Quaid-I-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah

The dawn of 14th August, 1947 heralded the establishment of a new country on the map of the world. Born out of an unprecedented constitutional struggle of the Muslim Ummah of the lndo-Pakistan Sub-continent under the most dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and stripped of all readily available resources to steer the country out of the turbulent waves and the agonizing turmoil let loose by its arch enemies, that had so violently preceded and then brazenly followed the Day of Independence, the Nation began to put its indelible mark on the annals of history through awe-inspiring display of "UNITY FAITH AND DISCIPLINE".
Pakistan Post Office, too, began to perform its pristine functions the moment Pakistan came into being when this department started sending the reverberations of 'Pakistan Zindabad' (Long live Pakistan) to the nook and corner of the world through the use of Special Postmarks an all outgoing mail from the country. These special postmarks now stand petrified in history as the first \"Ambassadors of goodwill\" of Pakistan the world over.
Although efforts were made soon after the Independence to introduce Pakistan postage stamps on the 14th August, 1947 yet, the Security Printing Press at Nasik near Bombay, which had been printing postage stamps for long, could not find it possible to do so. It was, therefore, decided to have the Indian postage stamps overprinted with the word "Pakistan" and introduce them on the 14th August, 1947. This also proved too much for the Printers and from August 14, 1947 to September 30, 1947 the Indian postage stamps were freely used in the territories comprising Pakistan as well. The King George VI Indian postage stamps overprinted with the word "Pakistan" were introduced on 1St October, 1947. The over printing was done by the Security Printing Press, Nasik as well as by Government Presses in Pakistan. Hand stamping of such stamps was not authorised, although a number of stamps overprinted by hand are available.
These overprints were invalidated on 31st October, 1949 and were finally destroyed.
Pakistan"s own designed stamps appeared on July 9,1948. The set of four had inscription "PAKISTAN ZINDABAD" in Urdu. Rupee one stamp depicting Saracenic Leaf Pattern in scarlet, was designed by the world famous artist, Abdul Rehman Chughtai and was adjudged as one of the most beautiful stamps of the world.
These were, however, commemorative and not regular stamps. The first regular series consisting of a set of twenty stamps was issued on 14th August, 1948. This series has the distinction; one design depicting "Crescent and Star" facing north east in the value of one Anna was personally approved by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Au Jinnah. It was designed by Mian Mahmood Alam Suharwardi. The set had the following denominations:
2 anna, 3 Anna 31/ Anna 3 Pies, 6 Pies, 9 Pies, 1 Anna, 11/ Anna 2 An 2 "4 Anna, 6 Anna, 8 Anna, 10 Anna, 12 Anna, Re. 1/-, Rs. 2/-, Rs. 5/-, Rs. 10/-, Rs. 15/- and Rs. 25/-.
The Second Regular Series with "Crescent and Star Facing North West" (waxing moon), was issued in February 1949 and consisted of eight stamps (1 Anna, 1 1/2 Anna, 2 Anna, 3 Anna, 6 Anna, 8 Anna, 10 Anna and 12 Anna).
The Third Regular Series was released on the occasion of the 4th Anniversary of Independence on 14th August, 1951 and comprised nine stamps in the values of 2 1/2 Anna, 3 Anna, 3 1/2 Anna, 4 Anna, 6 Anna, 8 Anna, 10 Anna and 12 Anna. Later, 31/ Anna denomination was added to this set with value in Urdu corrected, This complete series was designed by Abdul Rehman Chughtai and is universally known as the "Chughtai Art" set.
The Fourth Regular Series was brought out on the occasion of the 7th Anniversary of Independence (14th August, 1954) and consisted of seven stamps in the values of 6 Pies, 9 Pies, 1 Anna, 11/2 Ann a, 14 Anna, Re. 1/- and Rs. 2/- showing the "Landscapes of Pakistan".
The Fifth Regular Series of five stamps was released on the 8th Anniversary of Independence on the 14th August, 1955. These were in the values of 2 1/2 Anna, 6 Anna, 8 Anna and 12 Anna. The value 21/2 Anna was later issued with Urdu character corrected as Industrial Units of the country were illustrated on this set.
The Sixth Regular Series consisting of a single stamp of 2 Anna was issued on the 9th Anniversary of Independence (14th August, 1956).
The Seventh Regular Series was released on the "Second Anniversary of the Republic Day" on March 23,1958 and had a single stamp of Rs. 15/- denomination showing a coconut tree, also printed on water marked paper later.
The Eighth Regular Series was again issued on the "Anniversary of the Republic Day, on March 23, 1960 and comprised a set of 4 stamps (6 Pies, 2 Anna, 8 Anna, Re. 1/-). All these stamps, for the first time, depicted a map showing the correct position of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and India.
The Ninth Regular Series was issued on the "Introduction of Decimal Coinage" with effect from 1St January, 1961. The series consisted of the following classification:
a) Five stamps in Khyber Pass design.
b) Nine stamps in Shalimar Gardens design.
c) Four stamps in Gate Way of Chota Sona Masjid design, later re-printed on watermarked paper.
d) Ten stamps over printed with the decimal coinage on the old Pies and Anna values (total 28 stamps).
