Wildlife- The Blind Indus (Dolphin April 25, 1982)

During the Eocene, the desert of the lower Indus plain which now lies in the province of Sind, was covered by Tethys, a warm sea which stretched as far as Central Europe and separated Angaraland in the north from Godwanaland in the south. The Indian peninsula was flooded and even the Himalaya region lay completely under water. As the land rose, Tethys dried up. When the water withdrew, the sea-dwelling dolphins were forced to adapt themselves to the only remaining suitable habitat - the river. And it is in such a river, the Indus , that one finds that marvel of evolutionary adaptation, Platanista indi, the blind Indus Dolphin.
Cut off from the ocean by the natural catastrophe, the marine dolphins were forced to become entirely freshwater animals which now never venture as far as the tidal zone. In the process of adapting to the changed conditions some of their faculties have become atrophied and others amazingly highly developed due to the darkness of murky waters and fierce currents of the Indus. Loss of vision (Platanista is totally blind) has been compensated by an extremely efficient sonar system which enables the dolphins to locate and identify even minute objects. The flipper has evolved as an organ of touch. Safety in running water is ensured by ceaseless activity interrupted only by sleep pauses, not more than a few seconds long.
Until recently, the dolphin was considered almost extinct, the main reason for its decline being the barrages which were built across the Indus by the British to irrigate the Sind desert. This complicated system of irrigation, which made the desert bloom, also had the effect of isolating the population of the Indus Dolphin between the barrages where, with the added pressure of hunting, they slowly disappeared.
When Pilleri came to investigate reports of the existence of the dolphin in 1974, he was only able to count a total of 150 individuals. As a result of this study the Indus Dolphin was included in the IUCN Red Data Book and the Government of Sind declared the stretch of the Indus between the Sukkur and Guddu Barrages a Reserve for the dolphin. Sind Wildlife Management Board in collaboration with IUCN/WWF and the Volkart Foundation, launched a research and protection programme in 1977 to identify the conservation requirements of this unique species. Although international funding ceased in 1980, the Government of Sind continues to run a conservation programme and latest count of the dolphin reveals a figure of 367 individuals.
One of the most interesting aspects of this dolphin (which is fairly primitive by cetacean standards) is the incredibly complex sonar system which has been developed as a compensation for the lack of vision. G. Pilleri explores the biological implications of such a step in evolutionary terms in his book “The Secrets of the Blind Dolphins.”
Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of two special postage stamps on the blind ‘Indus Dolphin’ (Platanista indi) on the 24th April, 1982, of the denomination of 40 Paisa and Rs. 1/- to focus attention on the need to preserve one of this rare and unique species of the wildlife. This is the eighth set being issued in the series of wildlife stamps. Earlier issues on wildlife included a set of two stamps each on (i) Black Partridge (30 September, 1975) (ii) Urial (31 December, 1975) (iii) Peacock (31 March, 1976) (iv) lbex (12 July, 1976) (v) four stamps on pheasants, namely Monal, White-crested Kalij, Koklas and Cheer (17 June, 1979) (vi) one stamp on Green Turtle (20 June, 1981) and (vii) two stamps on Western Tragopan (15 September, 1981).

Centenary of the Discovery of the TB Bacillus, (1982 March 24, 1982)

The year 1982 marks the centenary of the discovery of the tubercle bacillus by Robert Koch. The World Health Organization and International Union against Tuberculosis join in celebrating this important scientific and humanitarian event.
Robert Koch was born in Germany in 1843 and pursued a career in public health. He soon turned to research and perfected a number of important techniques of bacterial investigation. On the 24th of March 1982, he announced his monumental discovery of the tubercle bacillus, which causes the killing disease known as tuberculosis. His discovery marked the first step towards the conquest of the disease.
Though tuberculosis has declined rapidly in many developed countries, it still ranks among the major health problems of the world. It is estimated that each year about 3.5 million people develop tuberculosis and more than half a million die of it.
Over the years effective techniques to prevent and stop the spread of the disease have been developed which are especially applicable to the situation in developing countries. With the discovery of powerful anti-TB drugs it has been made possible for patients to be treated at home, thus ending the need for santoria. The disease, it has been proved, can be defeated irrespective of its environment. Simplified technology as part of primary health care approach can save millions of lives.
The Government of Pakistan is exploiting all its resources to eliminate tuberculosis from the country. However, active co-operation of the private sector and volunteer organizations is extremely necessary to eradicate this disease. Efforts are being made to coordinate the activities of TB Associations constituted at various levels in the country to expedite TB eradication. It is being ensured that TB patients should get proper treatment facilities and medicines. Diagnosis of tuberculosis cases by sputum tests and chest X - Rays was undertaken in all the districts of the country in the year 1980-81 during which 267,684 patients were subjected to detailed Examination.
For the prevention of the disease BCG vaccination campaign was launched as a part of Expanded Program of immunization and 33,317,824 children have been vaccinated in a year. Emphasis is also being laid on better hygienic conditions, education and persuasion of the masses to overcome this disease.
The commemoration of one hundredth anniversary of the discovery of the tubercle bacillus should serve as an inspiration to the people everywhere to intensify the fight against tuberculosis. Pakistan Post Office is issuing a postage stamp of Re. 1/- denomination to commemorate the Centenary of the Discovery of TB bacillus.

