son and mentored him.

After his basic education in Sylhet, he obtained his Honours degree in English from Shillong (now in India). His dream of becoming a lawyer like his father and uncle, both law graduates from the Aligarh Muslim University. was however, interrupted by his involvement in the Pakistan Movement.

As a young man in his 20s, Mahmud Ali was already active in local politics, becoming, by 26, the General Secretary of the Assam Provincial Muslim League. In this capacity, he courted arrest along with thousands of others, protesting against colonial policies excluding Bengali immigrants from farming beyond a specified imaginary line. This was the notorious Line System. Upon release from prison, he successfully campaigned in favour of Sylhet joining Pakistan through the Sylhet Referendum of July 1947.

In 1952, Mahmud Ali was involved in the movement demanding the right of Bangla to be the national language of Pakistan alongside Urdu. When the police opened fire killing demonstrating students in Dhaka, he resigned from the Muslim League, which was the ruling party in East Pakistan. Later, Mahmud Ali was the first Cabinet Minister in the East Pakistan Government to sign an official document in Bangla.

In 1953, he co-founded the Ganatantri Dal, the first non-communal political party in Pakistan. With Ali elected as its Secretary General, and Haji Dost Mohammed Danish as its President, the Ganatranti Dal in alliance with like- minded political parties formed the Jugto Front (United Front) managing to rout the Muslim League government in the first general elections held in East Pakistan after independence in 1947. The new government led by Sher-e-Bangla AKM Fazlul Haq was however dismissed after 57 days in office through the imposition of Governor's Rule. Mahmud Ali was among the leaders arrested and imprisoned. His wife, young children and other members of his family were also later jailed.

After his release in July 1955, Mahmud Ali was elected a Member of the Second Constituent Assembly. In November, he was re-arrested and detained in Karachi under the Security of Pakistan Act, and subsequently in Dhaka Central jail until his release in January 1956. Later, he was appointed the Revenue and Prions Minister in the Cabinet of East Pakistan's Chief Minister, Ataur Rahman Khan.

In 1957, after resigning from the United Front government, the Ganatantri Dal joined forces with other progressive parties to form the first broad based All Pakistan Party, the Pakistan National Awami Party (NAP). When General Ayub Khan imposed Martial Law in 1958 and proclaimed himself President, Mr. Ali was in the forefront of the democratisation movement. He was a signatory to the famous Nine Leaders Statement, which challenged the abrogation of the Constitution by President Ayub, and called on him to restore the sovereignty of Pakistan. In 1969, he co-founded the Pakistan Democratic Party and was elected Senior Vice-President of the party. Headed by Mr. Nurul Amin.

Following the civil war in East Pakistan in 1971, and the invasion by India, Ali remained steadfast in his allegiance to Pakistan, convinced that the rights and safety of Bengalis could only be secured in a strong and united country. He led the Pakistan Delegation to the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in 1971, securing the support of 105 out of 131 UN member states who held India aggressor in the war.

Upon creation of Bangladesh, he lived in Islamabad, never to return to his beloved Bengal. In whichever position he held in and outside the Government, he left an impact. As Minister of Overseas Pakistanis, Mr. Ali successfully negotiated with the British Government to allow immigrants of Pakistani origin to hold dual Pakistani and British nationality. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto gave him the rank and status of Federal Minister, which he retained until his demise in November 2006.

Seeing the media as a critical channel for social and political change, he and his wife, Begum Hajera Khatun, started publishing the Bengall language newspaper "Nao-Belal". This was proscribed between mid-1958 and 1969 by successive Pakistani governments. In 1980, he founded The Concept, an ideological magazine, remaining the Chair of The Concept Publication Trust and its Chief Editor until his demise.

For Mahmud Ali, politics and social development were interwoven. Thus in 1986, he founded Tahrik-e-Takmeel-e-Pakistan, a Movement dedicated to the completion of Pakistan according to the 1940 Lahore Resolution. Through this he spread his message of self-reliance and freedom from dependency on foreign aid agencies. He remained its President until his death.

