Convention On The Rights Of The Child Decade Celebration. 1999-17)

 

Every society hopes and expects that its children will grow up to be capable and responsible citizens who contribute to the well being of their communities. Yet, around the world children are denied the rights that would enable them to survive, develop fully and participate actively.

Children whose basic needs and fundamental rights are denied can not be expected to mature into caring, productive adults who will respect the rights of others. Violations of rights are not only the cause of personal suffering, they also sow the seeds for political and social unrest, even for violent conflicts.

For the sake of both individual and global development, children around the world need to understand the concept of rights.

WHAT IS THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

The convention on the rights of the child is a United Nations agreement that spells out the range of rights that children everywhere are entitled to. This convention is the first Universal legally binding code of Child Rights in history. It brings together in one treaty all the relevant Child Rights issues, rather than having them scattered in a number of international treaties. Countries that ratify the convention (thereby becoming “State Parties” to it) agree to be legally bound by its provisions.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child contains 54 articles, each of which details a different type of Right.

Four broad categories of the document are as follows.

1. Survival Rights

2. Development Rights

3. Protection Rights

4. Participation Rights

HOW DID THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD COME ABOUT?

In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document includes Children’s Rights.

In 1959, a declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations. It consisted of 10 rights, and was not a legal binding on the countries that signed it. In 1978, a draft convention on Children’s Rights was submitted to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights by the Government of Poland.

During the International Year of the Child in1979, the Commission set up a working group to coordinate the range of ideas on the draft convention being submitted by governments around the world.

On 20 November 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was completed and adopted by the General Assembly. The convention entered into force in 1990, after being ratified by 20 countries.

As of 1 December 1993,153 countries have demonstrated their commitment to the future of their children by ratifying the convention on the Rights of the Child.

CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND PARENTS

While the Convention on the Rights of the Child upholds a number of basic rights, it dose not in fringe on the rights of parents to decide what is best for their children. Instead it specifically states that government shall make every effort to keep families intact, and shall provide support and assistance to parents in fulfilling their primary responsibilities with regard to the upbringing and development of their children.

The promotion of Children’s Rights is not a matter of placing children in conflict with adult authorities in their lives, but of encouraging all citizens to work together for a safe, healthy and productive future for children.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 2 denomination on November 20, 1999.

100 Years Of Shell In Pakistan. 1999-16)

The energy sector is of vital significance to a developing country like Pakistan as both agriculture and industry are highly dependent on energy to fuel growth. Moreover, with a rapidly increasing population, greater urbanization and high rates of economic growth, energy demand seems set to rise by 6-8 percent a year.

As one of the largest investors in the energy sector Shell plays a vital role in the country’s economic uplift by enhancing the quality of products and services as well as improving the distribution infrastructure. Shell also plays a role in the exploration for oil and gas which helps reduce dependence on imports.

Shell has a strong brand name with a 100-year history in this region. In 1899, the Company began by importing kerosene from Azerbaijan probably as a fuel for lamps - in fact the Company is still in possession of a fuel storage tank from that period.

In 1928, from Asiatic Petroleum, the name of the Company changed to the Burmah Shell Oil Storage and Distribution Company of India when the marketing interests of the Royal Dutch Shell Group and the Burmah Oil Company in India merged.

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the name was changed to the Burmah Shell Oil Distribution Company of Pakistan. In 1970 Burmah Shell divested 51 percent to the public and became a listed company renamed Pakistan Burmah Shell (PBS), with Burmah Oil and Shell retaining 24.5 percent stakes each.

Finally, in early 1993, Shell acquired Burmah Oil’s holdings along with an additional 2 percent purchased in the market to obtain majority share-holding of the company which was renamed Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) a partnership between Pakistani and foreign investors.

But the story does not end here. As an energy company committed to sustainable development, Shell has been active in both upstream (exploration) and downstream projects (refining, blending, distribution and marketing) to contribute to fulfilling Pakistan’s energy requirements.

To this end the Royal Dutch Shell Group has interests in three other companies in Pakistan; 100 percent share-holding of Shell Development and Offshore Pakistan B.V, 67 percent stake in Burshane (Pakistan) Limited and 30 percent stake in Pakistan Refinery Limited.

SHELL IN PAKISTAN TODAY

With annual sales approaching US $ 1 billion, Shell Pakistan is one of the leading private sector companies in Pakistan. The Company has achieved rapid growth in recent years through a vigorous capital investment programme and by ensuring international standards of service and product quality.

