Qaumi Parcham March - Khyber To Chaghi

Faith, Unity & Discipline\' was the motto given to us by the Father of the Nation. Pakistan has completed fifty one years of its independence. During this period the nation has undergone numerous crises, at times challenging its very existence. This included active aggression from a powerful neighbour, internal dissentions over petty issues as well as economic crises. But the nation is determined to squarely face all these challenges and exist as a progressive, proud and united nation.
To instill a fresh breath into the life of this vibrant nation composed of many cultures the youth wing of Pakistan Muslim League arranged country wise rallies on 14-8-1998 this year. On September 6, a human chain was formed to show the determination of the nation to unitedly en-counter all odds.
The \"National Flag March\" is a follow up of the two earlier events, The historic march by the youth of the nation started on 19-11-1998, spear-headed by the Pakistan Muslim League Youth Wing from Jamrud in Khyber Agency. The route taken was Peshawar, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Murree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Multan, Sukkur, Karachi, Larkana, Quetta, to mention only a few of the important towns. This rally covering a distance of 350 kilometers and passing through fifty districts of the country terminated at Chaghi in Balochistan, a symbolic termination point of the long march towards progress, prosperity and self reliance. The absolutely barren mountains of Chaghi witnessed earlier this year the first-ever detonation of the nuclear devises exploded by the zealous Pakistani scientists all by their own.
People from all walks of life, the youth, political leaders, scholars, journalists, lawyers, scientists, sportsman, teachers, retired army officers, industrial workers, TV/Film stars, farmers and students, enthusiastically participated in this show of unity.
To celebrate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 2 denomination on December 16, 1998, depicting the route taken by the march on the country\'s map with symbolic representation of youth carrying the national flag and wearing different regional costumes.

1998 International Year of The Ocean

For modern science, the sea is the very source of life on Earth. It is, so to speak, the amniotic fluid from which all living forms spring. Throughout history, the oceans have been vital to human civilisation as a resource base, as a route to other lands and other peoples or as an outlet for population overflow.
Over 90 percent of the planet\'s living and non-living resources are found within a few hundred kilometers of the coasts. On or near these coasts live two-thirds of the world\'s people. Without the sea, life on Earth would be impossible. Our planet would be a barren desert like Mars -about which, paradoxically, we probably know more than we do about the oceans.
For the human imagination, the sea has always been a symbol of vastness and freedom. Now, at the close of the second millennium, competition for scarce resources is showing this freedom to have its limits. Growing demand is placing the marine environment and resources under increasing strain. History teaches that scarcity can be the cause of conflict and war.
However, it may be hoped that the will today exists to shape our destinies otherwise.
In an historic speech on 1 November1967, Malta\'s Ambassador to the United Nations, Arvid Pardo, called for international regulations to prevent the oceans from becoming a theatre for escalating conflict between nations, to half the poisoning of our oceans through negligence, and to protect its resources from exhaustion. His words did not fall on deaf ears. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a declaration providing that all sea-bed resources beyond the limits of national jurisdiction constitute the common heritage of mankind.
Fifteen years later, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea - which attracted a record 159 signatures - provided the international community with an effective legal framework covering navigational rights, territorial sea limits, rights of passage, questions of economic jurisdiction, the conservation and management of living marine resources, and procedures for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
But the value of legal instruments is dependent on how for they are respected and enforced. This planet does not belong to the adults of today and should not be managed on the basis of short-term considerations of economic gain or political power. It the signatures of our children were needed to ratify decisions that affect their future, many of the destructive actions perpetrated today would certainly cease.
Whatever we do, the ocean will survive in one way or another. What is more problematic is whether we shall preserve it in a state that ensures humanity\'s survival and well-being Time is short, and the issue is in the balance.
The United Nation has declared 1998 the International Year of the Ocean as a celebration of this source of life and civilisation. But this international year is also a reminder of the need to protect this most precious of resources, an affirmation of our commitment to safeguard the rights of future generations, for whom we hold our planet - and its life-sustaining oceans - in trust.
Courtesy: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO)
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 5/- denomination on December 15,1998.

50 Year of UNICEF in Pakistan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), established on 11 December 1946, represents the international community\'s response, through the United Nations system, to meeting the basic needs for survival, protection and development of the worlds children. UNICEF currently operates programme activities in 161 countries and territories.
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children\'s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children\'s RIGHTS AS ENDURING ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOURS Towards children. UNICEF was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1965.
UNICEF began its operations in Pakistan in 1948 to assist the Government in solving the problems of refugees coming into Pakistan. The UNICEF Country Office in Pakistan is located in Islamabad. A team of international and national professionals and support staff is led by the Country Representative.
UNICEF has four provincial programme offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta in line with the federal and provincial government structure since most of the social sector programme implementation is with the provincial governments. The provincial programme offices, led by Resident Project Officers, coordinate with their counterparts implementation of UNICEF assisted programmes and undertake programme monitoring and evaluation. The programme of cooperation for the Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir is managed from Islamabad.
A Greeting Card Operation section is located in Karachi. Its main task is to market the cards, calendars and stationery produced by UNICEF New York Headquarters. It is now the policy that all UNICEF field offices, including Pakistan, can retain all funds raised through card and other product sales and private fund raising to support UNICEF programmes in the country.
Pakistan has served a number of times on the UNICEF Executive Board and has also been elected its chairperson.
During the 1990s, UNICEF has been supporting the achievement of goals for children for the Year 2000, which were set at the 1990 World Summit for Children and a Plan of Action was signed by 154 Heads of State or Government. Broad consensus has been reached among experts, governments and world leaders that the measures identified in the Plan of Action can make the greatest impact on child lives, at a minimum cost. The goals represent the most important focus for common efforts on behalf of children.
Pakistan Post Office has issued a set of four stamps to commemorate the activities of UNICEF in Pakistan during the last 50 years. These stamps highlight the following priority themes for the Pakistani Children:-
- Educate the girl child
- No more polio
- Clean Water for all
- Eliminate iodine deficiency disorders.
The commemorative postage stamps, with leaflets and First Day of Issue Covers will be available for sale at all Philatelic Bureaus with effect from 11-12-1998.

Fiftieth Anniversary of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights - \"All Human Rights For All\" 1948-1988

Some 50 years have elapsed since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. The Declaration was one of the first major achievements of the United Nations and after 50 years remains a powerful instrument which continues to exert an enormous effect on people\'s lives all over the world. This was the first time in history that a document considered to have universal value was adopted by an international organization. It was also the first time that human rights and fundamental freedoms were set forth in such detail. It opened a new era in relations between nations, groups and individuals. The foundation for the international promotion and protection of human rights was established by the United Nations Charter. The Universal Declaration solemnly proclaimed a broad vision of human rights standards which continue to provide inspiration to all those striving to realize its message today.
The adoption of the Universal Declaration stems in large part from the strong desire for peace in the aftermath of the Second World War. Although the 58 Member States which formed the United Nations at that time varied in their ideologies, political systems and religious and cultural backgrounds and had different patterns of socio-economic development, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights represented a common statement of goals and aspirations - a vision of the world was the international community would want it to become.
The Universal Declaration serves as the cornerstone of the international community\'s fifty-year commitment to a truly human quality of life for all people. The opening words of the Declaration\'s Preamble provide the moral basis for that commitment: \"recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.\"
1998 is a crucial year for human rights. Throughout the year the international community will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of its first ever proclamation of the rights an d freedoms of every human being. The year 1998 is also of great importance as the time of the Five-Year Implementation Review of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) which has been inked to the 50th anniversary of the universal Declaration by the World Conference on Human Rights. Thus,, \"1998\" events would provide the opportunity to:
strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide;
review and assess the progress that has been made in the field of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration and in the implementation of the VDPA; and envisage ways and means to further develop the United Nations human rights programme to meet current and future challenges.
\'1998: Human Rights Year\" began on 10 December 1997 and culminate on 10 December 1998, the date on which fifty years ago, the Universal Declaration was adopted. Activities throughout the year would:
serve as an important vehicle for advancing the role of all human rights along with peace, democracy and development as the guiding principles for harmonious international relations and strong community life in all nations in the next century;
enhance the implementation of human rights and prevention of their violations, as well as promote good practices;
focus on reaching people everywhere, in particular at the grass-roots level; and strengthen the partnership for human rights within and outside the United Nations system. The Universal Declaration proclaims the fundamental freedoms of. thought, opinion, expression and belief and enshrines the core right of participatory and representative government. But just as firmly and with equal emphasis it proclaims economic, social and cultural rights to equal opportunity. It was to be \"a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations\", and the rights and freedoms set forth therein were to be enjoyed by all without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, Twenty years after its adoption the basic tenets of the Declaration were endorsed in the Teheran Proclamation of 1968. These rights and freedoms were developed in greater detail in two United Nations Covenants, the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, both of which entered into force in 1976.
The Universal Declaration is a living document. To commemorate it in the closing years of this millennium, the debate must give more priority to current complex human rights issues: the right to development, the recognition of the rights of indigenous people, the rights and empowerment of people with disabilities, gender main streaming and issues of bench-marks and accountability in furtherance of these and other rights. There are now many more participating Governments than were present on 10 December 1948 and also many more voices from the wider civil society. The challenge will be to engender a similar commitment to a shared vision that these rights are encompassed in the opening words of the preamble to the Universal Declaration: \"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world....\" And that they form part of a renewal in our time of that vision. The theme of the fiftieth anniversary -- All Human rights -- highlights the universality, the indivisibility and the inter-relationship of all human rights. It reinforces the idea that human rights - civil, cultural, economic, political and social --should be taken in their totality and not disassociated form one another.
Courtesy: United Nations Information Centre, Islamabad.
To commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights \'ALL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL\" Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 6/- denomination on December 10, 1998.

