150 Years of Faithful Service Pakistan Bible Society, December 28, 2013 (2013-25)

The beginning of the organized Bible work in the areas now comprising Pakistan can be traced as far back as 1809 one year after the formation of the Bible Society of India, Burma and Ceylon. There are some records of 1925 which mention Bible work in these areas. 1862 the second General Council of Indian Missionaries met at Lahore. The participants of this conference actually felt this need of establishing an office for the promotion of the Bible work with the prime purpose of serving the constituency of the Punjab.

Finally in January 1863 the efforts of the General Council of Indian Missionaries bore fruit and British & Foreign Bible Society inaugurated at the Punjab Auxiliary with its office at the present site of Anarkali, Lahore. At that time the population of Punjab was estimated to be 15 million of which 0.53% were literate. Some of the pioneers of the Punjab Auxiliary, which later on became the Pakistan Bible Society, were Sir Robert Montgomery, D.F. McLeod, Lt. Col. R. Maclagan and Mr. R. N. Kistin, at the commencement of the Bible work in 1863. The patron was the Honorable Sir, Robert Montgomery, the President was D. F. Macleod, Esq. the Vice Presidents were Lt. Col. R. Maclagan and R. N. Cust Esq. The first General Secretary and Treasurer was A. Thomason Esq.

The Punjab Auxiliary became the Pakistan Bible Society in 1947. East Pakistan too was looked after from Lahore. In 1956 The Pakistan Bible Society was registered under the registration of Societies Act 1860. The Government of Pakistan and the Punjab have always extended their fullest cooperation and have facilitated the Pakistan Bible Society in many ways. The year 1967 marks the end of an illustrious era and the beginning of another in the life of the Pakistan Bible Society. The (West) Pakistan Bible Society became an autonomous body and full member of the United Bible Societies on November 01, 1967.

The Pakistan Bible Society is an interdenominational organization serving all Churches in Pakistan. Its mandate is to serve all Churches without any discrimination, this means that all Christian sects are served equally. "Providing the Word of God in the language people can understand" is the primary purpose of the Pakistan Bible Society and the policy is to translate the Holy Bible without any doctrinal or denominationally bias comments. We thank God that the Pakistan Bible Society enjoys the confidence, trust and support of all the Churches in Pakistan. One good example is that we now print the Roman Catholic edition of the Bible and the Catholic Bible Commission has partnered with the Pakistan Bible Society in the production of three publications.

In the first year of the work of the society i.e. in 1863 there were 28 contributing members who subscribed Rs.1,183 and 12 annas. Ten years after independence in 1957 the local contribution was Rs. 16,826 and total distribution of Scripture was 59,367 units, which included 3,880 Bibles. In the first year of autonomy in 1968 circulation of Scriptures was 105,156 units, which included 4,116 copies of the Bible and the local contribution was Rs.30,418. In 2012 the Pakistan Bible Society raised six million rupees and distribution of Scriptures was 6,521,736 units of which 36,181 were Bibles.

Scriptures were either received direct from London from the British & Foreign Bible Society or from Lakhnow and Bombay. In 1964 a new beginning was made when local production of Scripture began with a printing of 10,000 copies of the Urdu New Testament for which paper and negatives came from England and the New Testament was printed at Mataba-e-Jadeed Press, Lahore. Now, except for the Bibles in Urdu and other languages including English all scriptures are being produced locally.

In 1992 computerizing the accounts and the Urdu Bible commenced. In 1997 computer assisted composing was initiated and now all our work from designing to typesetting is done in house. A good example is the Urdu New Testament with Notes, the Children's Bible and the Urdu Study Bible. In 2001 the Urdu Study New Testament went out which was entirely done by our team of translators, reviewers, along with guidance of United Bible Societies (UBS) consultants and designed and typeset by our department.

It would be unfair not to mention the names of some of the Pakistani General Secretaries who have served faithfully under the able guidance of the General Committee and its officers. Rt. Rev. Chandu Ray was instrumental for the translation projects in Sindhi. Mr. P. N. Joshua, Mr. Hector Ghauher Masih was catalyst in increasing Scripture circulation. In 1980 Mr. B. U. Khokhar began the race and in his tenure the office was renovated, the General Secretary's house purchased and the computerization of the Bible was also undertaken.

Mr. Anthony Aijaz Lamuel (the present General Secretary) took charge and under his leadership creative programmes for Youth were launched through the Sports festival which has grown and is regularly organized since 2000. It is now being held in Islamabad, Multan and Sheikupura besides Lahore. 2001-2010 was named the decade of the Bible. The Urdu Study New Testament is the first lap of this race; in 2003 we gave the Bible in a new format with computer typesetting. This edition had introduction to each book along with topic headings. The plan to setup the project of developing the Urdu study Bible took off and in 2010 the Urdu Study Bible was launched. Two different colourful editions of the children's Bible were also produced which have been well appreciated. The Urdu Greek interlinear with interpretation will also be a landmark. In closing, looking towards the third millennium, to continue to serve the Church in Pakistan.

On 150 Years of Faithful Service of Pakistan Bible Society, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on December 28, 2013.

Poets of Pakistan Series Perveen Shakir (1952-1994) December 26, 2013 (2013-24)

Perveen Shakir was born in Karachi on 24th of November, 1952. Her father's name was Syed Shakir Hussain. She received her education in Karachi, obtaining two Masters Degrees one in English Literature in 1972 and the other in Linguistics in 1980, both from Karachi University. She joined Abdullah Girls College, Karachi as lecturer in English Department in 1973 where she taught for nine years. She got married to Doctor Syed Naseer All, her aunt's son, in 1976 in 1979, she was blessed with a son, Syed Murad All Her married life ended in 1987 due to divorce. She never married again

Perveen Shakir qualified the Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations and joined Civil Services Academy in 1982. She was posted as Assistant Collector Customs, Karachi in 1984. She was posted as Second Secretary Central Board of Revenue, Islamabad in 1986.