However investment is not limited to infrastructure alone - Shell Pakistan prides itself on its investment in people; not merely through job creation but also through training and the build up of experience and skills. This commitment covers the whole spectrum of our people, whether we are developing the business leaders of tomorrow or teaching our pump attendants basic literacy. Shell Pakistan provides employment directly or indirectly to over 12,000 persons in Pakistan.

SPL is one of the highest corporate tax payers having paid Rs. 1.5 billion to the exchequer and collected Rs 87 billion in government duties during 1993-1999 alone. Sales volumes and profitability continue to grow with the Company announcing a record divided of 125 percent for the year 1998/1999.

As a major oil marketer, Shell currently holds about 22 percent share of the hydro-carbon business in Pakistan. In addition to its products, the Company is supplying value added services in long term relationships to industries and businesses including cement, sugar, textiles, airlines, railways, ports, road transport, construction etc.

The retail network of over 1100 petrol pumps is the flag bearer of the business. Shell sells a range of products including Motor Gasoline, High Speed Diesel and lubricants from its Retail Sites built to the highest international standards. Shell has demonstrated market leadership by providing the best to its customers in terms of physical facilities and customer value propositions which others strive to emulate.

Shell takes pride in being a responsible corporate citizen having contributed over Rs. 30 million to the Pakistani community through its social investment programme during the past 6 years.

Through this programme Shelf has had and continues to maintain relationships with a number of non-governmental organisations working in the areas of community welfare, health, education, heritage and the environment.

After all Shelf sees its role as not just that of a commercial operator, but as part of the community and society of which it is an integral part. The aspirations of the people of Pakistan are Shell’s aspirations as well and it will continue helping those people build a better world.

Shell is working hard toward the economic development of the country by participating in and actively advocating Pakistan’s investment possibilities at home and overseas. In this regard it has invested heavily and consistently in the region for over a hundred. Shell has been active at all economic forums including the Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry of which it was the Chairman and has worked closely with the government in formulating and advising on policy.

It has received several awards for high performance including the Top Companies Award presented by The Karachi Stock Exchange in 1997, 1994 and 1993. Shell’s commitment to the country’s economic and social development remains unequivocal and it hopes to see a prosperous Pakistan moving ever faster on the road of development.

AFTER ALL ‘YOU CAN BE SURE OF SHELL’

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 4 denomination on November 15,1999.

The National Bank Of Pakistan Golden Jubilee. (1999-15)

 

The National Bank of Pakistan was established under the National Bank of Pakistan Ordinance XIX of 1949.

Through its sizeable participation in the equity of the Bank, adequate representation on the Board of Directors, and responsibility for the appointment of the chief executive, the Government has always been closely associated with the formulation of policies and the direction of the affairs of the Bank.

Due to this close association, efforts have at all times been directed and resources mobilise to best serve the economic objective and social needs of the country. The Bank has over the years acquired specialised knowledge and experience of the working and financial requirement of both the public and private sectors.

National Bank of Pakistan plays a unique role in the financial sector of Pakistan. In terms of stature and public perception no other institution is comparable to it. This unique role confers on the institution a dual responsibility - to be a commercial bank in its own right; and at the same time, as a trustee of public finances, to act as a custodian of the public interest.

Through the years the Bank has moved forward with great vigour recording unparalleled progress and making an ever-increasing contribution to the economic development of the country.

The bank through a wide network of 1445 domestic and 23 overseas branches has been extending short, medium as well as long term credit facilities to private and public sectors of the economy, covering industrial commercial, agricultural activities besides financing imports and exports, implementing special credit schemes like small finance for agriculture, business, industries, Qarz-e-Hasana to students, housing finance, self employment scheme for unemployed persons, public transport scheme.

By rendering active help, it has assisted the government in its endeavours towards greater investment and flow of funds to priority sectors and provision of services whenever required, like Haj services, collection of utility bills, paying of pension to central and provincial government pensioners, as well as civilian military pensioners and retired army personnel.

The Bank also collects the railway earnings from railway stations and booking agencies all over Pakistan. It is also widely appreciated that National Bank of Pakistan has always tried to serve national aims.

It has made tremendous contribution to the development of small and medium sized entrepreneurs who could not get service from private banking. Many have flourished because NBP patronized them.

In the early 1960s, the Bank introduced Peoples Credit Scheme, under which it encouraged small borrowers to avail loans upto a maximum of 50,000 on easy terms to enable them to set up and operate small industries and commercial establishments.

During this period the Bank was regularly extending School and Factory Banking schemes in the very premises of schools and factories in order to inculcate savings habit among a larger segment. The Bank also had in the 1 960s Rural Mobile Banking Scheme, so that people living in rural areas could open their accounts with these mobile units.