Pakistan 2010 Programme

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif\'s Pakistan 2010 Programme aims to realise the Quaid\'s glorious vision. Economic prosperity is essential to this vision, but neither is it the only goal nor the most important one. The vision is based on four goals:
Justice: for all Pakistanis, including women, minorities and other vulnerable groups;
Tolerance: of opinion, belief, customs, values, behavior, life style and knowledge;
Knowledge: for production and competition and for its own sake; and Entrepreneur ship: not in the sense of an ability to exploit others, but rather as a behavior that innovates, produces and serves society.
Our ability to achieve these goals depends upon good governance.
The immediate goals of the Pakistan 2010 Programme are to establish good governance, double per capita income and ensure equitable access to economic opportunity and quality social services.
To achieve these goals requires a broader definition of development --not as catching up\' (which focused almost exclusively on physical capital), but as \'making things work\' with a primary, though not exclusive, emphasis on social and human capital.
Pakistan remained underdeveloped not because the endowment of physical capital was low, but because we had a low capacity to operate and maintain that capital effectively; not for want of institutions, but by a dearth of standards of behaviour that enable institutions perform effectively; not because we did not have sound policies, but because we lacked the ability to implement those policies effectively; not for want of laws, but because of the absence of norms of conduct that prevent the misuse of laws.
The experience of the East Asian countries provide certain lessons on how to reduce poverty and double incomes in a decade. Their details and contexts differ from Pakistan.
Nevertheless, their experience and our has shown that six key enabling conditions are necessary to achieve the 2010 vision:
* A sound system of governance with political stability and a reasonably competent and honest public service;
* high investment in education and research;
* a culture of high savings, investments and exports;
* the ability to take advantage of the emerging international opportunities;
* responsible economic and financial institutions; and collaborative partnerships between the government, the private sector and the citizens.
In keeping with the partnership approach, the Pakistan 2010 Programme has been developed over extensive consultations with a wide cross section of stakeholders.
Such consultations will continue during the entire implementation phase to ensure that the programme does not lose direction and enjoys broad ownership in society.
The purpose of the programme\'s strategic policy is to prepare the economy to carry forward Pakistan\'s vision in the light of prevailing and oncoming global trends, to enable it benefit from emerging opportunities while protecting it from adverse consequences.
The programme\'s core strategy is based on a collaborative partnerships between, the government, the private sector and citizens in general, with the role of the government restricted to services that cannot be provided by the private sector, the regulation and monitoring of private services and ensuring quality control.
Following are the goals of the Pakistan 2010 Programme:
* Double per capita income to $ 1, 000;
* Increase investment to 30%, savings to 28%, and exports to 20% of the GDP;
* Raise industrial share of GDP to 22% and average industrial growth to 9% per annum;
* Promote science technology through proactive programmes;
* Maintain average agricultural growth of 6% per annum;
* Attain life expectancy of 66 years, literacy rate of 65%, universal access to primary health care and primary education, 50% secondary enrolment and inclusion of at least 5 Pakistani universities amongst the top 50 Asian institutions;
* Improve the distribution of income assets across individuals and regions;
* Enhance the role and the status of women;
* Conserve the environment and the natural resources;
* Lower national debt maintenance of low inflation and unemployment;
* Eradicate malnutrition and poverty;
* Eradicate corruption by a combination of incentives, institutional strengthening and penalties;
* Decentralize decision making to local, district and provincial levels;
* Empower citizens through access to information, acknowledgment of rights and support for their defence;
* Reform and strengthen the three branches of government -- the civil services, the legislature and the judiciary by incentive measures, institutional changes and managerial innovation;
* Ensure that the system of law, order and justice protects the weak against the strong, rather than becoming an instrument for the strong to control the weak.
The uniqueness of the Pakistan 2010 Programme lies not in it\'s overt goals or intermediate targets, but in it\'s approach, it\'s choice of strategic interventions and it\'s deeper objective to create a new partnership between the stake holders, a new government, a new polity, a new economy, a new approach to development and ultimately a new society.
The Programme\'s Long Term Vision
* Instead of the Government managing all issues directly, the programme will help introduce a new partnership between the government, the private sector and the citizens in general.
* The means of this end is a new government, small but effective, decentralized responsible, customer oriented and managed professionally.
* The consequent limitations on the power of the government and the provision of incentives and support to the legislature and the judiciary would help create a new politics, clean, stable, decent and based on respect for the opposition, for business, for the mass media, for academic and civil society institutions (trade unions, professional association and NGOs).
* These infrastructural changes are necessary for a new economy to transform the inward-oriented, state-driven, low-tech production structure into a dynamic, outward-oriented, technologically competitive, partnership-based system, driven by market and quality concerns rather than those of input, exploitation and quantitative targets.
* Behind this lies a new approach to development based on knowledge, creation and it\'s utilization as opposed exclusively to infra structural creation.
* These are the building blocks of a new society characterized by the Islamic values of integrity, discipline, industry, innovation, quality, excellence, social cohesion, tolerance, equity and justice. The Southeast Asian experience brings out clearly the important role played by non-economic factors (including various values, culture and the degree of trust prevalent in society) in the process of economic change.
These norms of conduct also need to be incorporated in governmental, functioning at all levels.
Contributed by Ministry of Planning & Development Government of Pakistan.
To focus the attention on Pakistan 2010 programme Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 4 commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination each on November 27, 1998.

Scientists of Pakistan Series - Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam

Prof Dr. Abdus Salam was born in Jhang (Pakistan) on 29-1 -1 926. He studied in Jhang and Lahore. He did his Master from Punjab University. He remained Foundation Scholar at St. Johns College Cambridge from 1946 - 1949 of Double First in Mathematics (Wrangler) and Physics.
He got a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Cavendish Laboratory Cambridge in 1952. He was also awarded Smiths Prize by the University of Cambridge for the most outstanding pre-doctoral contribution to Physics in 1950. He worked as Professor and Head of the Mathematics Dept. at the Punjab University besides working at different other Universities of the World.
He had also been working for the United Nations in different fields. He was awarded honorary doctorate by 26 Universities including the Cambridge University. He was a fellow at St. Jhon\'s College, Cambridge from 1951 - 1954, a fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton University (where Albert Einstein also did his research) in 1951, a member of the Royal Society and of the Prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Salam received the Adams Prize at Cambridge in 1958, the Maxwell Medal from the Physical Society of London in 1964, the Hughes Medal from Royal Society in 1964, the Guthrie Medal from the Institute of Physics, London in 1976, the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1979.
Dr. Salam was president of the Third-world Academy of Sciences, Chief Scientific Advisor to the President of Pakistan, Member Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. His research areas were Physics of Elementary Particles/Scientific Education and Science Policy. He authored as many as 285 Research Papers, and eleven books on Physics. He was also awarded Sitara-e-Pakistan.
Pride of Performance and Presidents Award, in 1959 and the order of Nishan-e-Imtiaz (the Highest Civilian Award) in 1979 by Pakistan Government. Dr. Abdus Salam died on November 21,1996.
To commemorate the 2nd Death Anniversary of the eminent Nobel Prize holder Scientist of Pakistan Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination on November 21, 1998.