In 1982, she graduated from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, USA with a master degree in Public Administration.

Perveen Shakir passed away on 26th December 1994 in a road accident when a passenger bus smashed her car at the crossing of Faisal Avenue and Margalla Road of Islamabad

Poetry of Perveen Shakir:

Perveen Shakir had a prominent place among her contemporary poets. She gained unprecedented popularity, admiration and acclaim from the general readers, literary critics, electronic media and press at a very young age.

Her poetry is initially based on romanticism and she expressed the intensity of a woman's emotions, particularly of a young girl, remarkably well. The landscape of feminine psyche has been very artistically portrayed by her. Main themes of her poetry include love, betrayal, beauty, devotion, solitude, separation, distrust and agony. Occasionally, her poetry focused on the contradictions inherent in a male dominated society

Perveen Shakir was not just a romantic poet. She was very much aware of the social and political issues prevalling in our society. Her political acumen is reflected in her work. She has expressed her concem in many of her poems as well as her columns Gosha-e-Chashm It pained her to see any kind of suffering and inequality. Her love for motherland is reflected in her poetry Pakistan was always very close to her heart. She was a patriot to the core

Spontaneity of expression, skilful use of metaphors & similes and simple diction are the main features of her poetry. She impressed her readers through her realistic poetry, novelty of style and creative excellence

Perveen Shakir was fully aware of the importance of classical heritage of poetry and she assimilated it well in her poetry. Eastern style is prominent in her poetry. Her verses reflect her deep psychological insight. She never lost her sweetness of expression even while focusing on the bitter realities of life

Her first colection of poetry (Khushboo) was published when she was just twenty live years old. It became so popular that the word "Khushboo" itself became the metaphor of Perveen's personality and a symbol of her poetry. Her second collection of poetry "Khud-Kalami" was also widely admired. In "Sad barg", her third poetic collection, collective consciousness and the realization of hard realities of life seemed emerging in her poetry. In "Inkaar", her fourth poetic collection, Perveen Shakir's creative personality appeared as even more mature, non-conformist and refusing the status quo. In "Kaf-e-Aina", her last poetry book, those ghazalyaat and poems are included which were collected from her diaries and other papers, after her death.

Books of Perveen Shakir:

Her first book "Khusboo" was published in 1977, "Sadbarg" in 1980, "Khud Kalami" in 1985, "Inkaar" in 1990, and "Mah-e-Tamam" in 1994.

The following of her books were published after her death: "Kaf-e-Aina", "Talking to Oneself", "Geeta Anjali" and "Gosha-e-Chashm".

Awards and Distinctions

Throughout of her life, Perveen Shakir received many awards and distinctions:

1. The Best Poet Award, by the United States Information Service (USIS), Karachi 1970

2. The Adamjee Award, for Best Poetry, for her book "Khushboo" Karachi in

3. A Gold Medal for the best poet of the year, at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Sir Syed College for Women Karachi in 1979

4. Second Position in the Central Superior Service (CSS) Exam 1981

5. Best Probationer's Award, Civil Services Academy, Lahore 1982

6. Allama Iqbal Hijra Award for Poetry for her book "Khud Kalami" Lahore in 1985

7. Awarded the Zahoor Nazar Award for Urdu Nazm India in 1986

8. Selected as Member of the Writers Delegation by the Government of Pakistan to visit China in 1987

9. Graduate Award for best TV Compere (Literary Programmes), Lahore in 1988

10. Awarded the Faiz Ahmad Faiz International Award for Poetry, by the World Urdu Conference, New Delhi, India in 1989

11. Represented Pakistan in the 4th South Asian Poetry Festival, Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1989

12. Selected as Fullbright Scholar-in-Residence, Hartford Consortium for Higher Education, Hartford, Conn. USA in 1990

13. Received the Thomas Jefferson Fellowship for Edward S. Mason Program, to study at the J.F.K. School of Government, Harvard University, Mass, USA in 1991

14. Received the President's Award for Pride of Performance for Literature, in 1991

15. Recommended for conferment of Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1993

After her death, following awards were given to her:

1. Nishan-e-Fazeelat, by the Old Students Society of Karachi University, UNIKARIANS in 1995

2. All Pakistan Newspaper APNS 12th Journalist Award (13th Annual), Lahore in 1995

3. Shield of Recognition by the Karachi Women's Peace Committee on International Women's Day, 50 Years in Pakistan in 1997

4. Golden Women of Pakistan Award by the Ladies Forum, Karachi in 1997

5. Life Time Achievement Award in the field of poetry and for her untiring endeavors in bringing life to the Federal Capital by the Takshila Margalla Festival Award, Islamabad in 2004

On Poets of Pakistan Series Perveen Shakir, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 10/- denomination on December 26, 2013.

Two Decades of Extended Cooperation Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) November 28, 2013 (2013-23)

The year 2013 marks the two decades of ECO's expansion from a three-member regional forum to an expanded regional grouping of ten countries. This happy family of key contiguous countries of our region is bound together by many a commonality. The shared ties of faith and culture, history and geography, also converging interests in diverse fields lay at the root of the decision made two decades ago to create this key regional organization.