It was in 1972 that National Bank of Pakistan evolved Supervised Agricultural credit Programme, which brought practical and comprehensive banking service to the doorstep of the Pakistani farmer. Later the other Pakistani commercial banks also adopted the scheme. In the late 1970s after the successful implementation of the supervised rural Credit. Programme, the Bank launched a similar scheme to provide assistance. to self-employed engineers, technicians and mistries.

The scheme was called Supervised Credit for Technology. Under this scheme, credit, in the form of medium term development loan as well as a regular revolving overdraft facility was available to individuals/institutions engaged in advancement adoption of technology in various sectors of the country\'s economy.

From 1985, the Bank has been disbursing Qarz-e-Hasana Loans on compassionate grounds, free of interest or service charge, in line with the non-interest modes of financing approved by the State Bank to deserving students who wish to pursue their studies, but lack the resources.

NBP has always in corporate the economic reforms introduced by the Government from time to time . It is playing a major role in the Self Employment Scheme, aimed at providing self employment through income generating business activities. As part of the Computer Literacy Programme, NBP has set up Computer Centers at selected cities, which are catering to the demand for high still education in areas where it is traditionally not available.

It has also contributed large resources to different hospitals, to play its due part in the development of the health sector. In the area of sports also, NBP has over the year sponsored sporting events, will be undertaking construction of a sports complex at Karachi, among its other activities.

In short, National Bank of Pakistan has since its inception played a pronounced role in the socio- economic development of the country.

To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of Rs 5 denomination on November 8,1999.

First Anniversary Of Martyrdom Of Hakim Mohammed Said. (1999-14)

 

Hakim Mohammed Said a many faceted personality, Physician, Visionary, author, bibliophile, idealist, innovator, organizer, philanthropist and educationist -- embraced martyrdom on Saturday the 17th October 1998 at 6.02 am as he was about to enter his clinic.

By and large it was through Hakim Mohammed Said’s untiring efforts that the WHO accepted Tibb as an Alternate Medicine. It was his main aim that the Hakim, the Doctor and the Scientist should work jointly as a triumvirate, for “Health for all by the year 2000”. As a physician, he treated 3 million patients.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said was held in high esteem by anyone who came in touch with him so long as he lived. His magnanimous qualities of head and heart were so endearing. He was a herbalist, a physician a scholar and researcher, an able administrator, an astute planner, a visionary and an educationist all at once. He loved children and children loved him. Like a statesman, his eyes were fixed on the next generation.

He was sought by the sick and he made himself freely available to them without ever charging a fee. He was a philanthropist and a lover of knowledge. He was a true Muslim and died in a state of fasting which was his wont. He was a pious and abstemious man whose heart bled for humanity.

Each of these peerless qualities in the modern world he demonstrated with deeds which are now a part of history and which exhort us to cherish his memory.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammad Said never shirked humanitarian and national duties whenever he was called upon to play his part-as a Federal Minister of Tibb, as a Governor of the Province of Sindh, as a consultant and as an advisor.

He represented Pakistan ably in more than one hundred fifty national and international conferences and congresses in which he presented scholarly papers. These words are shy of a fuller narrative of his achievements and contributions, but his Madinat al-Hikmah the city of education, science and culture is a living symbol of all he stood for. It is a solid witness to his single-minded determination to usher in, single-handedly, a renaissance of the Glory of Islamic learning.

At Madinat al-Hikmah he now lies in peace which was his dearest dream--the benison of peace through love and dignity of mankind, peace through mutual understanding. May his soul rest in Peace, Amen.

Born on 9th January, 1920, Hakim Mohammad Said migrated to Pakistan on 9th January, 1948 and founded his Hamdard Dawakhana at Karachi. Sole proprietorship of Hamdard Dawakhana (Waqf) was converted into Islamic Waqf on 1st April 1953. Business activities and welfare activities were. carried out by Hamdard (Waqf) itself.

Later, it was considered appropriate to administer and control the charitable unit separately and independently from the business unit hence HAMDARD FOUNDATION PAKISTAN was established.

Where as HAMDARD EDUCATION SOCIETY of Pakistan was established to perform educational activities of Hamdard (Waqf).

MADINAT AL-HIKMAH Inspired by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Hakim Mohammed Said established Madinat al-Hikmah the City of Education, Science and Culture in the vicinity of Karachi in 1983, where the following educational institutions have since been established and are functioning.

1. HAMDARD PUBLIC SCHOOL

2. HAMDARD COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

3. HAMDARD COLLEGE OF COMMERCE

4. HAMDARD VILLAGE SCHOOL

5. HAMDARD UNIVERSITY: Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry

Hamdard College of Eastern Medicine

Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences

Hamdard Institute of Education and Social Sciences

Hamdard Institute of Information Technology

Dr Hafiz Mohammad Ilyas Institute of Pharmacology and Herbal Sciences Centre for Horticulture and Hydrochemistry Lab.