World Food Day - (Women Feed The World)

When given the opportunities and resources, women have proven to be active partners in development efficient dynamic and open to innovations. They represent a formidable potential that could help in meeting the challenges of food security in the 21St century\" said FAO Director General Jacques Diouf.
The role of women in agriculture was underscored at the 1996 World Food Summit, where 186 countries signing the Summit\'s Global Plan of Action, agreed to ensure an enabling political social and economic environment designed to create, the best conditions for the eradication of poverty and for durable peace, based on full and equal participation of women and men.
According to FAO, globally, women produce more than half of all the food grown. In Africa, they produce up to 80 percent of all basic foodstuffs and they provide between 50 to 90 percent of the labour for rice cultivation in Asia. Women in rural areas are almost exclusively responsible for the nutrition of their children. Women are also the principal producers and processors of food for their families. Women also spend a significant part of their household income - a much larger part proportionately then men - on buying additional food for the family, says FAO.
In much of the world, women spend up to five hours a day collecting firewood and water and up to four hours preparing food. In addition, says FAO rural women provide a significant amount of the labour for farming. After harvest they are almost exclusively responsible for operations such as storage, handling, stocking, marketing and processing. With more men migrating to urban areas in search of work, women carry an even heavier burden as they also become the head of household. In some regions of Africa, 60 percent of households are now headed by women.
Despite their contribution to food security, women\'s work is poorly understood and under-estimated, according to FAO. Work in the household is often considered part of a woman\'s duties as wife and mother, not an occupation to be accounted for in the national economy.
Outside the house, a great deal of rural women labour goes unpaid. In most countries women do not own the land they work and when they do it tends to be smaller, less valuable plots.
Prevailing attitudes make the plight of rural women worse by denying them political power and social representation states FAO. Gender biased legal and social structures and illiteracy, are other factors that prevent women from improving their economic situation, thus increasing the feminization of poverty. Since the 1970s the number of women living below the poverty line has increased by 50 percent, in comparison with 30 percent for their male counterparts.
World Food Day and Tele-Food form the vanguard of FAO\'s follow up to the World Food Summit, in which FAO was charged with raising public awareness on the issues of food security and mobilizing people to work to end world hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity.
World Food Day, marking the founding of FAO on October 16, 1945 in Quebec City, Canada, is observed annually in about 150 countries. Tele food was launched last year as part of the follow up to the world Food Summit and was recently endorsed by FAQ\'s 175 nation Governing Conference, which called for the continuation and expansion of Tele Food. All money raised through Tele Food goes entirely to small grass roots projects in low income food-deficit countries around the world, including FAO\'s Special Programme for Food Security.
(Contributed by: Ministry of Food & Agriculture Livestock)
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post is issuing a stamp of Rs. 6/- denomination on October 16,1998.

50 Years of Philately In Pakistan

Twelve years after the first stamp was produced in the World in 1840, the area of Sindh acquired a distinction by the Scinde Dawk being issued for distribution in the Province. This was the First Asian Stamp prepared by Sir Bartle Frere, the then Commissioner of Sindh from 1850 to 1859. At that time there were Post Offices at Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Shikarpur only in the Sindh Province.
The First Historic Stamps of Pakistan were issued in July 1948. Their denominations were 1 1/2A, 2 1/2A, 3A and Re 1. The Re. 1 stamp which represented \'PAKISTAN\' was designed by the famous National artist Abdul Rehman Chughtai. This stamp was one of the 10 best designs of 1948. The 1 1/2 A, depicting the Constituent Assembly represented the Govt, the 2 1/2As depicting the Star Gate, of Karachi Airport, represented the doorway of Pakistan, and the 3A depicting the Gateway of Lahore Fort represented the Islamic/historic background.
The text shown on all the four stamps, reading \"15 AUGUST 1947\" is not a mistake as presumed by some, in fact it represents the formation of Pakistan Government which took place on 15th August, 1947.
The period from 14th August, 1947 to 1948 was also dominated by Indian postage stamps, which were overprinted or hand-stamped \"Pakistan\" after independence. This is a separate chapter on its own, which has been researched by the leading Philatelists of Pakistan, both at home and abroad.
Philatelic exhibitions are the major ingredient for promotion of philately and play a vital role in boosting the hobby among general public, Stamp exhibitions have been held since 1956.
The 1961 Stamp Exhibition at Lahore was commemorated by issuance of a stamp of 8As. Over printed with inscription and the logo of the organizers (Pakistan Philatelic Association). In 1963 an overprinted stamp of 2As was issued on the occasion of International Dacca Exhibition.
The first international stamp exhibition organised by Stamp Society of Pakistan was held at Karachi in 1964, where 24 countries including the United Nations took part. Numerous local exhibitions took place throughout the five decades. Some Regional and National exhibitions like \"RCDPEX- 1976\" at Karachi. \"PAK PHILEX 1983\" at Lahore. \"EGO PHILEX -1986\" at Islamabad and\" NEPEX 1990\" at Quetta were organised by Pakistan Post Office. PAK PHILEX 1983, ECOPHILEX 1986 have been marked by issuance of beautiful stamps.
Equally important role is played by local philatelic societies and though the number of philatelists in Pakistan is not great, there is at least one major philatelic society or club in a large number of cities.
The chapter of \"50 Years of Philately in Pakistan\", cannot be considered complete if the names of pioneers are not mentioned Individual efforts laid brick by brick to erect a strong whose work on \'PAKISTAN OVERPRINTS 1947-58 by untiring efforts by Gol. D.R. Martin in which the contribution of number of Pakistani Philatelists viz. M/s. Sharif Qureshi, Fazal Qadir, Asghar M. Quettawala and Agha Faqir Hussain Zahid were acknowledged. The Nawabs of Bahawalpur State Sir Sadiq Muhammad Abbasi and the Brig. H.H. Abbasi, Sh. Nizamuddin, Syed Reza Rizvi, Mr. Hansotia, Mr. Sethna, J.M. Fernandes, Fida Ali Lookmanjee, Dr. Peshoton S. Dubash and Mr. J. Dinshwan were pioneers of Philately in Pakistan.
Philately first registered on public mind when in 1955, the TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED NATIONS, 1 1/2 and 12A opt stamps were issued in a limited quantity which attract the philatelists.
The Pakistan Post Office has fostered philately by producing stamps of great appeal. It has successful catered for every popular theme of the world. Hence Pakistani stamps may be found in collections throughout the World.
Philately is not only concerned with the hobby of accumulating a collection of stamps and covers but it is in fact a \"treasure box\" of historic facts and events recorded through stamps and their usage.
The National Philatelic Exhibition which is going to be held from 4-7 October 1998 is being marked by the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp \"50 YEARS OF PHILATELY IN PAKISTAN\" of denomination of Rs. 6/- is organized under the patronage of recently framed PHILATELIC FEDERATION OF PAKISTAN.