ECO has grown in strength and substance over the past two decades. Today, it encompasses key areas of trade and transport, industry and agriculture, energy and communication as well as education and banking. Public awareness about its activitiesplus the visibility and uplifting of the image of the organization is highly crucial for its continued success. Designing of a unifiedstamp by all the ECO Members for the commemoration of 2 decades of cooperation would enhance the realization of those objectives.

To commemorate Two Decades of Extended Cooperation of ECO, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.25/- denomination, on November 28, 2013.

Men of Letters Series Jon Elia (1931-2002) November 8, 2013 (2013-22)

Jon Elia was a renowned Pakistani Urdu poet and a notable philosopher and scholar. He was born on December 14, 1931 in Amroha, India. His father's name was Shafiq Hasan Elia who was a literary person, astrologer and scholar of his time. Jon Elia was the younger brother of famous journalist and literary figure Rais Amrohvi and the world fame philosopher, Syed Muhammad Taqi. Jon Elia migrated to Pakistan in 1957, and settled in Karachi.

During his teen age, Jon Elia used to do dramatic presentations of the early Muslim period. According to him, his early poetry reflected the dialogue nature of stage drama. In the preface of his first collection of poetry "Shayad", he revealed that he was quite fond of theatre in his teen age. There was a small drama club in Amroha, named Bazm-i-Haq, where stage plays were organized regularly based on Islamic history. Jon Elia got extremely involved in such plays. He tried to establish his own drama club and scripted and stage his own play for it. Jon wrote many socialistic poems in those days, and acknowledged this fact later that it was the influence of drama that the dialogue and conversational element became his style in his poetry.

He belonged to an intellectual family where the discussions on poetry. logic, philosophy, history and religion were like a passion. This literary environment of his home and his family traditions were quite conducive to ignite a spark of poetry in him. Though Jon proved to be a brilliant poet of Urdu Ghazal but he also proved his mettle in Nazm, Hamd, Natt, Noha, Marsia, Qaseeda, Qawali, Shehr-e-Ashob, etc.

Jon Elia had a thorough command over language and used it artistically. His diction is wrapped in the classical tradition. He became renowned as a distinguished Urdu poet thanks to his very different and unmatched style. He had a thorough grasp over Urdu, Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit and Hebrew. His Knowledge of philosophy, logic, Islamic history, the Muslim Sufi tradition, and western literature was vast which gave a distinguished color and a touch of beauty to his poetry.

Jon Elia invented many new metrical schemes in his poetry. He also produced hundreds of unusual phrases. He used well-rhymed Nazms and free-verse poems. He had a remarkable command over the form and content. In Jon Elia's poetry one can see superb synthesis of the traditional and the modern verse. In his poetry, he showed excellent grip over writing verses in "sehl-e-mumtana".

He was a romantic poet with a vision. He always tried to take along laymen in his literary pursuits.

He wrote excellent poems reflecting his ideological views though it is unfortunate that his poems were overshadowed by his ghazals. The existential foundations of his poetry slowly dragged him towards nihilism, which can be seen in his poems like "Aziyyat kee yaddasht", "Burj-i-Babul", "Saza", "Shehr Aashob" etc.

In Mushairas (poetic gatherings) he almost always dominated the other poets and kept on enthralling the audience. In such gatherings, he sometimes used to make a small introductory speech before the start of his poetry which always energized the listeners, even during the mundane sessions. He had his own peculiar style to recite poetry in mushairas which became so popular that many young poets tried to copy it.

Numerous young poets looked at him for guidance and inspiration and a large number of writers and poets were benefitted from him. He had become an icon for many even during his life time.

Though he worte abundantly, but he had no inclination to publish his work. His first poetry collection" Shayad" was published in 1991, when he was almost sixty years old. His poetry in " Shayad sparkled his name in the world of Urdu poetry. His preface of this book is a beautiful example of his refined Urdu prose which also throws enough light on the culture he lived in and his frame of mind.

"Ya'ani" was the second collection of his poetry published in 2003 after his death. After this, one of his close friend Khalid Ansari, compiled and published three of his collections. "Gumaan" in 2004. "Lekin" in 2006 and "Gaya" in 2008.

Jon Elia was also remained active in translation, editing and other activities.

His translation of various Mautazalite treatises, a book on Hasan Bin Sabah, and various writing on the Ismaili sect in Islam can be regarded as his prominent contributions to urdu literature.

He also used to edit Urdu literary magazine "Insha". Jon Elia was married to Zahida Hina, a famous columnist. He had two daughters and a son from her. Jon and Zahida were divorced in the mid-1980s.

Throughout of his life, Jon remained a man of principles. He was courageous enough to raise his voice of protest and dissent whenever he saw something happening against his conscience.

He was a chronic TB patient since his mid-50s and but he managed to survive thanks to sheer will power. Jon died after a prolonged illness on 8 November 2002 in Karachi.

On Men of Letters Series Jon Elia, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination on November 8, 2013.

Music Maestros Princess-e-Service of Noor Jahan (1926-2000) September 21, 2013 (2013-21)

Noor Jahan (Real name Allah Wasai) was born on September 21, 1926 in a Muslim family in Kasur.

She was an illustrious and legendary singer and actress who started her career from the film industry of British India and then continued it in Pakistan. She became extremely famous as one of the greatest singers of her time in South Asia and was given the title of Malika-e-Tarannum i.e. the queen of melodies.

She was born in a Punjabi family of musicians. Though her parents wanted to see her excelled as singer but she was more inclined towards acting in films and performed in the earliest Pakistani films. She sung almost 10,000 songs in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Sindhi languages. Along with Ahmed Rushdi, she holds the highest record of film songs in the history of Pakistani cinema. She became the first ever female Pakistani film director.