Handicrafts of Pakistan (February 20, 1982)

Pakistan with its five thousand-year-old civilisation has a rich heritage of handicrafts. The different regions with wide variety of tradition and culture, dialects, folklore, music, dresses and costumes have much to offer to any connoisseur of handicrafts. The Kashmiri Shawls, the Baluchi and Sindhi embroidery work, the Peshawari chappals and carpets, camel skin lamps of Multan, Gujrati pottery and the wood and brass work done in different parts of Pakistan have all a charm of their own.
In order to focus attention on the rich heritage of handicraft in our country, Pakistan Post Office had issued on 23rd August 1979 a special series consisting of four stamps depicting specimens of
(i) Guj embroidered shirt (Guj is a Sindhi term for woman’s wed-ding shirt),
(ii) Enamel inlaid brass plate, (iii) Baskets, and (iv) Chain-stitch embroidered rug in the denominations of 40 Paisa, Re. 1/-, Rs. 1.50 and Rs. 2/- respectively. The second set of stamps in the handicraft series consisting of two stamps each of Re. 1/-denomination depicting specimens of (i) HalIa Pottery, and (ii) Camel Skin lamp will be released on the 20th February, 1982.

World Cup Hockey Champions- 1982 (January 31, 1982)

The First World Cup Hockey Tournament was held in Barcelona in 1971 on the initiative of Pakistan Hockey Federation. Pakistan Team by virtue of their magnificent performance won the prestigious Cup.

Pakistan Hockey Team repeated their performance in the 4th World Cup Hockey Tournament held in Argentina in 1978 when they defeated Holland by 3 goals to 2 in the Final.

Again in 1981 Pakistan Hockey team participated in the 5th World Cup Hockey Tournament held in Bombay from 29th December, 1981 to 12th January, 1982. Pakistan, West Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Poland, Argentina, Holland, India, Russia, Australia, England and Malaysia took part in this tournament.

In the opening match against Spain Pakistan won comfortably by 4—1. In their second pool match against New Zealand Pakistan team set a new record for the highest number of goals scored by a team in the World Cup. improving their own record of nine goals against Argentina at Buenos Aires in 1978. Pakistan team won all their pool matches and secured maximum points. The results of the pool matches are as under

	Pakistan	W. Germany	New Zealand	Spain	Poland	Argentina
Pakistan	-	5-3	12-3	4-1	4-1	6-1
W. Germany	3-5	-	2-1	1-1	5-3	2-0
New Zealand	3-12	1-2	-	2-0	1-0	3-5
Spain	1-4	1-1	0-2	-	0-1	4-2
Poland	1-4	3-5	0-1	1-0	-	2-1
Argentina	1-6	0-2	5-3	2-4	1-2	-

In the Finals against West Germany Pakistan won convincingly by 3—1 thus extending their uninterrupted reign to eight years. The margin does not reflect the true character of the victory. Pakistan’s domination was total and complete barring the first five minutes when the Germans scored the only goal of the match against Pakistan.

Pakistan Post Office is issuing two commemorative postage stamps of the denomination of Re.1/- each to commemorate the victory of Pakistan in the 5th World Cup Hockey Tournament.

Yachting, OK Dinghy and Enterprise, Champions (December 31, 1983)

A glorious chapter was added in the history of Pakistan sports when Pakistan yachting team won two gold medals in IX Asian Games 1982 at New Delhi and this established Pakistan’s supremacy in yachting in Asia. Yachting is the art of sailing a boat with action of wind on sails. Use of any other means like oars or a motor would disqualify a competitor. There are various types of boats in the world some of which are included in the Asian Games and the Olympics. In addition, each class of boat has its own world championships every year. In the IX Asian Games four types of boats, i.e. Fireball Class Dinghy, Enterprise Class Dinghy, O.K. Class Dinghy and Windglider Class Sailboard took part in the yachting events. In the Olympics 1984 the following classes will be sailed: Soling Class Keelboat, Star Class Dinghy, Flying Dutchman Class Dinghy, 470 Class Dinghy, Finn Class Dinghy, Tornado Class Catamaran and Windglider Class Sailboard.
The proud winners of the gold medals were Captain Khalid Mahmood Akhtar of Pakistan Navy in the single handed “0 K. DINGHY” Class and Byram and his wife Goshpi Avari in the “Enterprise” Class. Pakistan’s first gold medal was won by Captain Akhtar in the toughest of yachting events “O.K. DINGHY”, in which 13 nations participated. He was alt the time ahead of other competitors and brought the first gold medal when he finished first in fifth series of races. He was so far ahead in the points position that result in the remaining two races were of academic interest for him. He led by 24.3 points from the silver medallist from Japan. This was despite the fact that he had six stitches in his head due to an injury received while practicing a few days earlier. Captain Akhtar was awarded Tamgha-e-Basalat by Pakistan Navy for his feat and Tamgha-i-lmtiaz (Military) for his professional competence as a naval officer. In the 1978 Bangkok Asian Gomes Byram got very able support from Lt. Munir Sadiq PN, and now in the 1982 Delhi Asian Games he retained his Asian title with the support of his wife. Byram had some anxious moments when he was placed 3rd in the first two races in which 9 nations took part. Byram however made it in the sixth race when he won for the fourth time and clinched the Gold Medal by a lead of 12.3 points. For his excellent performance, Byram was awarded President’s Pride of Performance medal.
To commemorate the award of two gold medals in “O K. DINGHY” & ENTERPRISE” events in IX Asian Games, Pakistan Post Office is issuing two stamps, each of 60 Paisa value, on 31 December, 1983.