50th Anniversary of The Founding of United Nations

The name \"United Nations\" was devised by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first used in the \"Declaration by United Nations\" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.
The United Nations Charter was drawn up by the representatives of 50 countries at the United Nations Conference on International Organization, which met at San Francisco from April 25 to June 26, 1945. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on June 26,1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries; Poland, not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States.
The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945 when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States and by a majority of other signato-ries;24 October is celebrated each year as United Nations Day.
Pakistan became a member of the United Nations on September 30, 1947.
Pakistan has been actively participating in the UN multinational efforts to maintain peace and order in different parts of the world since 1960, thus. practically endorsing its belief in the purposes and the principles of the UN Charter, Pakistan\'s contribution to UN peace-keeping has been as wide-ranging as the varied cultural, geographic, political and security conditions in which it has had to operate.
Its troops were part of the UN peace-keeping force that helped end the civil war and laid the foundation for a constitutional government and a stable society in Congo in the early 1960s.
In 1962, as a result of an agreement between Indonesia and the Nether-lands, it was decided that the UN would administer New Guinea (West Irian) and hand it over to Indonesia the next year. Pakistani troops were part of the UN contingent that assumed control of the area when Dutch forces withdrew and oversaw a smooth transition as envisaged by the world body.
Pakistan Army had been engaged in performing peace-keeping, humanitarian and war-recovery missions in Kuwait, Cambodia and Somalia from 1991 to 1995. It had helped Kuwait reclaim its war-ravaged land, which was vital for the country\'s quick recovery and its programme of reconstruction after the Gulf war.
It provided valuable assistance during Cambodia\'s transition from a country ripped apart by long factional strife, aggravated by foreign military intervention, to a nation charting out a democratic course and forming a civilian government under a new constitution.
In Somalia it was deeply involved in peace-keeping and humanitarian programmes that had brought succour to a large number of starving and sick people affected by senseless factional violence that had caused wide-spread destruction and dislocation of population.
Other UN peace-keeping missions in which Pakistan Army has participated include the UN Yemen Observation Mission (January 64- September 64), UN Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (1 980-90). UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (April91 -todate), UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara (September 91 - todate), UN Protection Force in Bosnia (March 92 - todate), UN Peace-restoration Mission in Haiti (November 94 - todate) and UN Observers Mission in Liberia (September 93 - todate).
PAKISTAN ARMY\'S PARTICIPATION IN UN OPERATIONS AT A GLANCE
S. No. Country Mission Dates a. Congo ONUC 31 Aug 60- May 64 b. West Irian UNSF 3 Oct 62 - 30 Apr 63 c. Kuwait UNIKOM Apr 91 - todate d. Cambodia UNTAC Mar 92- 15 Nov 93 e. Somalia UNOSOM Apr 92 - Mar 95 f. Western Sahara MINURSO Apr 91 - todate g. Yemen UNYOM Jan 64- Sep 64 h. Namibia UNTAG 1 Apr 89 -2 Mar 90 i. Bosnia UNPROFOR Mar 92 - todate j. Liberia UNOMIL Sep 93- todate k. Haiti UNMIH Nov 94-todate
Pakistan\'s participation in peace-keeping activities of the United Nations reflects its belief in the brotherhood of mankind and its commitment to peace across the globe. The humble contribution it has made in this regard bespeaks its desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination applied to all the peoples struggling to secure their inalienable basic rights.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on October 24, 1995.