Noor Jahan started to sing at the age of five or six years and showed her interest in various styles, including traditional folk and popular theatre. Her mother sent her to receive early training in classical singing under. At the age of nine, she drew the attention of Punjabi musician Ghulam Ahmed Chishti who composed some ghazals, naats and folk songs for her to perform. She pursued a career in singing in Lahore.

Jahan's family moved to Calcutta for the sake of movie career for her sisters. There, renowned singer Mukhtar Begum recommended them to various producers and her husband, Agha Hashar Kashmiri, who owned a theatre. It was here that she received the stage name Baby Noor Jahan.

She acted in various successful movies including "Pind di Kuri", "Missar Ka Sitara", "Heer-Sayyal", "Khandaan", "Duhai", "Bari Maa" and "Mirza Sahibaan".

In 1945, she sung a Qawwali which was the first ever Qawwali recorded in female voices in South Asian films.

After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Jahan and husband Shawkat Rizvi decided to move to Pakistan and settled in Karachi.

Noor Jahan starred in her first film in Pakistan, "Chan wey" in 1951. Shaukat and Noor Jahan directed this film together making Noor Jahan Pakistan's first female director.

In 1953-54, Jahan and Rizvi were divorced and she married an actor, Ejaz Durrani.

Noor Jahan give up action and her penultmate film as an actress/singer was "Mirza Ghalib" (1961). This decision enhanced her stature as singer. She last acted in film "Baaji" in 1963.

Noor Jahan left action in 1963 after a career of 33 years. She made 14 films in Pakistan, ten in Urdu, four in Punjabi.

After renouncing her acting career, she started playback singing. She sang a large number of duets with Ahmed Rushdi, Mehdi Hassan, Masood Rana, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mujeeb Aalam.

She was an equally proficient ghazal singer. With rigorous training in classical music, Noor Jahan employed the essential features necessary to present the ghazal in an exceptional manner. Her popularity was further boosted with her patriotic songs during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India.

She died on December 23, 2000 at the age of 74.

On Music Maestros- Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jahan, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination on September 21, 2013.

International Breast Cancer Awareness (Pinktober) October 14th, 2025 (2025-21)

Breast Cancer Awareness and Control:- Breast cancer has become one of the most pressing public health challenges in Pakistan. Current statistics highlight the scale of the problem: one out of every nine women in Pakistan is at risk of developing breast cancer; nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and approximately 40,000 women lose their lives annually. With the highest incidence rate across Asia, Pakistan carries an alarming disease burden, where almost 70% of patients reach hospitals at stage III, when survival chances are minimal.

Scientific evidence underscores that if breast cancer is detected at an early stage, survival rates can reach up to 90%. This makes prevention, awareness, and early detection the most powerful tools available to counter the crisis. Recognizing this, the Government of Pakistan has progressively aligned its health policies to incorporate breast cancer as a national priority.

Government's Recognition and Policy Integration:- Over the past two decades, sustained advocacy and community awareness have brought breast cancer out of the shadows of taboo into the national health agenda. This transition is significant, as it reflects a policy shift where breast cancer is no longer treated merely as a private medical concern, but as a systemic challenge requiring government-led solutions.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, in consultation with provincial health departments, has taken steps to integrate cancer prevention and treatment into the broader primary and secondary healthcare framework. Initiatives such as mobile screening units, early detection awareness campaigns, and inclusion of breast health in women's primary healthcare consultations mark the beginning of a more structured national response.

1. Strategic Interventions

Ø  National Screening and Early Detection Expansion of mammography and diagnostic services through public hospitals.

Ø  Integration of breast examination and awareness into Lady Health Worker (LHW) programmes to ensure outreach to rural and underserved communities.

Ø  Establishment of clear referral pathways from primary to tertiary healthcare facilities.

2. Awareness Campaigns

Ø  Launch of sustained, nationwide public awareness drives highlighting the importance of self-examination and early medical consultation.

Ø  Leveraging national media platforms, including radio, television, and digital media, to ensure consistent messaging across all provinces and regions.

Ø  Engagement of schools, universities, and workplaces to instill awareness in younger demographics, thereby creating generational change in health-seeking behaviors.

3. Capacity Building

Ø  Training of doctors, nurses, and paramedics in specialized oncology care, counselling, and palliative support.

Ø  Development of specialized units in teaching hospitals dedicated to breast health and oncology.

Ø  Inclusion of mental health support and counselling services within treatment protocols to address the emotional impact on patients and families.

4. Infrastructure Development

Ø  Strengthening oncology departments in tertiary care hospitals across provinces.

Ø  Establishment of dedicated breast cancer facilities in regional hubs to reduce travel and financial burden on patients.

Ø  Long-term plans to build specialized centers of excellence in collaboration with medical universities and research institutions.

Role of Civil Society:- While government policy remains the backbone of national response, civil society initiatives have played a valuable supporting role. Organizations such as Pink Ribbon have, over the years, contributed to breaking the silence surrounding breast cancer, raising awareness, and facilitating patient support programmes. Their work complements state initiatives and underscores the importance of consistent advocacy in sustaining national attention on this issue.

Annual Observance and Awareness Mobilization:- The observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Pinktober) provides an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders around a unified national campaign. Under government leadership, Pinktober is increasingly being recognized as a national health observance, ensuring visibility at the highest levels of state. Official endorsements, public service messaging, and national-level events contribute to making breast cancer awareness part of public discourse.

This observance also reinforces the need for year-round action. Awareness must not be limited to one month in the calendar; instead, Pinktober should act as a launchpad for continuous, sustainable interventions across all provinces and communities.