BAIT AL-HIKMAH It is fully equipped with latest facilities and is one of the largest libraries in South Asia.

COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said was deeply interested in the development of children of Pakistan. Throughout his life he worked for their health, education and development by establishing the following.

BAZM-E-HAMDARD NAUNEHAL now NAUNEHAL ASSEMBLY

NAUNEHAL SHAHR (CHILDREN’S CITY) where children will receive education through recreation. A full-fledged children’s literature division, NAUNEHAL ADAB was established to produce good quality books.

NAUNEHAL BOOK CLUB which has a membership of over five thousand. The Club has played an important role in promoting book reading among children.

INTELLECTUAL FORUMS

SHAM-I-HAMDARD now MAJLIS-E-SHOORA --- HAMDARD THINKERS FORUM: Dialogue with a galaxy of prominent scientists, historians. culturists, educationists, writers, poets, physicians, intellectuals, scholars, lawyers, economists, jurists, journalists etc.

PUBLICATIONS

Wrote and edited over 200 books both in Urdu and English languages. Published more than 500 articles on Islam, medicine, history and philosophy of science etc. Regular publications included.

1. Monthly Unesco Payami (Urdu version of UNESCO Courier), 1977-90

2. Quarterly Hamdard lslamicus-1978 continued

3. Quarterly Hamdard Medicine-i 957 continued

4. SPEM, Bulletin of the Society for the Promotion of Eastern Medicine-1958-1967

5. Medical Times (Fortnightly) -1963-1987

POSITIONS HELD

Advisor/Federal Minister to the President of Pakistan on Tibb, 1979-82. Governor of Sindh 19th July 1993 to 21st January 1994.

HONOURS PRIZES AND AWARDS

1. D.Sc. “Medicina Alternative” The International Multidisciplinary Scientific Society on Alternative Medicine-i 984.

2. Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan 1966

3. Sadiq Dost Award, from the people of Bahawalpur through Commissioner of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

4. Certificate of merit from the Institute of History of Science and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey 1981

5. Islamic Medicine Prize, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait 1982

6. Winner of the Novosti Press Agency’s (USSR) Abu Ali lbn Sina (Avecenna) International Prize for 1989

7. World No-Tobacco Day Medal Award-1995 from World Health Organization

8. Award conferred by the Pakistan League of the United States of America, New York, 1996 for services in the field of health, education and social work

9 Outstanding Pakistani Award by the Rotary Club Islamabad Cosmopolitan--i 996

ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEARNED SOCIETIES

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. President, Institute of Health and Tibbi (Medical) Research

2. Secretary General, Society for the Promotion of Eastern Medicine (SPEM)

3. Founder, Awaz-e-Akhlaq Movement

4. President, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (SPIL) Pakistan

5. President, Pakistan Historical Society

6. President, Ibn-e-Khaldun Education Society

7. President, Institute of Central and West Asian Studies

8. Member, Board of Governors, Sindh Madressah-Tul-Islam

9. President, Cancer Association of Pakistan

10. President, Pakistan Tibbi Association

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. Member, Administrative Council of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, UNESCO, Paris, France

2. Member, Executive Committee, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris, France

3. Member, New York Academy of Sciences, New York, USA

4. Associate Member, Royal Society of Health, London, England

5. Member, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France

6. Member, International Council for Health, Physical Educational, Recreation, Sport and Dance, USA

7. Member, The Institute for Advanced Research in Asian, Science and Medicine, USA

8. Member, American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, USA

9. British Society for History of Science, England

10. Vice President, Board of Trustees of the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences Kuwait

11. Member, History of Science Society USA

12. Member of the Planetary Society USA

13. Chairman, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Pakistan Chapter

14. International Trustee Duke of Edinburgh’s Award London

Courtesy: HAMDARD FOUNDATION PAKISTAN, KARACHI.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 51 denomination on October 17, 1999.

125th Anniversary Of The Universal Postal Union. (1999-13)

 

The first known postal document, found in Egypt, dates from 255 BC. But even before that time postal services existed on nearly every continent in the form of messengers serving kings and emperors.

Over time, religious orders and Universities added their own message delivery systems and eventually, private individuals were allowed to use these messengers in order to communicate with one another.

In these early Postal Systems the Postal charges were generally paid by the recipient. In the seventeenth century the first International Postal treaty was established, consisting of bilateral agreements governing the transit of mail within several European countries.