He was courageous and compassionate, often at personal risk to himself. In 1950, when Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in East Pakistan he organized a Peace Mission in Sylhet, and succeeded in bringing the riot under control in Sylhet district. Incensed, the local administration put him under detention. It took the intervention of the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaqat Ali Khan, to have him released. A devout Muslim, he defended the right of Pakistani Christians (and other minorities) to live as equal citizens and promoted inter-faith dialogue till the end of his life. His relentless struggle for the rights of all people, won him accolades, including the Gadhafi medal for Human Rights and Peace.

On Mahmud Ali (1919-2006) under the series of Tehreek-e-Pakistan Key Mujahid" a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.20/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on February 18, 2020.

40 Years of Presence of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan. February 17, 2020 (2020-3)

1. Background and context:- In 2019, the international community marked 40 years since the beginning of the Afghan dieplacement. Entering the fifth decade of their uprooting. Afghan refugees are the second largest refugee population in the world and largest protracted displacement situation under UNHCR's mandate.

While mitions of Afghans returned to Afghanistan over the years, there have also been waves of displacement and migration to neighbouring countries and beyond. Although Afghan refugees are dispersed across more than 50 countries, nearly 90 per cent of them continue to be hosted by just two countries: the Islamic Republica of Pakistan and tran. With over 1.4 million Afghan refugees and a similar number of other groups of Afghan nationals residing on its territory Pakistan remains the world's largest host country of Alghan refugees (and the second largest rahuges hosting country worldwide)

Despite immense pressure on the infrastructure and national public service delivery ystems for the past four decades, associated with the protracted presence of millions of refugees Pakistan continues to generously host these refugees and uphold the principles of intemational refugee protection. The Refugen Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme, initiated and spearheaded by the Government of Pakistan in 2000, has benefited more than 12.4 million individuals, including both Afghan refugees and their Pakistani host communities.

The Government also remains committed to actively promoting solutions to the problem of displacement with the Government of Alghanistan and other stakeholders. The Goverment of Afghanistan, meanwhile, has denied the retum of refugees and other nationals as one of its key priorities, reflected the reintegration needs in its national development plans and processes, and identified "pronty areas of return and reintegration (PARRs),

The international community has supported these efforts, including through investments in the implementation of the multi-year regional Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSARI The SSAR focuses on voluntary repatriation, sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan and support for host communities among its principal elements. A dedicated SSAR Support Platform will be launched in December 2010, in line with the overarching objective of the Global Compact on Refugees, to operationalize international burden- and responsibility-sharing, including by creating new partnerships and better leveraging the existing ones for coherent and sustainable humanitarian and development respons.

2019 marked the 40 year of the Afghan refugee situation, as well as the 10 anniversary of the RAHA programme. These significant milestones provide a unique and timely opportunity for the international community to recognize the immense contributions made by Pakistan to the natugen causey to reflect and capitals on the achievements and lessons leamed thus far, and to explore opportunities for forging a new solidanty approach for the alamic Republica of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, building on the outcomes of the Glubul Refugee Forum and the launch of the SSAR Support

2. Objectives of the Conference:- Against this background, the Goverment of Pakistan, with the support of UNHCR is onvening an international conference that will seek to bring together high-level representatives of the Goverments of the alamic Republics of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan and the international community with a view to

(I)            Highlighting the generosity, hospitality and compassion of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan Iran, as well as other countries that have hosted one of the largest refugee populations in the world for four decades

(II)          Galvanizing greater support to establish conditions for voluntary repatriason and sustainable reintegration of refugees in Afghanistan, andincreased international burden- and responsibility sharing with host countries, in te with the SSAR and the Getal Compact on Refugees, and

(III)         Mobilizing engagement of a broader and more diverse base of stakeholders through the SSAR Support Platform and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, with a view to leveraging humanitarian and development interventions to ease the pressure on host countries and create conditions conducive to return in Afghanistan

3. Outcomes of the Conference:- The Conference will produce recommendations, captured in a chairperson's summary, which will inform the SSAR Support Platform and complement the outcomes of the Global Refugee Forum and its folow-up processes

4. Format of the Conference:- The conference will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and be held over two days, consisting of a high-level opening s roundtables, a ministerial panel and other panel discussionstwo ministerial

On the occasion of High-level International Conference in Islamabad on 17-18 February 2020, To mark 40 Years of Presence of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamps of Rs 20 denomination each (Set of Stamps)