Challenges and Way Forward:- Despite progress, Pakistan continues to face challenges:

Ø  Late Detection: A large majority of women report symptoms at advanced stages due to stigma, lack of knowledge, or poor access to healthcare.

Ø  Geographic Disparities: Rural populations remain underserved, with screening and diagnostic services concentrated in urban centers.

Ø  Financial Barriers: High costs of treatment make it inaccessible to lower-income groups, necessitating expansion of free or subsidized care.

Ø  Cultural Barriers: Social taboos and misconceptions about breast health continue to discourage open conversations and timely medical intervention.

To address these, a stronger, government-led national response is required. The way forward should emphasize:

Ø  Institutionalizing breast cancer screening and awareness in all public health facilities.

Ø  Ensuring budgetary allocations within federal and provincial health strategies dedicated specifically to breast cancer control.

Ø  Expanding public-sector treatment facilities with subsidized or free services for low-income patients.

Ø  Engaging educational institutions for youth-focused awareness programmes.

Ø  Establishing a robust data collection and cancer registry system to guide evidence-based policymaking.

Conclusion:- Breast cancer is both preventable and treatable, provided it is addressed with urgency and coordinated policy. Pakistan has made significant strides in acknowledging it as a national priority, but the challenge requires sustained action. Government leadership, institutional support, and continuous awareness are, the pillars upon which success depends.

The focus must remain clear: every woman in Pakistan deserves access to knowledge, screening, and treatment that can save her life. By placing breast cancer firmly within the national health agenda and ensuring implementation of structured interventions, Pakistan can move toward reducing mortality, improving survival rates, and ultimately transforming breast cancer from a fatal disease into a manageable health condition.

On International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (#Pinktober), Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamp and Souvenir Sheet of denomination Rs. 30/-on October 14th, 2025.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day. October 8th, 2025 (2025-20)

Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading affecting kids and adults alike. People with Dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, writing and at times sequential memory. It is estimated that Dyslexia is estimated to have a prevalence of 5% to 17% among school-age children. Children with Dyslexia have difficulty in learning to read as they mix letters and remember spellings. Dyslexia is caused by differences in the way the brain processes language, making it harder to connect letters with sounds and recognize words automatically. It does not result from vision or hearing problems. Also, it is not due to mental retardation, brain damage, or a lack of intelligence. It has to be understood that Dyslexia is not a mental disorder and has nothing to do with the IQ of the individual.

In 1877, German neurologist Adolf Kussmaul was the first to identify a phenomenon which he named Wortblindheit (word-blindness). 10 years later, Rudolf Berlin, a German ophthalmologist coined the term "Dyslexia" which has Greek roots for "difficulty with words". Over the years, countless studies have researched Dyslexia, concluding it is not a disability at all, but those with it think differently. In 2002, MRIs done by professionals at Yale University found that the brains of people with Dyslexia worked differently as compared to ordinary people. Many individuals with Dyslexia are also highly creative and great at thinking outside the box.

It is important to remember that diagnosis of Dyslexia is just not the end of the academic road of an individual. Every Dyslexic individual sees and learns about the world from a different perspective. Historians feel it's possible that many major figures from the past had learning and thinking differences. However, it's hard to know for sure about people who lived 100 years ago or more as there aren't enough records. But here are some accomplished individuals who made a big impact on history, from centuries past to more recent times. They overcame challenges and may inspire our children to do the same.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). As an artist, inventor, scientist, engineer, and writer, Leonardo da Vinci had many talents. He also had interesting habits, like writing backward, spelling strangely, and not following through on projects. Today, we understand that these traits can all be characteristics of Dyslexia and other learning and thinking differences. Whether or not he had Dyslexia, Leonardo used his strengths to earn a place as one of history's greatest geniuses.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922). Bell reinvented the field of communications by creating the first telephone. But years earlier, he struggled in school. Even though he was gifted at problem solving, it's thought that he had trouble reading and writing, possibly as a result of Dyslexia. He was eventually homeschooled by his mother. With her help, Bell learned to manage his challenges and he went on to change the world.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931). School didn't come easily for Edison, either. He was considered "difficult". Historians believe he may have had Dyslexia. But his appetite for knowledge was huge. He developed effective ways to study and learn on his own. As a result, Edison's unique way of tackling problems helped him make history. He shaped modern life by inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the light bulb.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Einstein was well known for his brilliance in math and physics but he also struggled with language difficulties, leading some people to suggest he may have had Dyslexia. He had extremely delayed speech and didn't speak fluently until he was 6 years old. Einstein also had problems getting his thoughts down, retrieving language and reading out loud, all characteristic signs of Dyslexia. Nobel laureate of 1921 in physics, his contributions in theoretical Physics demonstrated a unique and novel approach to problem solving which is one of the strengths associated with Dyslexia.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). According to many accounts, the world-famous artist may have had Dyslexia. He expressed feelings that many kids who learn and think differently have. "Don't think I didn't try (to learn at school)," he said. "I tried hard. I would start but immediately be lost." Fortunately, his father, an art teacher, encouraged him to develop his artistic talents. His unique vision of the world came through in his powerful works of art. The rest is art history.

Muhammad Ali (1942-2016). One of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali struggled with Dyslexia. He has said he could barely read his high school textbooks. Nonetheless, he managed to graduate. He became an Olympic gold medallist at the age of 18 and he was world heavyweight boxing champion at 22. He is also remembered today for having strong principles. He refused to fight in the Vietnam War, even though this damaged his sports career.