Birth Centenary of Syed Ahmed Shah Patrus Bukhari - (1898- 1998)

There are few people in the world of literature who have written so little but have become so famous. Patrus Bokhari was one such person. His Urdu essays called \'Patrus ke Mazameen\' dealt with the theme of universal sameness of human beings, in a new style of literary expression and humour, a subtle blend of the thought of East and West. \'Patrus ke Mazameen\', published in 1927, was instantly recognised as a masterpiece of Urdu literature.
Ahmed Shah Bukhari, pen-name Patrus, was born in Peshawar in 1898. He went to Islamia College, Peshawar, then to Government College Lahore and finally to Cambridge. He served as Director General of All India Radio from 1939-1947 and then he joined his old Government College, Lahore, as its Principal. It is from this great seat of knowledge, that his reputation in other aspects of his great life spread. He came to be known as the teacher who transformed the lives of uncountable people who were to end as famous personalities in Pakistan.
The other aspect of Patrus that had earned his great reputation was his global knowledge and his passion for service to mankind. He made a forceful impact on world opinion by his debate with Eleanor Roosevelt in October, 1950 that Saved the Children\'s Emergency Fund and ensured the future of UNICEF for the children of the world. As a speech writer he accompanied Pakistan\'s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan on his tour to the United States of America.
His new abilities shown through sparkling speeches earned Patrus the reward after which he was to excel more and more profoundly. He was appointed Pakistan\'s Permanent Representative to the UN in 1951. Soon he gained international recognition not only as the brilliant spokesman of his country but also for his memorable services to the cause of Afro-Asian nations and advocacy of the independence of Tunisia and Morocco. From 1955 till his death in 1958 he served the UN as Under-Secretary in charge of Public Information.
One of the most befitting tributes to him after his death leaves us in no doubt about his greatness. It was paid by Datus C. Smith, the sponsor of his edited Urdu book \'Dars-e-Zindgi\'.
Smith wrote \"of all the men and women I have known in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, I think that Ahmed Shah Bokhari was most clearly entitled to that noble designation \"Citizen of the world\" - He seemed to me to be the answer to Iqbal\'s call for a Muslim who could achieve genuine depth in his understanding of the west, yet without losing contact with his Islamic and Asian origins\".
Dag Hammarskjoeld, Secretary General of the United Nations, on several occasions spoke of Bokhari as \"a man from Asia of the highest culture\" whose \"wit and eloquence\" and \"rich and receptive mind has left its strong mark on the organisation\".
Ralph Bunche, UN Under-Secretary for Political Affairs looked upon Bokhari as \"a leader and a philosopher, a savant, and elder statesman, whose field of influence and impact was the entire complex of the United Nations family\".
Ralph Bunche at an interview confirmed Patrus\'s literary prowess for which he was already known in Pakistan through his essays. \"Bokhari had a delightful sense of humour which at times took the form of puckishness and could be employed with devastating effects. He could take delight in saying something shocking or in bringing someone up short with quietly stated pun.
Few people could recite a tale more effectively than he could\".
Bokhari believed in diversity amongst people in the sense of unity of aspirations and unity of purpose as regards man\'s reason for being in this world . He saw people as people not as races or nationalities. He had a great respect for man and would defend vigorously every man\'s right to self-respect and dignity.
Prof. Bokhari was a voracious reader and that certainly made him a scholar of English literature, which he taught at the Government College Lahore with the passion of a compulsive teacher. Shakespeare or poetry, novel or essay, his literary criticism remained technically as sound as that of any scholar Cambridge had produced. His interpretations always added a new understanding of literature.
A rare quality he possessed was his excellence in Urdu exactly at par with English. This is seen in the numerous plays of Shakespeare, Shaw and Karl Capek that he translated into Urdu.
Furthermore, he is remembered by his students for directing and acting out plays in the College Dramatic Society.
In Pakistan his virtues were often extolled by his students like Faiz Ahmed Faiz and N.M. Rashid. With a career so varied, a commitment to humanity so profound, a determination to put Pakistan before every thing else, Bokhari\'s place in history is eminently secured. Pakistan is proud to celebrate the centenary of its illustrious son.
To celebrate the Birth Centenary of renowned author and diplomat Syed Ahmed Shah Patrus Bukhari, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.5/- denomination on October 1, 1998.

50th Death Anniversary of Quaid-E-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah

On December 25, 1876 a child was born in a prominent mercantile family of Karachi who was destined to change the course of history in South Asia and to carve out a homeland for the Muslims of India where they could pursue their destiny according to their faith and ideology.
According to Stanley Wolpert in his book Jinnah of Pakistan (Oxford) Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation state, Mohammad All Jinnah did all three Hailed as ‘Great Leader’ (Quaid-e-Azam) of Pakistan and its first Governor General, Jinnah virtually conjured that country into statehood by the force of his indomitable will. His place of primacy in Pakistan’s history looms like ‘Lofty minaret’ over the achievements of all his contemporaries in the Muslim League.”
From his very childhood, young Jinnah developed the habit of stern independence and self-reliance. In 1892, he was called to the Bar at the very early age of 16. He stayed for four year in England and on his return, started his practice in Bombay. The early period was spent in hard and constant labour. However, he soon came to be looked upon not only as a brilliant lawyer, but also as a man of great integrity and character. He was soon elected to the Imperial Legislative Council where he moved the famous Muslim Waqf Bill - the first instance of a Bill passing into legislation on the motion of a private member.
A lover of freedom and a great patriot, Mr. Jinnah began by accommodating the Congress point of view, and was called ‘ Ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity’ when he brought about a rapprochement between the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916. He soon felt, however, that the Congress was merely a camouflage for consolidating Hindu India at the expense of Muslim, and it was at the London meetings of the Round Table Conference during 1930-32 that he received the shock of his life: “In the face of danger” he said, “the Hindu sentiment, the Hindu mind, the Hindu attitude led me to the conclusion that there was no hope of unity”.
Mr. Jinnah returned form England in 1934, and set out to galvanising the Muslim League into a most dynamic organisation. “We are a Nation” he asserted, “with our own distinctive culture and civilization, language and literature, art and architecture, names and nomenclature, sense of value and proportion, legal laws and moral code, custom and calendar, history and tradition, aptitude and ambitions; in short, we have our own distinctive outlook on life and of life. By all canons of international law we are a Nation.”
In subsequent years, Mr. Jinnah, popularly known by the title Quaid-e-Azam (the Great Leader), came to symbolise the Muslim aspirations for a separate independent homeland, and in 1940 the Muslim League, under his inspiring leadership, demanded that India should be partitioned and the Muslim majority areas should constitute the sovereign, independent State of Pakistan. It was his ardent advocacy and unbending character, his unshakable determination and his power of persuasion that brought about the successful fruition of the Muslim struggle in the shape of Pakistan.
The Quaid was seventy-one when Pakistan was born. He was spared by Almighty only for one year to set the ship of the new State on its keel. Even during the brief period of his Governor General Ship he strove hard to lay down correct precedents for the growth of a democratic tradition in Pakistan. In spite of his immense prestige and popularity he conducted himself strictly as a constitutional Head of the state and never deviated from democratic conventions and constitutional propriety. Indeed, he was always anxious to uphold peoples sovereignty against any constitutional ambiguity.
He died on September 11, 1948 deeply mourned by a grateful Nation but as one of the great immortals of history.
To commemorative the 50th Death anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 15/- and a Souvenir Sheet of Rs. 20/- denomination on 11-9-1998.

Ophthalmological Congress Islamabad - 11-13 Sept. 1998 (Vision -2000)