Two centuries later, the web of bilateral arrangements between countries had become so complex that it began to, impede the rapidly developing trade and commercial sectors.

National Postal reforms started the process of bringing order and simplification to the International Postal Services.

Probably the most important of these took place in England in 1840 under the, leadership of Sir Rowland Hill. Letters were to be prepaid, using a uniform rate of one -’a penny in the domestic service for all letters of a certain weight, regardless of the distance involved.

On the initiative of United States Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, a conference was held in 1863, in Paris, France, to continue the process of postal reform at the international level.

Further attempts to improve the international postal service on the basis of bilateral agreements during the rest of the 1 860s could not keep pace with rapid technological, economic, commercial and cultural developments.

Heinrich Von Stephan, a senior postal official from the North German Confederation, then drew up a plan for an International Postal Union.

At his suggestion, the Swiss Government convened in Berne, from 15 September 1874, a conference which was attended by representatives from twenty two nations. On 9 October, a day now celebrated throughout the world as World Post Day, the Treaty of Berne establishing the General Postal Union was signed.

Membership in the Union grew so quickly that the name was changed in 1878 to ‘Universal Postal Union. The Treaty of Berne succeeded in unifying a conflicting international maze of postal services and regulations into a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange of letter post items.

It reduced the multitude of rates for mail between the twenty two countries which met in Berne to a single rate for all. Within the single territory, the principle of freedom of transit for letter post items was also guaranteed by all parties.

The barriers and frontiers which had impeded the free flow and growth of international mail had finally been pulled down. Today, by virtue of its mission to promote and develop Communication between the people of the world, the UPU is called upon to play an important leadership role in (promoting the continued revitalization of postal services.

UPU AS A SINGLE UN SPECIALISED AGENCY

The UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations on 1 July 1948. Since then, its relations and active cooperation with other International bodies have grown and intensified.

UNION BODIES

The Universal Postal Congress, which brings together plenipotentiaries of all member countries, is the supreme authority of the Union and meets, in principle, every five years.

One of the major accomplishments of Congress held since the first Berne Congress in 1874 has been to allow UPU member countries to develop and integrate new products and services into the international postal network.

The Council of Administration (CA) consists of a Chairman and 40 member countries and meets in principle each year at UPU headquarters in Berne. It ensures the continuity of the Union’s work between Congresses, supervises Union activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues of interest to the Union.

THE POSTAL OPERATIONS COUNCIL (POO) is the technical and operational body of UPU and consists of 40 elected member countries. It deals with the operational, economic and commercial aspects of international postal services. At its first meeting after each Congress, the POC revises the Detailed Regulations It promotes the introduction of new postal Products by collecting, analyzing and publicizing the results of experiments with new products undertaken by some postal services.

THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU established by the Treaty of Berne in 1874, is located in Berne and provides Secretariat and support facilities for the UPU’ s bodies. It serves as an organ of liaison, in formation and consultation and promotes technical cooperation among Union members.

It also acts as a clearing house for the settlement of accounts between postal administrations for inter administration charges related to the exchange of postal items and international reply coupons.

The principle of technical cooperation was first introduced into the UPU Constitution at the 1964 Vienna Congress, resulting from the need to provide assistance to the many newly formed countries that had become members of the UPU during the early 1 960s.

Funding for these activities typically came from the UNDP or other international development agencies or was given on a bilateral basis.

Now, however, the major portion of funding for technical cooperation activities comes from the contributions that member countries make to the UPU budget or to a special voluntary fund. One of the principal goals of the Postal Development Action Group (PDAG), a special working group set up within the UPU, is to increase the level of outside financial resources devoted to the reform and modernization of postal services.

Through its efforts, international financial institutions are increasingly aware of the need for investment in the postal sector.

With the rapid growth of competition, alternative forms of Communication and higher customer expectations, they are under constant pressure to make further improvements in the quality of their postal products. With this in mind, each Congress since 1984 has adopted a policy aimed at reinforcing the quality of the International Postal Service.

As updated by the 1994 Seoul Congress, the UPU’s quality of service activities include updating and implementing quality of service standards based on customer needs and expectations monitoring on a permanent basis the quality of mail transportation on a worldwide scale and the effectiveness of the world postal network organizing and promoting field missions aimed at improving quality of service setting up an information and assistance help desk at the International Bureau.

As a way of spreading the use of advanced information technology systems to the postal services of developing countries, the UPU has undertaken a global Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) project.

Through the development of computer applications that facilitate international mail processing and allow the exchange of electronic data with one another, postal services now have the ability to track mail shipments from end to end and to provide customers with tracking information on time certain products like EMS.

