INTERNATIONAL STAMPS EXHIBITION: "SHARJAH2012"

Report by:- Mohammad Akram Naeem

The Emirates Philatelic Association organized the 28th FIAP Asian International Stamp Exhibition (Sharjah 2012). The Exhibition was held at the "Mega Mall" a famous shopping centre of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was a 6-day exhibition including all FIP/FIAP classes, held from 20-25 November. The Exhibition was endorsed by Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP) at their executive committee meeting held on 27 April 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, carried with the FIAP Patronage.

Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Media Corporation, has opened this 28th Asian International Stamp Exhibition (Sharjah 2012), hosted by the Emirates Philatelic Association (EPA) at Mega Mall Sharjah.The President of FIAP Surajit Gongvatana also attended the event together with Michael Ho, the FIAP Co-ordinator.

About 24 countries participated in this big event, including Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China(PRC), China(ROC), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and United Arab Emirates. The exhibits were dispalyed at 4 different points, with different catagories, in the MEGA Mall shopping centre, consisting of 800 Frames. UAE was on top with more than 85 Frames and Pakistan was one of the top 5 Exhibiting countries with 56 Frames. All the Exhibits with 5 Frames from Pakistan won the medals from Bronze Silver to Large Vermeil. The Large Vermeils went to Iqbal Nanji & Sultan Mahmud and Saleha Batool in Youthy class with a special prize. Hereunder is the list of Exhibits from Pakistan with marks and medals:

Muhammad Arif Balghamwala	Saudi Arabia 1865-1937	81- V
Adnan Hussain Nanji	Saudi Arabia: Hejaz & Nejd 1916-25	79- LS
Mohammad Jamil Ahmed	Pakistan:The State Of Bahawalpur(1933-48)	78- LS
Sultan Mahmud	Pakistan: Bahawalpur State 1933-48	87- LS
Iqbal Nanji	India: Jammu & Kashmir 1878-94	88- LV
Mustafa Hasnain	Pakistan Overprint on Ordinary KGVI Nasik	78- LS
Afzal Hussain Nanji	Study on Pakistan Overprint (Service	79-LS
Imtiaz Ahmed Awan	G. B.:RED PENNY-Study of Platings	77- LS
Ghias Ahmad	Postal Stationery of British India 1856-1947	80- V
Mohammad Akram Naeem	Islamic Events & Holy Places	69- SB
Syeda Saleha Batool	Pakistan Pre-decimal Period 1947-49	89-LV+SP
Salman Qureshi	UAE:Local Surcharge(1965-6)Trucial States	68-

All the delegates of Jury & Commisioners, together with the Organizing Committee were taken for a Dubai city round, especially to Burj Al-Khalifa, the tallest building of the world, where we were taken to 124th floor, to view the city & it's towers from Top. The day was Friday, so upon reaching to CORP Hotel Dubai, the Muslims performed Friday Parayers in nearby Mosques. Later the Lunch with delicious Arabic & Continental dishes, was offered, following the Prize and Award distribution ceremony to Jury Team, Commisioners and the Organizing Personals. The awards to Jury Team was given by the Jury President Abdulla Khoory and the FIAP Co-ordinator Michael Ho.

Sharjah 2012 was a very good show. Our thanks must go to Abdulla Khoory, President of the Organizing Committee, and the other members of the Committee, especially Muhammad Javaid, Khalid al-Omaira and Hatim al-Attar, who performed their duties with full responsibility. The traditional Arab hospitality was overwhelming throughout the show. A lot of expected and unexpected visitors attended this show, and there was a good number of dealers as well. Moreover all the Post Offices from Gulf Region  were present in the show, providing many new and old issues of their states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arab & UAE. The famous agent of the Tnisia Post, Regaieg Rachid was also there, but did not offer any new issues of stamps. Many dealers from all around the world were part of the show, including many from Pakistan.