I. HISTORY:
The ophthalmological Society of Pakistan, is an officially, registered organisation of Pakistan Eye Surgeons serving at home and abroad. The Society has 5 branches, representing each Province and the Federal area of Islamabad.
The idea of \'providing a common platform to the eye surgeons\' was first conceived by a young Pakistani Eye Surgeon Dr. Raja Mumtaz of King Edward Medical College, Lahore in 1957, which was fully supported by the galaxy of senior specialists all over the country. Lt. Gen. W.A.Burki was unanimously elected as the founder President and Dr. Raja Mumtaz as its pioneer and founder General Secretary. The Society aims to:
II. AIMS & OBJECTS:
1. Organise national and International conference in order to update the knowledge and skill of the Pakistani Eye surgeons and to keep them abreast of the lates development in the field of eye diseases.
2. To encourage eye surgeons to undertake research in the field of Ophthalmology.
3. To publish a scientific journal regularly so that the doctors remain well informed of the latest developments in the treatment and prevention of eye diseases.
4. To educate the public in all matters relating to the vision and health of the eye.
5. To encourage and to promote skilled manpower development in the field of Ophthalmic paramedical and Nursing.
6. To pool all the resources to prevent and trend the ever-increasing maniac of blindness in Pakistan.
III. 21ST. ANNUAL CONGRESS:
The Ophthalmological society of Pakistan is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pakistan by holding the joint meeting of 21st Annual Ophthalmological Conference with 4th Annual Meeting of the \'Islamabad Congress of Ophthalmology\' in Islamabad from 11-13 September\" 98.
The theme of the Congress is \"21st Century challenges in Ophthalmology in Pakistan and how to meet them\". The Society has resolved to meet this challenge by infusing a new spirit in the young doctors to fight out the increasing rate of blindness in Pakistan.
The Society, which caters the membership of all the specialist in the teaching and non-teaching hospitals observes, with great concern the high prevalence of 1.5% Blindness in Pakistan, inspite of acquiring latest technology in its field. To eradicate preventable eye diseases like Trachoma, Cataract and Glaucoma etc. The Society arranges eye camps in the remotest areas of the country where medical care is either not available or not possible. Free medicines and glasses are provided to the poor and deserving patients from its own resources.
In view of this fact that 70% of our population lives in rural areas and the rest in urban areas, we must pay full attention to the unsatisfactory situation and to take immediate steps to introduce a comprehensive national eye care programme in coordination with the world health organisation. In this connection, some of the projects are already in progress with the collaboration of HWO centres in Pakistan. Adequate emphasis are being put on public health education to improve the service utilization.
In this context, the Ophthalmic Society has already undertaken many courses for the training of paramedicals and the nurses, to gain sufficient knowledge and skill to provide primary health care at the root level of rural population.
IV. CONTINUED MEDICAL EDUCATION:
The Society has already arranged 20 international conferences on various topics pertaining to the treatment and prevention of eye diseases. These conferences are also the part of Continued Medical Education in Pakistan. Moreover, this gives an ample opportunity to the specialists of our country to exchange their knowledge and experiences with the scientists in other parts of the world. On the auspicious occasion of the golden jubilee of Pakistan, the Society is reanimating its efforts by requesting the postal authorities to bring out the commemorative stamps Vision - 2000 on 11th September 98.
At this historic occasion concrete steps are being taken to consolidate the clinical, epidemiological and operational research work, covering all aspects of eye care as the research work is vital and foremost in the developing countries like Pakistan.
Courtesy: Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan, Islamabad.
To celebrate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative Postage stamps, denomination of Rs. 7/- on September 11, 1998.

Government College Faisalabad (1897 - 1997) (1998-7)

The foundation stone of this prestigious institution of Punjab was laid down by a resident of Faisalabad Lala Jawala Das on the occasion of Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. The year 1905 marks the land mark in the history of the College.
In September 1905 teaching of regular middle classes started. Time passed on, history went on moving its own circle and again in 1905 it was raised to the level of High School. The old record shows that nothing eventful took place till the year 1915.
On 16th June, 1915. the high school was shifted to the present building. From 1st May, 1924, it was raised to Intermediate College. The Junior Anglo -Vernacular Teachers class was attached to the College in June, 1924. On 29th September 1 933the College was raised to the Degree level. Keeping in view the academic and educational needs of the people of the city, M.A. classes in the subjects of English, math and Urdu were started in 1963. In 1982 M.A. Economics and M.A. Islamiat, in 1986 M.A. Arabi classes started. Quite recently in a period of 4 years we have started M.Sc. Zoology classes. In the field of arts applied science and pure science we are spreading knowledge at Post Graduate level.
In 1997 Government College Faisalabad is completing 100 years of its birth. For Intermediate Examination, it has affiliation with Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Faisalabad whereas for B.A./B.Sc./M.A./M.Sc. it has its affiliation with Punjab University Lahore.
On 1st July 1990 Government College Faisalabad was declared Autonomous body vide Punjab Government Department of Education, memo No. - SO (Boards).
In the same year a Board of Governors was framed and its Chairman is Divisional Commissioner, Faisalabad by virtue of his designation.
In the field of sports of the College has produced great sportsman. In the field of hockey our College can be modestly proud of Col I.S. Dara, Khalid Mahmood, Khizar Bajwa, Saleem Nazam and Shahbaz Senior. In the field of literature we are very proud of N.M. Rashid, Manzoor Hussain, Zahoor Alam Shaheed, Shaheen Mufti, Dr. Riaz Majid M. Afsar Sajid, Zahid Fakhri, Iftikhar Nasim and hundreds of others. Our brave sons laid their lives for the defence of the country.
We are proud of Squadron Leader Saif Ullah Lodhi and Lieu. Nadeem Manzoor Ahmad, There are other prominent personalities of the Pakistan Army who remained on the roll of this college.
Lt. Gen. Muhammad Akram Bhatti
Lt..Gen. Mujib Ur Rehman
Lt. Gen Atiq Ur Rehman
Maj. Gen Saeed Wahala
Maj. Gen Khalid Mqbool
Maj. Gen Rehmat
In the field of politics Maj. Nadir Pervez, Mian Zahid Sarfraz Senator Tariq Chaudhry and many others. Mufti Lutfullah, Hassan Raza, Rasha, Mehar Jewan Khan, Latif Mirza, Jahangir, Mirza, Khalid Latif, Tariq Ayoub, Pervez Rathoor, Amar Khan, Dr. Khalid Mahmood, Sarshar Ahmad Hassan Nadeem Asif, and others are serving the bureaucracy.
This great, traditional, proud educational institution has rendered meritorious service in the spread of knowledge. Keeping in view the academic standard, pride and progress of this college it has become important and necessary to raise it to the level of University.
Since there is mounting pressure on the Pun jab University, so the need has become more urgent, In the past feasibility reports were written for the establishment of a new University or to raise Government College to the level of University or Degree Awarding College. Under the academic pressure, for the spread of knowledge and learning, the establishment of a University is inevitable.
Those students who were on the role of this College for acquisition of knowledge were diligently equipped with knowledge to meet the challenge of the viola tile world. All the students are serving everywhere in the world with great dutiful ness, responsibility, pride and confidence to raise the those of the country as well as of their Alma-mater. We are preparing list of those proud students of OUR College, Quite recently, Shei Nandra Jog, Chairman Chamber of commerce, Prepare list of Government College Faisalabad which was published in ‘The Tribune” Chandri Garh.
On our College staff we have qualified, hard working and research oriented teachers. In the subject of Urdu we have three Ph. D’s in the subject of Zoology we have 4 four Ph.D’s in the subject of math we have Two Ph.D’s and one M. Phil in the subject of Arabic we have two Ph.D’s. and in the subject of English we have M.Litt.
(Contributed by Govt. College Faisalabad)
On completion of 100 years of Govt. College Faisalabad Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 5/- denomination on August, 14, 1998.

Silver Jubilee of The Senate Of Pakistan (1 973-98) (1998-6)