PHILATELY

There are today a countless number of collectors of postage stamps. However, UPU Congress have set down from time to time guidelines and recommended postage stamp themes that are likely to contribute in a general way to strengthening the bonds of international friendship. Toward this end, the 1989 Washington Congress adopted recommendations regarding a “Philatelic code of ethics for use by UPU member countries”.

The UPU has also undertaken a number of activities designed to promote philately and has established a contact Committee with the major philatelic associations. The United Nations postal administration, created in 1951, regularly issues postage stamps from New York, Geneva and Vienna on behalf of the United Nations.

SECURITY

Both the 1989 Washington and the 1994 Seoul Congress recognized the vital importance of Security as a key factor of success for today’s postal business, Indeed, Postal Security ranks high among the Union’s priorities as part of a global effort to help postal services improve their image, enhance their quality of service and protect their revenue.

In this regard, a special group, the Postal Security Action Group (PSAG), has laid out an intensive work programme up to the end of the 20th century.

CUSTOMER FOCUS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT

As part of the UPU’s objective of promoting closer ties to postal customers, greater emphasis is now being placed on cooperation with organizations representing some of the major users of international postal services.

Working toward this goal, contact Committees have been established with representatives of the publishing industry and with several Philatelic associations. At the first annual UPU “Customer’s Day” held during the 1996 P00, the doors of the International Bureau were opened to postal customers in order to listen first hand to their concerns regarding the improvement of international postal services.

The UPU has also undertaken a unique project aimed at stimulating the development and growth of direct mail-advertising mail and order fulfillment service throughout the world.

To commemorate 125th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of denomination of Rs 10 on October 9,1999.

10th Asian Optimist Sailing Championship. (1999-12)

 

The first Optimist was built in 1948 and was soon a popular youth boat in and around Clearwater and St. Petersburg. For some time, it was only known in that area.

The turning point for the Optimist class came in 1954 when Axel Damagaard, skipper of a Danish three masted tall ship, saw an Optimist while his ship was visiting the United States. When he returned to Denmark Axel promoted the design.

The Optimist soon became very popular throughout Scandinavia where it was renamed the International Optimist Dinghy-its official name today.

The IDA spread throughout Europe in the 1960’s. In 1962, the first World Championship were held, at Humble in the UK in 1965, seven nations got together and formed the IODA (International Optimist Dinghy Association).

In 1973, the class received International status from the sailing world’s governing body, the International Yacht Racing Union (now ISAF). During the 1 970s the popularity of the Optimist spread to Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Today, the Optimist is the World’s largest and fastest growing-sailing class, bigger than lasers, Hobbies, Sunfish, or any other One-design. While many boats Claim “International” in their title, there is none which is sailed in more countries. The Optimist may be the World’s only true “International” Dinghy.

The International Optimist is the only dinghy recognised by International Sailing Federation for young people under 16 years of age. It is sailed by over 200,000 people worldwide, including most future competitors at the Olympic Games.

The 10th Asian Championship in Karachi is an important contribution to the rapid development of the Optimist in Asia. In 1998 Asian sailors won their first ever medals at the World Championship, winning gold, silver and bronze.

Both the two previous Optimist philatelic issues, in 1995 (Aaland Islands, Finland) and 1997 (United Kingdom), were a great success.

In Pakistan, 10th Asian Optimist Sailing Championship is being held from 30th September to 7th October, 99 at marina Club Karachi.

Courtesy: Pakistan Optimist Sailing Association (POSA).

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of Rs 2 denomination on October 7,1999.

9th Asian Sailing Championship. (1999-11)

As early as 1980 Asian countries planned to have regional sailing championships. Initially these championships were called Asian Regattas. To make common public understand the sailing was added instead of Regatta. As per the rules of Asian Sailing Championship it is held every alternate year.

Pakistan sailors have dominated in Enterprise class ever since 1978 when they won the first Gold medal. Later our sailors also excelled in other classes too.