Design Elements

Ø  All the main inscriptions on the stamp have been done using red colour as red is accepted as the colour associated to Dyslexia awareness. The dreaded red, a colour many kids have seen throughout their education has been re-appropriated. The red pen used to highlight mistakes is all too familiar for Dyslexics around the world. Dyslexia Associations have chosen this colour to take back its meaning and globally promote Dyslexia awareness.

Ø  Scrambled text reading "You may find this hard to read. Imagine if everything you read looked like this" and mirror imaged E in Dyslexia on the stamp stimulates the experience of reading with Dyslexia.

Ø  PAKISTAN (in English) has been inscribed in the font created by Daniel Britton, a graphic designer who himself is a Dyslexic. His created typeface removes parts of the alphabets to illustrate the difficulties faced in reading by Dyslexics by breaking down the reading time of a non-dyslexic down to the speed of a Dyslexic by removing around 40% of each letter. This slows down the user's reading experience to the speed of a Dyslexic, thus recreating the frustration and embarrassment of everyday reading of a Dyslexic.

Ø  Dyslexia symbol has been used on the labels and on the postmark for this issue. Formed with the letters pq bd, the symbol is inspired by Dyslexics and how they process information differently in ways that provide advantages in reasoning and understanding relationships.

Ø  The unorthodox First Day Cover is crafted by Youshay, a diagnosed 12-year-old Dyslexic to raise awareness about the topic.

On the occasion of World Dyslexia Awareness Day on 8th October 2025, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp and a Souvenir Sheet valued at Rs. 30/- denomination each. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Post is the first postal organization in the World to issue a stamp on Dyslexia Awareness Day.

Commissioning of First Indigenously Constructed F-22P Ship in Pakistan, September 3, 2013 (2013-20)

1. The foundation of Sino-Pak relations was laid six decades ago by our forefathers based on the shared bonds of mutual trust, respect, brotherhood and friendship between the people of two countries. Since then, this relationship has grown deeper and fonder in all spheres of defence, economic and culture; particularly in defence collaboration.

2. In line with Government Policy, Pakistan Navy is actively engaged with Chinese companies for development in various fields. The hallmark of Sino-Pak naval collaboration is construction of state-of-the-art F-22P Frigates with special element of Transfer of Technology (ToT) whose contract was signed on 04 Apr 05. This project included aspects of ship design, construction, test & trials, ammunition and spare support. These Frigates (Sword Class) evolved from the existing design of Chinese Frigates with certain modifications and customization to meet Pakistan Navy's operational requirements.

3. Three ships constructed in China under this project have been inducted in Pakistan Navy. First ship named PNS ZULFIQAUR was commissioned on 29 Jul 09, 2nd ship named PNS SHAMSHEER was commissioned on 19 Dec 09 and 3rd ship named PNS SAIF was commissioned on 15 Sep 10. It was a proud moment for both countries that all three F22P Frigates were delivered as per the schedule. It is a mammoth achievement while looking at the technical complexities of this mega project. This achievement has been made possible through excellent cooperation, immaculate planning, meticulous execution, resolve, dedication and untiring commitment of Pakistani and Chinese authorities for fulfillment of this project.

4. The fourth ship of this class PNS ASLAT is first ever modern frigate constructed indigenously in 65 years history of Pakistan. The project is a leap forward in self-reliance and indigenization of military hardware. This has marked the beginning of modern shipbuilding era that places Pakistan amongst few leading nations in warship building. The frigate project has not only helped in developing human resource but also helped in revitalizing ship building industry of Pakistan.

5. PNS ASLAT, the guided missile frigate is second ship to bear the name "ASLAT". The first ship to named "ASLAT" was Garcia Class frigate (EX-USS O CALLAHAN FF-1501), acquired from the US Navy on 08 February 1989. This frigate remained in active service in Pakistan Navy till June 1993. The name "ASLAT" is derived from an Arabic word and is a type of sword used by Arabs during early days of Islam.

6. On 20 December 2009, the keel of Guided Missile Frigate PNS ASLAT, the fourth ship of Sword Class Frigate was laid in Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW), Pakistan. She was launched on 16 June 2011. On 11 September 2012, the ship sailed into the Arabian Sea on her maiden sea trip for her machinery and propulsion trials. On 02 February 2013, PNS ASLAT successfully completed a series of sea trials spanned over a period of four months. The ship was commissioned on 17 April 2013 and will be inducted in PN Fleet in August 2013.

7. F22P Frigates are specially designed for anti-submarine warfare and can effectively counter air and surface threats as well. These Frigates are also provided with an organic helicopter named Z9EC helicopter, which can also detect and attack enemy submarines independently. Along with long range weapons and sensors, sufficient self defence systems provide these ships the flexibility for operating in multithreat environment while ensuring own safety. These ships have enhanced operational capabilities as well as reach of Pakistan Navy.

8. Following additional benefits have also been accrued from the project:

a. Gaining expertise in large warship construction.

b. Reviving KS&EW and creating job opportunities.

c. Involvement of consortium of local companies.

d. Development of down stream local industry.

e. Enhancement of export potential.

f. Saving of considerable foreign exchange.

9. The F22P ships are fitted with multipurpose state of the art weapons and sensors which make them extremely versatile warships with tremendous fire power. These ships have not only augmented Pakistan Navy's combat potential but have also afforded Pakistan Navy an opportunity to enhance its forward presence in the area of interest, contributing to balance of power in the region.

10. F22P Frigate Project is a hallmark of our successful technological shift from West to East which could only be achieved through intimate teamwork despite language barrier between the two parties. Success of this project has not only enhanced mutual confidence but has also paved way for further strengthening of strategic partnership. F-22P Frigate Project is the manifestation of our everlasting strategic partnership. Pakistan Navy will continue to play its role for taking this mutually rewarding relationship between Pakistan and China to new heights of success in the years to come.