A majority in a single assembly, when it has assumed a permanent character---when composed of the same persons habitually acting together, and always assured of victory in their own House easily becomes despotic and overweening if released from the necessity of considering whether its acts will be concurred in by another constituted authority.
The same reason which induced the Romans to have two consuls, makes it desirable there should be two chambers: that neither of them may be exposed to the corrupting influence of undivided power, even for the space of a single year.\" John Stuart Mill.
A peep into the political history of the world reveals that the ancient Roman Empire had a bicameral political structure as early as the Sixth Century BC. The popular assemblies of the ancient Roman Empire were known as Comitia whereas the second chamber was called the Senate, a nomenclature in vogue even today in most of the countries having a bicameral political disposition. The Senate proved to be the most enduring element in the Roman government, surviving about 1200 years, from the sixth century BC to the end of the Roman Empire in 580 AD.
In the modern times, the earliest trace of bicameralism can be found in England towards the end of the thirteenth century. It began with the institution of a Chamber for high aristocracy and brought together the feudal aristocracy and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, an arrangement which still exists in England although the aristocratic character of the House of Lords has been slightly reduced by the appointment of life Peers.
Gradually, in addition to North America, almost all democracies in the mainland Europe and some of the British dominions adopted bicameralism by the first decade of the twentieth century, Notable countries amongst this group include France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland and British dominions of South Africa, Australia, Canada and India.
At the close of the twentieth century, we find that the trend for bicameralism is on the increase and 61 Parliaments in the world today have two chambers whereas the remaining about 120 Parliaments are unicameral in character.
Advent in South Asia
The Government of India Act, 1919 provided for a bicameral legislature in place of the Imperial Council consisting of one chamber. The names of the two houses of the parliament were the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States. After the first reference to bicameralism in the montage Chelmesford Reforms of 1918, it continued to figure in all following constitutional reports/acts, including the Simon Commission Report and the Government of India Act, 1935.
The interesting feature of bicameralism provided in the Act of 1935 was that the members of the Second Chamber (The Council of States) were to be elected directly whereas the elections for the Federal Assembly were to be held indirectly.
The Objectives Resolution passed by the first constituent assembly of Pakistan on 12 March, 1949 provided for the federal system, but left it to the assembly to decide about the system of government and the nature of parliament. However, the constituent assembly appointed a Basic Principles Committee on 12 march, 1949 to devise a federal constitution.
The first report of the Basic Principles Committee was presented on 28 September, 1950. It provided that there should be a central legislature with two houses. It further Laid down that the two houses should have equal powers and in case of dispute on any question.
A joint sifting of both the houses should be summoned for taking the final decision thereon.
The upper house, known as the House of Units, was to consist of an equal number of representatives from all the provinces while the lower house was expected to give representation on population basis. Thus the first draft provided for a bicameral system with equal representation of various units in the upper house and equality of powers between the two houses.
The second draft of the committee was presented to the constituent assembly by the then Prime Minister, Khawaja Nazimuddin, on 22 December, 1952. The proposed federal legislature, under the second draft, had to comprise of two houses as in the first draft. The house of Units was to consist of 120 members and the House of People was allocated 400 seats. The seats of the both houses were equally divided between the two wings of the country.
The term of each house was fixed at five years. Both were given equal powers, but the money bills had to originate in the lower House only. In case of any conflict between the Houses, the joint sittings of both the Houses were provided for in which simple majority would decide the issue. With regard to the amending process, it was provided that the Constitution would be amended with the agreement of both the central and provincial legislatures subject, however, to certain conditions.
The publication of the report containing the second draft resulted in an unending controversy which centered around the nature of the federal structure, particularly the quantum of representation of the eastern and western wing of the country.
After the dismissal of Khawaja Nazimuddin’s government, Muhammad Ali Bogra was appointed Prime Minister in 1953. He considered it as one of his principal tasks to overcome the constitutional deadlock. He was soon successful in achieving a compromise on the issue of representation between East and West Pakistan in the federal legislature. His formula known as the Mohammad Au. Formula was presented to the Constituents Assembly on 7 October, 1953 and subsequently adopted by the Assembly before it was dissolved in October 1954.
The Mohammad Ali Formula reads as follows:
The federal legislature should be composed of two Houses; the House of Units and the House of the People. The total strength of the House of Units would be fifty, to be equally divided among the five units, viz the East Bengal; Punjab; North-West Frontier Province, Frontier States, and tribal areas; Sindh and Khairpur; Baluchistan, Baluchistan States Union, Capital of the Federation (Karachi) and the State of Bahawalpur.
The House of Units would be elected indirectly by the legislatures of the units, and where there was no legislature the system of election was to be determined by an act of the federal legislature.
There was provision for a joint session of the two Houses for the election of the Head of the State and for disposal of the votes of confidence. Decisions were to be made by a simple majority, provided however that such a majority must include at least thirty per cent of the members for each zone, i.e. East and West Pakistan.
In case of a difference of opinion between the two Houses, a joint session would be called, and the measure might then be passed by the majority vote, provided that the majority included thirty per cent of the members from each zone. If the difference could not be resolved, the formula originally provided that the head of the State could dissolve the legislature, but this clause was amended when the formula was adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
Similarly, the provision that the Head of the State would be elected from a zone different from that to which the Prime Minister would belong was also amended. The formula, however, brought some improvements compared with the first and second drafts of the Basic Principles Committee; while it maintained the principle of parity between East and West Pakistan it made a substantial departure from the parity clause of the second draft.
The distribution of seats in the upper House was made in accordance with the geographical facts of the country. As West Pakistan had the major part of the country\'s territory. It was given a clear majority in the House of Units. In the lower House, East Pakistan having the majority of the country\'s population, got a clear majority of seats in accordance with the democratic principle.
But the distribution of seats in the two Houses combined was made in such a way as to ensure parity between East and West Pakistan. Each zone got 175 seats in the joint session of the two Houses, and it was at the joint session that the issues of controversial nature were likely to be decided. By providing for a minimum vote of thirty per cent for each zone at the joint session, the formula sought to provide not only parity but interdependence of the two.
First Constitution
After the dissolution of the first constituent assembly in 1954, the second constituent assembly was indirectly elected by the provincial legislatures in 1955. The second constituent assembly produced results more quickly than its predecessor.
Its inaugural session took place in July 1955 and in January 1956 it presented draft constitution to the country which, with certain changes and amendments, was finally adopted in February 1956. The draft envisaged unicameral legislature to be called the National Assembly consisting of 300 members to be elected on the basis of parity between East and West Pakistan. The draft became the first Constitution of Pakistan.
After the proclamation of Martial Law in 1958, the assemblies were dissolved and the constitution was abrogated. The second Constitution was promulgated in 1962 and that also provided for unicameral legislature.
In January 1969, President Muhammad Ayub Khan resigned and second Martial Law was enforced.
The first ever direct elections in the history of Pakistan were held under the legal frame-work order of the then martial Law Administrator in December 1970. The eastern wing of the country seceded after the war in December 1971.
The Second Chamber
In 1972, all parliamentary parties reached an agreement on constitutional reforms envisaging two houses of Parliament; the National Assembly and the Senate. The main purpose for the creation of the Senate was to given equal representation to all the federating units since the membership of the National Assembly was determined on the population basis. It was, therefore after the introduction of 1972 Constitution, which was adopted on 12 April, 1972 that a bicameral Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate, was constituted.
The Senate, which is popularly called the Upper House, primarily functions as a Legislative Body. It came into existence on 6 August, 1973, when the members took oath of the Office and signed the Roll of Members.
Senate, as a legislative body, derives equal representation from all the four federating units regardless of their size and population. The Senate of Pakistan is a permanent legislative institution and symbolizes a process of continuity in the national affair. About one-half of the members are elected for a six year term after every three years.
The Senate of Pakistan, ever since its inception in 1973, has played its parliamentary role with distinction and has always come up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan. The membership, which was originally restricted to 45, was raised to 63 in 1977 and was again enhanced to the present 87 by a constitutional amendment passed in 1985. The idea of the obligatory inclusion of 20 seats, reserved for the Ulema, Scholars, and Technocrats in the Senate, gave a new life, fervour and quality to the debates and proceedings of the Senate.
The continuation of the democratic process and the institutions after their restoration in 1985 has culminated into a parliamentary history which one should be genuinely proud of. The quality and standards of debate, contribution in bringing out quality legislation, accountability of the state machinery under successive governments and the most importantly the established committees system are the main visible parliamentary functions of which the nation might feel proud of the Upper House of its Parliament.
The past quarter of a century have witnessed certain inevitable ups and downs of which the imposition of Martial Law in 1977 was the worst when the Constitution of Pakistan experienced a rare concept of suspension and when the Senate - constitutionally a permanent body - had also to go dormant.
The period from 5 July, 1977 to 20 March, 1985 remains a big question mark as to why the nation was deprived of having in suspension the upper chamber of its Parliament, a House which the Constitution envisaged to be permanent in character, while it was still existing in the deep abyss created by the martial Law.
However, past 13 years have witnessed a gradual maturity in the business and proceedings of the Senate of Pakistan. It has held as many as 84 rewarding and fruitful sessions till early May and played its parliamentary role quite successfully and also to the satisfaction of the people. It has, as a permanent House of the Parliament of Pakistan, has held the banner of democratic norms high and represented the will and voice of the people of Pakistan even during the short intervals when the lower house i.e. the National Assembly, was not there in existence.
Contributed by \"SENATE OF PAKISTAN
To celebrate the \"Silver Jubilee of Senate of Pakistan 1973-98\" Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 2 stamps, denomination of Rs. 2/- & Rs. 5/- on August 6, 1998.