It is interesting to note that 5 major international classes are extensively sailed in Pakistan and these are Enterprise, 470, Laser, Mistral and Optimist, Each boat is different from other and although basics are same, however, while racing each boat requires different expertise and handling. A brief detail is enumerated below.

a) ENTERPRISE It is a British design boat which is famous for having Blue sails. Two persons are required to sail the boat. In Pakistan since our sailors have won 4 Gold and 2 Silver Medals in last 6 consecutive Asian Games, the class is very popular and has attained a status of National class.

b) 470A French boat which is 470CM long. It has 3 sails and require 2 persons to sail it. It is an Olympic class as well and come in the category of High performance dinghy. In Pakistan many clubs are Using this boat for experienced sailors.

c) LASER Laser is a single handed boat, It is also a British boat and requires a strong person to as it is very tough to handle during in strong breeze. Laser is also an Olympic class and in Pakistan it is very popular class. Pakistani sailors have participated in this class in many Asian Championships.

d) MISTRAL Yet another Olympic class which is extremely difficult to handle. The boat comes under the category of surfing boards. In Pakistan this class is quite popular and competed at National and International level.

e) OPTIMIST A pram of sailing which is an international boat and the most popular class amongst children. The class was started as early as 1988 by Pakistan Sailing Federation and soon due to its popularity it has gained a Status that no club is complete without Optimist. This is a boat for children under 15 years of age. In addition to Asian, Games Optimist boat is also sailed in regional and World Championships.

In Pakistan, Asian Championship is being held from 24 - 30 September at Beach View Club, Karachi. This is the 9th issue of Asian event which is the biggest sailing event in the history of Pakistan. The previous history is as under.

1st - 1981 - India

2nd - 1983 - Japan

3rd - 1985 - South Korea

4th - 1987 - Indonesia

5th - 1989 - China

6th - 1991 - Hong Kong

7th - 1983 - Japan

8th - 1995 - Singapore

9th - 1999 - Pakistan

The 9th issue was originally scheduled in 1997 in Thailand, which could not be held it.

Therefore now Pakistan is hosting this mega sailing event. Pakistan made this bid in 1996 during AYF meeting held and was formally confirmed last year on 11 Dec 98 during AYF meeting at Thailand.

Courtesy: Pakistan Sailing Federation.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 5 commemorative postage stamps of Rs 2 denomination each on September 28,1999.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations Of The Founding Of The People's Republic Of China. (1999-10)

 

The year 1999 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1 949-1999). This event is all the more important for the Chinese nation as the whole mankind is on the verge of entering the 21st century.

People’s Republic of China appeared on the map of the world on October 1, 1949, which was the culmination of the glorious struggle of the Chinese people started from the democratic Revolution of 1911 led by Dr. Sun Yat Sen who inspired the resurgence of China.

The Chinese people suffered greatly for more than a century but they never compromised with the status quo and relentlessly struggled against the forces of exploitation. Eventually, they came out victorious under the dynamic leadership of Mao Zedong.

On October 1, 1949, some 300,000 people gathered at the Tian’anmen square in Beijing and Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People’s Government proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The national flag of China is red in colour which symbolizes Revolution, the five stars on the flag symbolize the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the communist party of china (CPC).

The national emblem of China is ‘Tian’ an men in the center illuminated by five stars and encircled by ears of grain and a cogwheel. Tian’anmen symbolizes the Chinese nation and the ears of grain and the cogwheel represent the working class and peasantry.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong and Chou En Lai played a vital role not only to strengthen the roots of the Communist Party of China but also to improve the economic lot of the Chinese people.

Chou En Lai was the chief architect of New China’s foreign policy and led the country with remarkable dexterity and talent, Henry Kissinger described Chou En Lai as “the greatest statesman of our era”.

He was a man of remarkable vision. After gaining for China its rightful place in the UN Security Council in 1971, Chou En Lai recorded yet an other major diplomatic success when in early 1972, he received US President Richard Nixon in Beijing.

The visit led to normalization of relations between China and the United States of America. In this historic reconciliation, Pakistan served as a bridge between the two great nations of the world.

After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, Deng Xiao Ping guided the country and embarked upon a programme of modernization, with economic reconstruction as its priority task.

Deng Xiao Ping was the chief architect of China’s Reform and the opening up drive (1978) to the outside world. Today, the People’s Republic of China is an emerging economic giant in Asia.

Since 1980, China has established special economic zones in Guandong, Fujian and the province of Hainan. In 1984, China opened 14 coastal cities to overseas investment. In 1990, the Chinese government decided to open the Pudong New Zone in Shanghai to overseas investment, which has now become an international economic center.

On July 1,1997, People’s Republic of China resumed its sovereignty over Hong Kong and proclaimed it a Special Administrative Region under the principle of “ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS”. People’s Republic of China will resume her sovereignty over Macao on 20th December 1999.

Pak-China friendship is unique in the history of the world. Pakistan was one of the first countries, which accorded recognition to People’s Republic of China. The government of Liaquat Au khan vigorously supported the cause of China in the United Nations.

Formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established on May21, 1951.

Pakistan and China have maintained extremely cordial relations during the last five decades.

China has always extended full co-operation to Pakistan in its developmental projects in agriculture, energy, industry, defence and tele-communications. This is considered a model relationship among two neighboring countries of the Third World.