On Commissioning of First indigenously construcred F-22P ship in Pakistan a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.10/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on September 3, 2013.

Hazrat Syedna Pir Mehr Ali Shah (R.A) (1859 to 1937) July 20, 2013 (2013-19)

Hazrat Syedna Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golra Sharif holds a prominent position among the eminent scholars of Islam and Pakistan, who, in the wake of the demise of the Muslims, instilled in their hearts the feelings of monotheism, love for the beloved Prophet, acceptable wealth, and adherence to the Shariat of Islam, and paved the way for the establishment of an independent and dignified autonomous Islamic state. He fought every anti-Islamic individual and movement with great courage and perseverance and convinced the people of Islam that the nation of the Prophet Hashemite is special in its composition.

He was the greatest preserver and proponent of the two-nation theory in the Indian subcontinent. Pir Mehar Ali Shah Mohalla, Sadat Qadir of Golz town and tehsil of Pochohar and Rawalpindi district were the eyes and lamps of Gilani. In 1859, when the ominous shadow of British imperialism was gradually enveloping the entire subcontinent, the sun of knowledge and guidance rose in the town of Golra Sharif, under the rule of the Sikhs, whose bright and shining rays spread the light of the true teachings of Roman Islam not only to the subcontinent but also to the entire Arab countries, Turkestan and the African continent.

His early education and training were under the supervision of teachers from Khanqah Khushiya in Golra. Later, he studied under Maulana Muhammad Shafi in Bhoi, Hassan Abdal area and Maulana Hafiz Sultan Mahmud in Anga Sharif, Son Saksar area and left for India to complete his studies in the field of rational sciences. During the Qiyaam Anga Sharif, he accompanied his respected teacher to Sial Sharif, District Sargodha, and also took allegiance from him in the Chishtia Nizamia order. In the Alia Qadri order, he

His father's maternal uncle, Hazrat Pir Syed Fazal Din, also known as Bade Pir Sahib, was already a beneficiary. In India, he first went to Hazrat Maulana Ahmed Hassan Kanpuri, a Muhaddith, but he was about to leave for Hajj, so he was not able to visit him.

After being excused, he went to Aligarh and joined the teachings of Maulana Lutfullah Ali Garhi. He stayed there for two and a half years and completed his religious studies. Later, he visited Maulana Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri to specialize in Hadith. There, he also benefited from the blessings of Hadith and the Sahib of Hadith for about two and a half years. In 187, he obtained the degree of Syed and reached the well-known homeland on the orders of his perfect teacher and continued his teaching and teaching. At the same time, he was satisfied through physical exercises and struggles and his spiritual progress also continued. With the blessings and blessings of his teachers, he was also granted the values ​​of Caliphate and permission.

His residence in Gwara Sharif, his perfect mastery of the rational and the immaterial, and his effective style of eloquence and reasoning in teaching soon made him a source of inspiration. His fame and influence expanded day by day, and in addition to many great scholars and sheikhs, a large number of the common people recognized his excellences, form, and content and became filled with the spirit of eloquence. His most prominent characteristics included his complete knowledge of the true Sharia and the Quran, his compassionate and compassionate attitude towards the rights of God, and his truthfulness and boldness in all situations, whose friends were Friends and foes were also recognized.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was not only a master in external and internal sciences but also held a very prominent position as a eloquent poet, an authentic scholar and a practical scholar and a great thinker and administrator. During his blessed life, he not only neutralized all the anti-Islamic forces but also, through his scholarly knowledge and religious understanding, uprooted those false ideas and ideologies whose aim was to destroy the Islamic nation by changing the intellectual dimension and worldly attitudes of the Wahid Muslim Ummah.

In that era, Islamic principles and teachings were being attacked from all directions without mercy and without mercy. Atheism, naturalism, distortion and discord, denial of Hadith and Quran were being promoted. The established beliefs of Islam were being targeted and the pillars of religion were being used as a training ground by the agents of British imperialism in various guises. The British government, in order to eradicate Islam and Muslims, had used the most effective arrow of its quiver, the denial of the finality of the Prophethood and the creation of a native prophet, in the form of a self-proclaimed prophet, and had understood that now Islamic unity would be shattered and the force that had kept the Islamic world united would be destroyed. In this era, there was a dire need for a mosque, religion and nation to protect and correct the authentic and established beliefs of Islam, which Allah, the Almighty, fulfilled in the form of Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah.

Pir Sahib defeated every anti-Islamic movement and ideology with his divine worthiness, passion for love of Mustafa and the finger of faith, making the truth of other Islamic beliefs clear and strengthened the Islamic nation's faith and belief in the Quran and Sunnah. He stopped the path of distortion in the religion in the name of renewal of religion and reform of beliefs and by beautifully interpreting and explaining Islamic teachings in the light of the Prophet's instructions, he not only stopped the growing storm of atheism but also steadied the wavering steps of the people of Islam with such acceptance that today, almost eighty years after his passing, the infidel powers have not found any refuge to fulfill their evil intentions. Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah's greatest achievement was exposing the false claims of the British self-made false prophet and ending the sedition.