Medicinal Plants Of Pakistan (Dhatu Ra) (1998-5)

Pakistan is endowed with a great wealth of medicinal plants. This is a natural botanical source of medicines being manufactured by indigenous pharmaceutical houses in Pakistan. These plants are also the basic source of modern pharmaceutical market, although today it has become an entire medical world of synthetics, with elevated prices a common man can hardly afford.
It is therefore, the most appropriate time to consider development and organization of our medicinal plants industry to become independent in the provision of common indigenous natural drugs that are being used to treat diseases in most of our rural areas.
In our country these plants generally grow wild but medicinal plants species are also cultivated which possess great potentialities not only in the light of their use from centuries in the sub-continent in Greco-Arab (Unani or Eastern) system of medicine but also in the light of active principles or biodynamic compounds being isolated from them, using ultra modern screening techniques available in the country.
DHATURA STRAMONIUM LINN. SADA DHATURA THORNAPPLE.
Included in family solanaceae is a large annual herb, erect with alternate exstipulate lobed leaves and flower petals united. Plant is widely distributed in Egypt, India, Japan, Korea, USA Etc. The poisonous plant is being used in indigenous medicine from centuries as external anodyne, and antispasmodic. Leaves flowers and juice are used for boils, sores, earache and fruit to the scalp for curing dandruff and falling hair. It contains some valuable alkaloids.
Contribution: Hamdard University
To focus the importance of natural Botanical Source of Medicines, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a special postage stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination on April 27, 1998.

27th National Games-98 Peshawar. 1998-4)

National Games are organised throughout the world by each country to promote Olympic Movement in its respective jurisdiction. The concept of Olympic Movement owes its origin to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, when he along with others founded the International Olympic Committee (100) on June 23, 1894.
In order to promote the Olympic Movement and project its high ideals, the NOCs (National Olympic committees) were encouraged to be created in each country who should be fully committed to follow the constitutional principals laid down by the International Olympic Committee. The NOCs are chartered with the responsibilities to participate in the Olympic Games and also promote Olympic Movement in their own countries.
In terms of its philosophy and impact the Olympic Movement by all considerations, is one of the largest movements, in our modern world. As the Olympic Movement progressed over the time, the number of NOCs increased and presently there are 197 NOCs which have joined the Olympic Movement and are recognized by the ICC.
In the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, all the 197 NOCs were represented and there were 10,000 athletes and 5000 team officials who participated in these games.
Since the NOC of each country is committed to promote the Olympic Movement and is also bound to hold its National Games on the pattern of the Olympic Games, the Pakistan Olympic Association was created in 1948. Father of the Nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad All Jinnah Performed the inauguration of the First Pakistan Olympic Games.
In his message to the organizers and the nation, he stated:- “For sound minds we should have sound bodies and that is why nations the world over attach so much importance to sports and physical culture.
The first Pakistan Olympic Games should act as on incentive to all Pakistan nationals to emulate the Olympic Motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” i.e. “Faster, Higher and Stronger”. I wish the organizers of the Games and all competitors the best of luck. Build up Pakistan higher, firmer and stronger”.
The message of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the nation indicates the importance he attached to sporting activities in the country. During the first National Games, sportsmen, sports-women and officials from all the provinces including East Pakistan took part.
The competitions were held in Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling. The overall Championship was won by the Punjab Olympic Association. A Trophy was donated by Quaid-e-Azam from his private funds which was titled as “QUAID-E-AZAM TROPHY’.
This Trophy continued to be awarded to the best participating Unit in all the subsequent I Games and has become a symbol of prestige.
After a good start in 1948, the National Games in Pakistan were held in the following years:-
S. No. of Year in City in Who Won the National which Games Which Games Quaid-e-Azam Games held held Trophy 1st 1948 Karachi Punjab 2nd 1950 Lahore Services 3rd 1952 Lahore Army 4th 1954 Montgomery No Trophy was Awarded 5th 1955 Dhaka Services 6th 1956 Lahore Army 7th 1958 Peshawar Army 8th 1960 Dhaka Army 9th 1962 Lahore Army 10th 1964 Dhaka Army 11th 1966 Lahore No Trophy was Awarded 12th 1968 Dhaka Railways 13th 1970 Karachi Army 14th 1972 Lahore Railways 15th 1974 Peshawar Army 16th 1976 Karachi Army 17th 1978 Lahore Army 18th 1980 Karachi Army 19th 1982 Peshawar Army 20th 1984 Faisalabad Army 21st 1986 Quetta Army 22nd 1988 Karachi Army 23rd 1990 Peshawar Army 24th 1992 Lahore Army 25th 1995 Quetta Army 26th 1997 Karachi Army
Whereas the programme of the 1St National Games-i 948 included competitions in only 6 sports, the NWFP Olympic Association had the distinction to increase the number of sports disciplines to 26 for the first time during 23rd Pakistan Olympic Games held at Peshawar in 1990, in which all the 11 affiliated Units of the Pakistan Olympic Association participated which included all the four provinces besides Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, Railways, WAPDA and UGC. Since 1990 all the subsequent National Games had almost the same programme.
The present 27th National Games would include competitions in all the sports disciplines recognized by the Pakistan Olympic Association except Equestrian, Skiing and Yachting. These Games are being organized by the NWFP Olympic Association from 22nd to 27th April, 1998.
Courtesy: N .W. F. P. Olympic Association.
To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on 22nd April, 1998.

Death Centenary of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1898-1998) (1998-3)

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, one of the greatest Muslim educationists, writers and reformers, was born at Delhi in 1817. He hailed from a well to-do landed aristocracy of Delhi.
Syed Ahmad had no formal education in any educational institutions. He was rather a self-taught person and became, through self study, one of the most well read men of his days.
Sir Syed was born at a time when the continued existence of Muslims in the Sub-continent as a separate entity was in serious jeopardy. For nearly half a century he struggled against the apathy and despondency that had settled upon the Muslims in the wake of their defeat in the War of Independence of 1857. He finally took them out of the abyss, gave them a national identity, enthused them with hope, brought clarity to their perception and thought and put them on the road to progress and freedom.
In 1875 he founded the Muhammedan Anglo Oriental College at Aligarh aimed at creating a confluence of traditional learning and modern sciences. It was raised to the status of Muslim University in 1920.
Sir Syed was nominated as Member Imperial Legislative Council in 1878 and denominated in 1881 but he resigned in 1883. He was a Member Education Commission in 1882 but resigned because of differences between him and the Chairman Dr. W. W. Hunter.
In 1886 he founded the \"Muhammedan Education Congress\', but later named it \'Conference (to avoid confusion with the Indian National Congress), to carry the message of Aligarh to all parts of the country and remained its Secretary till 1897.
An ardent champion of a progressive and dynamic approach to education he was the first Muslim leader who perceived that the Muslims of India were a separate nation and must not be absorbed by Hindus in a United India. He made the prophetic declaration in 1867 \"I am convinced that both the nations will not willingly cooperate in anything. Their mutual hostility will increase immensely in future. He who lives will see\".
He thus laid the first brick on which the edifice of Pakistan was raised.
He is author of a number of famous essays and books namely \'Aasaar-us-Sanadid, \'Asbab-e-Baghawat-e-Hind\'. \'Loyal Muhammadans of India\', \'RisalaTahqeeq-e-Lafze Nassara\', \'Tabayyun-ul-Kalam\', \'Strictures upon the present educational system in India\', \'Series of Essays on the ‘Life of Muhammad\', \'Review on Hunter\'s Indian Musalmans\', \'On the Present State of Indian Politics\', \'Musalmanon Ki Kismat Ka Faisala, \'Sirat-e-Faridia\'.
Sir Syed had started working on a commentary on the Holy Quran. He wrote 7 volumes when he fell ill in 1898 and did not live long enough to complete it. He died in 1898 and buried at Aligarh.
To commemorate the death centenary of eminent leader, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on March 27, 1998.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations - Defence Services of Pakistan. (1998-2)