With the rapidly growing closer relations between the two countries, the exchange of cultural and trade delegations has become more frequent. China fully supports Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir. Likewise, Pakistan has always subscribed to the idea of “One China” policy.

People’s Republic of China is destined to become more vigorous and achieve even greater successes in the next century. It is hoped that bilateral relations between Pakistan and China will further strengthen in the next millennium.

LONG LIVE PAK-CHINA FRIENDSHIP

To commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 2 commemorative postage stamps of denomination of Rs 2 and Rs 15 on September 21, 1999.

Islamic Development Bank Twenty Five Years Of Devotion To The Islamic Ummah. (1999-9)

 

ESTABLISHMENT AND OBEJECTIVES

The Islamic Development Bank (1DB) is a multilateral International Islamic financial institution with 54 countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (010) as its members.

It provides a framework to fulfil aspirations of the Ummah for economic and financial cooperation among Muslim countries in a global environment characterized by economic blocks and regional groupings. The Bank was officially inaugurated on 20th October 1975. Its Head Office is at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

MISSION AND CHALLENGES

During the last 25 years, the Bank made sustained efforts for developing its capacity in Islamic financial and economic practice. It is making significant contribution for enhancing economic and social development in member countries.

As a long term policy, it is helping the Muslim countries in facing the challenge of different global currents through direct trade channels and technical cooperation programmes. But it stands out quite distinctly from other financial institutions as it performs all its activities in the framework of the Islamic Shariah.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The Bank has devised a number of financing modes based on the Islamic Shariah such as grants, interest-free loans, profit sharing, equity participation, leasing murabaha, installment sale, istisna’a, and technical assistance.

By June 1999, the Bank had financed about 3,000 operations for 53 member countries and 63 Muslim communities involving more than US $ 20 billion. The Bank extends financing not only for implementation but also for feasibility studies, engineering designs, consultancy for supervising projects in the form of grants and concessionaire loans.

In a bid to stimulate development in 21 least developed member countries, the Bank has set up a Special Account with a capital of US$ 150 million for those projects that cannot be financed through its ordinary operations.

MODES OF FINANCING

Islamic Development Bank is implementing its policies through following modes of financing. Import Trade Financing Operation.

The Bank started this scheme in 1977 for financing import trade operations of basic commodities and development oriented production equipments from member countries. The Bank has spent over US$ 11 billion, since its inception, on more than 925 financing operations under this Scheme involving 32 countries.

EXPORT FINANCING SCHEME

The Bank established this scheme in 1987 in order to finance export of consumer goods, semi-processed goods and non-traditional capital goods among member countries. The scope of market has now been expanded to include OECD countries. The repayment period extends normally from six to sixty months.

The mode of financing is usually modaraba. The scheme has its own membership capital. By the close of 1998, it had 23 members with a subscribed capital of Islamic Dinar (ID) 315 million. The Bank had approved operations worth ID 306 million under the scheme by then.

ISLAMIC BANKS’ PORTFOLIO

The Bank has managed this portfolio since 1987 in collaboration with 20 banks with a capital of US$ 65 million. The capital has now been increased to US$ 380 million. It is an investment pool which mobilizes available liquidity with the Islamic banks. The 1DB channels it for trade and leasing with special emphasis on private sector.

THE IDB UNIT INVESTMENT FUND

The 1DB launched this Fund in 1990, with an initial capital of US$ 100 million and then increased it to US$ 325 million by 1998. The Fund purchases leasing and installment sales projects financed by the Bank and thus re-finances its activities. In order to enhance its investment activities, the Fund also invests from its own account.

THE ISLAMIC CORPORATION FOR THE INSURANCE OF INVESTMENT AND EXPORT CREDIT

It is an independent institution affiliated with the 1DB. It commenced business in 1995 and by 1998, 34 countries of the OIC had signed its Articles of Agreement.

The Corporation issues insurance policies to cover capital invested in export trade. It has a capital of US$ 150 million. Twelve member countries had availed of the insurance facilities of this scheme till now.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES

The 1DB gives special attention to Muslim communities living in non-member countries. The Bank has so far provided US$170 million to over 285 educational and health projects in 63 Muslim Communities.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

The Bank has also contributed towards technology transfer. In 1984, it set up a Special Technical Cooperation Programme in order to provide technical assistance to member countries for capacity building and exchange of information. In 1991, the Bank also set up a Special Scholarship Programme in science and technology for outstanding students.

The Bank is always striving to face the challenges of future. It is playing an active role in meeting development needs of its member countries.

To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Islamic Development Bank, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 5 denomination on September 18, 1999.