All these 28 Stamps were issued on different dates from January 1, 1961 till January 26, 1970.
A Denomination wise break up of these is given below:
a) Khyber Pass
1P 01-01-1961
2P 12-01-1961
3P 27-10-1961
5P 23-03-1961
7P 23-03-1 961
b) Shalimar Garden
l0P 14-08-1961
13P 14-08-1961
15P 31-12-1964
20P 26-01-1 970
25P 01-01-1962
40P 01-01-1962
50P 01-01-1962
75P 23-03-1 962
90P 01-01-1962
c) Chota Sona Masjid Gate Way
Re. 1/- 07-01-1 963
Rs. 1.25 27-1 0-1 961
Rs. 2/- 07-01-1963
Rs. 5/- 07-01 -1 963
PIES AND ANNA SERIES WITH DECIMAL COINAGE OVERPRINTED
1 P on 1 V2 anna 10-01-1961 (14-08-1954 issue)
2P on 3 pies 01-01-1961 (14-08-1948 issue)
3P on 6 pies 01-01-1961 (23-03-1 960 issue)
4P on 3 anna 18-07-1968 (14-08-1 951 issue)in black
4P on 6 anna 18-07-1 968 (1 4-08-1 955 issue) in red
7P on 1 anna 14-03-1 961 (1 4-08-1954 issue)
13P on 2 anna 01-01-1961 (23-06-1960 issue)
13P on 2 anna 14-02-1 961 (14-08-1 956 issue)
60P on 10 anna 18-07-1968 (14-08-1951 issue) in red
60P on 10 anna 18-07-1968 (14-08-1951 issue) in black
The Tenth Regular Series consisting of the three stamps, 2P, 3P & 5P depicting the "Minar-e-Qarardad-e-Pakistan" was issued on 07-11-1978.
The Eleventh Regular Series depicting Tractor" (symbolising the importance of the use of modern technology in agriculture) was launched between 16-12-1978 to 25-03-1979 and contained 8 stamps in different values. Their value and issue dates are as follows:
1) l0P 07-10-1979
2) 20P 25-03-1 979
3) 25P 19-03-1 979
4) 40P 16-12-1978
5) SOP 19-03-1 979
6) 60P 16-12-1978
7) 75P 16-1 2-1 978
8) 90P 16-12-1978
The Twelfth Regular Series depicting Ibrahim Khan Makli"s Tomb at Thatta (Sindh Province) was released between 17-11-1979 to 01-01-1981 and consisted of 6 stamps; their values and issue dates are as follows:
1) Re. 1/- 02-08-1980
2) Rs. 1.50 17-11-1979
3) Rs.2/- 17-11-1979
4) Rs. 3/- 04-06-1 980
5) Rs. 4/- 01 -01-1981
6) Rs.5/- 01-01-1981
Meanwhile, provisional stamps were also issued in geometric and leaf pattern designs (printed by M/s. Secura Singapore) between 15th January, 1980 to 10th March, 1980 to overcome the prevailing shortage of regular postage stamps. These consisted of a set of seven stamps. Their issue dates are as follows:
10p
15P 15 January 1980
40P
25P
35P 10 March 1980
50P
80P
This was the third time that provisional stamps were issued by the Pakistan Post Office. The first provisional were King George VI Indian stamps overprinted "Pakistan" which were released on 1St October, 1947 and remained in use till 31sf October, 1949 and the second being the decimal surcharges.
The Thirteenth Regular Series consisting of a set of eight stamps depicting the "Forts of Pakistan was issued between 16-06-1984 to 03-08-1987. Details of the issue are given below:
1) 5P Kot Diji Fort 01-11-1984
2) l0P Rohtas Fort 25-09-1984
3) 15P Balahisar Fort 01-12-1986
4) 20P Attock Fort 16-06-1984
5) 50P Hyderabad Fort 10-04-1986
6) 60P Lahore Fort 16-06-1984
7) 70P Sibi Fort 03-08-1987
8) 80P Rani Kot Fort 01-07-1 986
The Fourteenth Regular Series consisting-of a set of six stamps depicting portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in denomination of Re. 1/-, Rs. 1.50, Rs. 2/-, Rs. 3/-, Rs. 4/- and Rs. 5/- were issued on 14-8-1 989.
The Fifteenth Regular Series consisting of a set of three stamps depicting surgical instruments, leather and sports goods on Export of Pakistan" in denomination of Rs. 10/-, Rs. 15/- and Rs. 25/- were issued on 5-7-1 992.
The present set of twelve stamps of Re. 1/-, Rs. 2/-, Rs. 3/-, Rs. 4/-, Rs. 5/-, Rs. 7/-, Rs. 10/-, Rs. 12/-, Rs. 15/-, Rs. 20/-, Rs. 25/- and Rs. 30/- denomination depicting the portrait of Ouaid-e-Azam Mohammad All Jinnah will be issued on September 11,1994 the Sixteenth Regular Series released so far by Pakistan Postal Services Corporation.