PAKISTAN AND BELARUS JOINT ISSUE. October 5, 2016 (2016-09)

SAIFUL MULUK NATIONAL PARK-PAKISTAN:-

Pakistan is a unique country having wide range of ecosystems, habitat types and biological diversity due to its geographical and climatic conditions. There are snow covered peaks, permanent snowfields, lush green as well as barren mountains, thick forests, vast irrigated plains, sand dunes, deserts and long coastal lines in Pakistan. For the conservation of such natural assets, Government has declared some specific areas as the 'protected areas where the ecosystems, flora and fauna are protected and maintained under the natural conditions. Saiful Muluk National Park is one of the protected areas.

Saiful Muluk National Park is located in Kaghan-Naran Valley in Mansehra District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, in northern Pakistan. Kaghan Valley is nestled in the heart of mountainous Himalayas, of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Here you find unforgettable natural wonders like glaciers, waterfalls, and enchanting lakes including the Saiful Maluk Lake. Naran is a medium sized town in upper Kaghan Valley in Mansehra. District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located 119 kilometers (74 mi) from Mansehra city at the altitude of 8,202 feet (2,500 m).

The Saiful Muluk National Park was created in 2003 with an area of 880 sq km (340 sq mi). The world wide renowned lake for its scenic beauty Saif ul Muluk Lake is located in the park. The lake Saiful Muluk is one of the highest lakes of Pakistan with an altitude of 3,224 m. or 10,578 ft. above the sea level. The lake is located near the tourist resorts in Naran town. The weather remains pleasant in the summer.

The lake with majestic and mesmerizing natural beauty, pleasant atmosphere and associated tale and history, attracts thousands of tourists each year from all around the country during the summer. The lake is also famous for being habitat of large size Brown Trout fish, which weigh up to 7 kilograms.

Flora and fauna:-

The flora of the Park includes the trees, shrubs, perennials, and herbs of the Himalayan subalpine conifer forests and higher elevation Western Himalayan alpine shrubs, meadows and ecoregions. Some of the Park's fauna includes the snow Leopard, Bear, Marmot, Weasel, Eurasian, Indian Leopard, Himalayan snow cork, and the snow partridge. The Park's lakes and wetland habitats are of significant ecological importance for resident fauna and migratory water fowl. The lake is rich in eco-divesity and holds multiple species of the fish. The famous fish of the lake is trout fish.

Region:-

Adjacent to Saiful Muluk National Park is located the Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park, with Lulusar Lake and Dudipatsar Lake. Together the parks have protected 88,000 hectares (220,000 acres) of the area.

NARACHANSKI NATIONAL PARK - BELARUS:-

An amazing forest and lake region Narachanski is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Belarus, in the territory of Belarusian Lakeland.

The National Park "Narachanski" is one of the five strictly protected natural territories of Belarus. Its area is over 87.000 hectares. It was founded on July 28, 1999 near the lake Narach, mainly in the territory of Myadel district, Minsk region. The National Park is an environmental protection agency, whose task is to take appropriate measures on conservation of landscapes and valuable natural complexes, on maintenance of biological diversity and genetic fund of flora and fauna.

Thanks to the variety of landforms, unique and rich botanical complexes appeared in the region. The flora of the region has various kinds of higher plants, mosses, lichens, algae and fungi, numbering more than 2500 species including rare and protected ones.

The fauna of the region is very rich. The network of water bodies in the National Park creates the conditions for the existence of a rich complex of aquatic animals; fish and coastal terrestrial vertebrates. It allows the concentration of a variety of water birds during the seasonal migrations.

The distinctive feature and uniqueness of the National Park is the biggest resort and wellness area in Belarus. It is the main health center of the country; every year more than 100 thousand people relax here, improve their health and get vivid impressions.

The stamp depicts the Blue Lakes a group of lakes in the territory ofMyadel district (Minsk region) and Postavy district (Vitebsk region) of Belarus. They belong to the pool of the river Stracha which is a tributary of the Vilija river.

On Pakistan and Belarus Joint Issue, the commemorative postage stamp of Rs.20/- denomination (each design) is being issued by Pakistan Post on October 5, 2016.