The history of Pakistan Army is the saga of the creative of Pakistan itself against heavy odds. It is a story of unflinching determination of the founding fathers led by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and of officers and men to create a nation and its armed-forces.
At the time of independence Lord Mountbatten was totally against division of Indian Army but Quaid-e-Azam foiled the evil designs of the viceroy and the All India Congress. However, still they succeeded in creating a situation where all possible frictions and retarding tactics were employed so that the / Pakistan Army, when commissioned in to operation, would not be in a position to provide security to the newborn country.
The legitimate share of weapons and armaments were denied to Pakistan / on a very flimsy ground that Partition Councils decision pertained to the division of personnel and not to equipment and stores. Resultantly, Pakistan Army right from the outset faced critical deficiencies.
Just to give an over view, against Pakistan\'s authorized share of 40 to 60,000 tons of ammunition, / 249 armed vehicles, Pakistan did not receive any quantity against the share of 1461 soft vehicles. Pakistan was given only 74 vehicles. Out of 30 military training establishments in British India, only five came to us. Out of 19 ordinance factories, Pakistan did not get a single factory. Against 18 Ordnance depots, only 5 were located in Pakistan territory and those too were without any stores since 1946.
In addition to the stores there was acute shortage of officers. Against the requirement of 7750 officers only 3450 were available. The aforementioned state indicates that Pakistan Army started its journey of development practically from scratch. By the grace of God over a period of time Pakistan Army has expanded into a reckon able force and through sheer commitment and dedication it has performed tasks which have no parallel in the annals of history.
Pakistan Army in the initial stages depended on foreign sources of supply even for small arms and ammunition. But it has now almost reached the threshold of self-reliance in these fields.
The indigenously produced surface to air \'Anza I\' and \'II’ missiles, long range surface to surface \'Hataf\' series missiles and anti tank \'Baktar shikan missiles are some landmark achievements. Main battle tank \'Al-Khalid\' is likely to roll out in 1998, which will have a significant impact on the formation of armoured forces. In addition, Pakistan Army has made advances in manufacturing of armoured personnel carriers e.g. \'Yasoob\' heavy duty truck and quite a few such other projects.
1947-48 Kashmir war, Ran of Kuch, 1965 war, 1971 war and now war about the clouds, i.e. Siachen Glacier, are hallmarks in Pakistan Army\'s history and by the grace of Allah, the nation and the Armed Forces always stood together to thwart enemy-designs.
Above all the nuclear ambiguity which has emerged as nuclear deterrence has not only added to the stature of Pakistan but has also ensured a climate of peace in south Asia after the war of 1971.
The performance of Pakistan Army contingents in UN peacekeeping operations in the strife-ridden spots around the globe has earned international recognition and applause due to its dedicated service.
In situations of natural calamities and peacetime national service, the government frequently calls in the army for assistance. In addition to the duties during the floods, earthquake, locust control, the Army has also performed duties in holding impartial elections, riot control, anti smuggling and census duties. On all these occasions, Army came out with an unblemished record.
Pakistan Army has aligned itself totally with professionalism, It is committed safeguarding country\'s territorial integrity and ideological entity against all internal and external threats posed to Pakistan.
PAKISTAN AIR FORCE
Pakistan Air Force, at its inception was known as Royal Pakistan Air Force. It constituted a group of over 2,000 men of strong mettle controlling an Air Force comprising l6Tempests, 11 fighter bombers, 2 Dakota aircraft, 12 T-6G Harwards and 7 Tiger Moth aircraft. Pakistan, by dint of its geographic location, inherited 7 operational air fields. Some of these even lacked the barest minimum facilities of an Operational Base.
From 1947 to 1957 the PAF was the Royal Pakistan Air Force and was commanded by four British C-in-Cs in a row. 1957 was a momentous year for the Pakistan Air Force. The induction of 100 F-86, Sabres under the US aid programme was completed in the same year. The new C-in-C of PAF Asghar Khan established a Fighter Leaders School aimed at producing a class of air warriors. The induction of Sabres was followed by 8-57 Light Bombers and the F-i 04 Star Fighters.
By the end of August 1965 the War between India & Pakistan seemed inevitable. On 1st September, PAF was on a high state of alert. On 6 September 1965 Indian Army invaded the then West Pakistan.
At this juncture the IAF did not strike PAF bases. The opportunity was thus availed by PAF which attacked IAF bases to reduced the threat posed by IAF. On 7th September it was the IAF\'s turn. As was expected the main thrust of IAF strikes was Sargodha, the hub of PAF’s operational activity. Sqn Ldr Alam established a combat record which has few equals in the history of jet warfare. Alam claimed shooting down up to 5 enemy aircraft of superior performance within a few minutes. This includes destroying of atleast three IAF hunters within a span of 30-40 seconds.
In response to the US aid embargo of 1956 the PAF had to look for alternatives. The Chinese F-6 entered the PAF inventory in early 1966. The arrival of Mirages in mid 1967 represented a new but limited addition to its counter air and air defence capabilities. Although it assimilated all its new acquisitions yet, on the eve of the 1971 war, the odds were set heavily against the PAF. It fought the unevenly matched duel fiercely, and successfully contained an adversary four time its size.
After the 1971 war, PAF launched a programme to revitalize itself. New operational bases were built, Mirage and F-6 Rebuild Factories were established along with a factory for production of MFI-1 7 Trainer. The Air Defence System was modernized by inducting latest radars linked with computerized data processing and display equipment. In 1980 A-5 Ground Attack air craft were bought in from china. The F-16 Fighting Falcon entered the PAF inventory in 1982. Due to US embargo on further induction of F-i 6 air-craft the PAF is now in the process of evaluating other hi-tech fighter aircraft for induction.
In fifty years, PAFs transformation has taken it from Tempests to F16s, from MOUs to Doppler radars, from laborious hand scribing of air defence data to fully automated real time displays, from WW II ack acks to sophisticated SAMs, from a single small Air Headquarters to four autonomous air commands - the myriad facel of its transformation go on ceaselessly. The PAF of today has come a long way since 1947. The history of PAF is a story of dedication, motivated by the will to be the best and second to none acquired eight Broke and Gracia-class frigates from the US Navy on a five year lease in 1988.
The Navy\'s prime role and responsibility is to protect Pakistan\'s Strategic lines of Communication (SLOC5), its 960 Km long coastline and ports, especially the port of Karachi.
Barely 100 miles from the Indian border, Karachi has the only developed berthing facilities for handling the bulk of Pakistan\'s trade, naval dockyard, repair and overhauling facilities as well as the strategic national petroleum reserves. Other port of consequence is Port Qasim, a more modern commercial port designed primarily for grain exports, but without naval shore facilities.
The Naval Headquarters is situated at Islamabad but the fleet and logistic commands are in Karachi, together with most of the training facilities. In late 1980s, with the expansion of the fleet, the Pakistan government ordered the construction of a new major naval base at Ormara, 200 Km west of Karachi. The Ormara Project is making considerable progress. In the long term Government plans to move the Navy out of Karachi to Ormara.
The main strength of the submarine force consists of 2 Hashmat class (Agosta class) submarines built between 1976 and 1980, 4 Hangor class (Daphne-class) submarines, now close to obsolescence, will be replaced by 3 new Agosta 90B class submarines.
The six Tariq class frigates were purchased from the Royal Navy. The two ex-RN Leander-class frigates, bought in 1988 and extensively refitted in 1991/93, are still in commission. The patrol and fast attack craft constitute a wide array of Chinese vessels, about half of which are armed with anti-ship missiles.
The main assets of the naval air wing currently consist of four Improved Breeziest Atlantic ASW MPAS, four F-27 maritime surveillance and Electronic Warfare EW aircrafts, plus ten ship-borne helicopters, comprising six MK45 Sea King ASW/attack helicopters, four SA31 9B Aloutte III helicopters and three P3-C Orion ASW MP. As purchased from Lockheed USA in 1990.
The marine Corps, is the youngest force in the Pakistan Navy. With the induction of the Marine Corps the Pakistan Navy has become capable of four dimensional defence, i.e. at sea with the surface ships, under the sea with the submarines, in the air with the naval air wing and on the ground with the Marine Corps.
The Pakistan navy is moving from the old to new technologies at a rapid pace. The Navy will have to consolidate the new weaponry, which will take time as this will involve a basic restructuring of personnel and logistics to suit future needs.
Contributed by \"Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations - Defence Services of Pakistan, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a Commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on March 23,1998.