He used to oppose the prophethood. Through his works "Shams-ul-Ilaha", he clarified the lies and slander of Mirza Qadiani and proved the correctness and truthfulness of the true teachings and beliefs of Islam, thus preventing the spread of this fitna not only in the Indian subcontinent but also in the entire Islamic world, which would have further divided the Muslims into merely regional human and national groups instead of members of the Islamic nation. In the 19th century, when the Muslim world had not yet come into existence and when the flag of British tyranny was flying in full glory across the subcontinent,

The country was flourishing with splendor and Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam were still in their student days. Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was the only one who was fully trusted by all the sects and groups of the Islamic nation, namely Sunnis, Shiites, Deobandi, Barelvi, Hadith and Quran. As the unified and most trusted leader of the Islamic nation, he stood in front of a large crowd of scholars, scholars and the public in the Badshahi Mosque of Lahore to refute Mirza Qadiani's claim to prophethood. At that time, if Hazrat Sahib's help had not been grateful, the identity of the Muslims as a nation would have been lost and the struggle for freedom and the achievement of Pakistan would not have been successful in this match, as a result of which the ranks of British imperialism were thrown out of the subcontinent and the establishment of Pakistan was made possible. In this sense, he must be counted among the real founders of Pakistan.

The existence of Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was a systematic amalgamation of divine blessings, divine harvest and the gifts of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for the Saudi Islamic subcontinent. He was certainly a unique individual who was capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the Caliphate of the Prophet. His works "A'la-e-Kalimath-ul-Allah Takhchi-e-Haqq" Shamsul-Hidayah Saif Chishti, Hadiyat-ur-Rasul, Al-Futuhat-ul-Muhammadiya and Tasfiyya Mabin Sunni Shia, in addition to his collection of letters Maktoobat-e-Mehr, this collection of sayings, Malfuzat-e-Mehriya and various religious and jurisprudential. Selection of Fatwas, Fatadi-e-Mehr, he was still committed to the path of moderation and moderation in accordance with the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for guidance in every aspect of life for the Muslim Ummah and the scholars of Islam and was against extremism and takfir. Similarly, he was also opposed to fabricated interpretations and renewal and definition in Islamic Sharia. It was only through the writing, speech and knowledge of the great man to prevent the promotion of fanatical attitudes and thoughts and beliefs by different sects and groups and to promote harmony and unity among Islamic sects that it was possible for the Muslims of the subcontinent to establish and maintain their national and ethnic identity.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah, by giving political guidance to the Muslims of the subcontinent, promoted correct religious ideas by opposing the path of the people who were facing destruction as a nation. He also opposed their joining the Congress and saved them from being divided and destroyed, especially from the harmful effects of anti-Muslim movements like the Migration Movement and the Hindu-Muslim Unity, which were aimed at eliminating Muslims as a nation from the subcontinent. Apart from this, another great and valuable service of his was that in that era when there were vigorous efforts to eradicate Islam, Muslims and Islamic teachings, he established centers for teaching Tafseer, Hadith and Fiqh through madrasas and khanqahs in various parts of the subcontinent for the full and comprehensive dissemination of Islamic beliefs and Islamic teachings.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah is a very mature, righteous and comprehensive personality, about whom there is not much that can be said and written. In short, it can be said that he is a benefactor of the Islamic subcontinent who bravely fought against the infidel, apostate, irreligious and tyrant forces, who defeated the ungodly in the struggle of the nation and led them towards their goal, and lit such lamps of knowledge, wisdom and action, by whose light Pakistan is still shining today.

The Imam of Muslims, the reformer of religion and nation, Hazrat Syed Na Pir Mehr Ali Shah (may Allah have mercy on him), is issuing a commemorative stamp of Rs. 8 on July 30, 2013.

Birds of Pakistan Series Red Vented Bulbul, July 01, 2013 (2013-18)

RED VENTED BULBUL:- The Red Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is resident breeder across the Subcontinent, including Pakistan, Sri lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Tibet. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself in the wild on several Pacific islands including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaii. It has also established itself in parts of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

The Red-vented Bulbul was originally described by Linneaus in 1766. Several populations of this widespread species have been named as subspecies (or races). The nominate race is found in Pakistan and India, also found in Kashmir and Kohat down to the Salt Range along Hamalayas.

The Red-vented Bulbul is easily indentified by its short crest giving the head a squarish appearance. The body is dark brown with scaly pattern while the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent is red. The black tail is tipped in white. The Himalayan races have a more prominent crest and are more streaked on the underside.

Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds are duller than adults. The typical call has been transcribed as ginger beer but a number of sharp single note calls likened as pick are also produced. Their alarm calls are usually respond to and heeded by many other species of bird.

Habitat and distribution

This is a bird of dry scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands. In this native range it is rarely found in mature forest. A study based of 54 localities in Pakistan and India concluded that vegetation is the single most important factor that determines the distribution of the species.

Behavior and ecology:- Red-vented bulbuls feed on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects and occasionally geckos. They have also been seen feeding on the leaves of Medicago sativa.

Red-vented bulbuls build their nests in bushes at a height of around 7 to 10 ft. Two or three eggs is a typical clutch. Nests are occasionally built inside houses or in a hole or in mud bank. In one instance, a nest was found on a floating mat of Water hyacinth leaves and nests in tree cavities have also been noted.

They breed from June to September. The eggs are pale-pinkish with spots of darker red more dense at the broad end. They are capable of having multiple clutches in a year. Nests are small flat cups made of small twigs but sometimes making use of metal wires. The eggs hatch after about 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks and on feeding trips wait for the young to excrete, swallowing the faecal produced.

In culture:- In Pakistan these birds were frequently kept as cage pets and for fighting especially in the Carnatic region. They would be held on the finger with a thread attached and when they fought they would seize the red feathers of the opponents.

They are frequently tamed and carry it about the bazaars, tied with a string to the finger or to a little crutched perch, which is often made of precious metals.

On Birds of Pakistan Series-Red vented Bulbul, Pakistan Post is issuing a Definitive postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination on July 1, 2013.