Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Cadet College Kohat, October 10, 2015 (2015-5)

Cadet College Kohat is Public boarding school established in 1965 with an aim an to provide quality education to the students of the erst while West Pakistan. The college is designed for imparting knowledge to students aged between 12-18 for classes 8th to 12th standard. Over the past 50 years, Cadet College Kohat has earned a reputation for being the best educational institute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for producing well-groomed students who have made their mark in various strata of our society. The College has a long list of distinguished 'Kohatians', as the Alumni of the college are referred to, who have excelled in all walks of life including military and civil bureaucracy, politics, academia, science and technology. The educational governance modal of the College has urged the Government to establish other colleges on similar lines.

College Campus and Facilities:- The institute is spread over an area of 144 acres and houses a beautiful Academic Block, six houses for boarding students, student messes, libraries, sports playgrounds and residential quarters for the faculty. The Academic Block known as Amir Muhammad Khan Block, and the six student houses are named after great personalities of our country; Jinnah, Iqbal, Ayub, Khushal, Rustam and Munawar.

Khursheed Digital Library was established to honor the services of Ex-Principal Mirza Khursheed Anwar Baig in recognition of his services to the college. Ajmal Gymnasium named after Ex-Principal Baig(R) Ajmal Khattak has been established to provide students facilities with indoor activities. The College also has a Riding Club, six basketball courts. football and hockey grounds, squash courts and a cricket stadium.

Academic Excellence:- Since its inception in 1965, Kohatians have established and maintained the tradition of flinching top positions in Board examinations of 10th and 12th grade. They have the unique honor of achieving top scores even when there was a single combined board for the entire province, N.W.F.P (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Previously, Cadet College Kohat was affiliated with Peshawar Board and its students have been competing against notable sister institutions while grabbing top-most positions in examinations. Currently CCK is affiliated with Kohat Board and remains the foremost institution to achieve excellent grades.

Many Kohatians have been nominated for exchange programs sponsored by United State Education Foundation Pakistan, Aus Awards, Fulbright and Chevening programs for pursuing their higher studies abroad. They have established a reputation for themselves as hardworking, organized and disciplined students during their studies even after leaving Cadet College. Kohatians have also attended notable institutions of the country including Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI) and Agha Khan Medical College etc. Many Kohatians have also studies from well-known Universities of the world including Harvard, Duke and LSE etc.

A number of Kohatians have also been recipients of Sword of Honour; President's Medals and achieved various appointments during military académies. All of this truly reflects the hard work and efforts put in by the faculty and the structure of program designed for students during their five year stay at Cadet College Kohat.

Co-Curricular Activities:- Co-Curricular activities have proven to be beneficial in building and strengthening healthy minds and bodies. Such activities help students develop a set of moral and ethical values, develop social competency and contribute to developing good citizens. They enable students to learn useful new skills from their chosen activity, and in integrating these activities into their everyday school lives, they learn how to effectively manage time, think critically, and work together as a team.

The College hosts a plethora of annual competitions including Urdu and English Declamation, Essay writing, Qirat and Naat Khawani, Photography, Science Innovations, Computer Programming and Riding etc. College sports fixtures with other sister institutions like Military College Jhelum, PAF College Sargodha, Abbottabad Public School, PAF College Lower Topa and Army Burn Hall College, Abbottabad have been a regular feature since its inception. Overall, students' participation in co-curricular activities has resulted in improvement in their academics, discipline, goal-setting, teamwork, accountability and responsibility.

Notable Alumni:- Cadet College Kohat's singular focus on building character and devotion to duty shines through in producing success stories in almost every sphere of human activity. Some notables include Ex-Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila, Lt Gen (R) Sabahat Hussain Ex-Corps Commander Multan and Chairman POF, Vice Admiral (R) Tehseen Ullah, Ahmed Rasul Bangash Ex-Additional Auditor General of Pakistan, Faheem Ullah Khattak, Ex-Accountant General, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ihsan Ghani Director General National Police Bureau and Ex-Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ikram Ghani Member Federal Board of Revenue, Inam Ghani Director Federal Investigation Agency, Hamid Ali Khan Ex-Chairman NATCA, Faridullah Khan Federal Secretary/Chairman Pakistan Tobacco Board, Maj. General Salahuddin Commandant C.M.H.

Ex-Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr. Shaukatullah, Senator Mohsin Aziz, Senator Shibli Faraz, Ex-Finance Minister (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Humayun Khan are also alumni of the College.

Maj. General Javed Sultan Shaheed and Malik Saad Shaheed (CCPO Peshawar) are prominent Kohatians who laid down their lives in safeguarding their homeland. Moreover, Kohatians' contributions in the ongoing war on terror have been widely acknowledge and many of them accepted Shahadat while fighting the insurgents during Operation Rah-e-Rasat and Zarb-e-Azab.

On Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Cadet College Kohat, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on October 10, 2015.

On the Eve of Defence Day Golden Jubilee Celebrations. September 07, 2015. (2015-04)

1. Pakistan Air Force is known for her true professionalism and leadership traits. Over the years, PAF has always shown firm resolve whenever it comes to safeguarding the aerial integrity of Pakistan or in need of the hour. In September, 1965 PAF spared no stone unturned in proving her mettle and prowess to the world by showing their supremacy from the very first day which resulted in an unforgettable saga of chivalry in the eighteen days war.

a. This stamp indicates PAF's cargo aircraft converted into a bomber during 1965 war. The painting in the background shows a Hercules on its bombing run over Indian artillery along BRB canal on the night of 21st September. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

b. This stamp reminisce the historic Kalaikunda strike by PAF on 7th of September 1965. The formation of 5 F-86 aircraft from Dhaka attacked enemy airfield in a pitch dark night and gave enemy a sharp lesson by destroying number of Canberra bombers and Hunter fighters. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

c. This stamp points towards one of the triple attacks on Jamnagar airfield. PAF did ground strikes on 3 enemy airfields and destroyed the enemy aircraft on ground. The Painting in the background depicts the professionalism displayed by PAF pilots in precise bombing over the enemy airfields. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

d. This stamp shows the last moments of a hero, a valiant air warrior, Squadron Leader Sarfraz Rafiqui. Rafiqui along with his three companions led a strike at Halwara airfield where they encountered more than ten Indian aircraft. Rafiqui shot down Indian Hunters and later his guns got jammed. Determined to go on, Rafiqui continued with the mission and embraced Shahadat after declaring the strike successful. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

e This stamp displays portraits of those 7 heroes of PAF who embraced Shahadat in the line of duty. Each one of these gallantry warriors fought to their last breath and got Shahadat after achieving the said objective. The nation salutes these Heroes and they will always remain a pride of the nation in general and of Pakistan Air Force in particular. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

f. This stamp indicates complete fleet of fighter aircraft in Pakistan Air Force through ages. Pakistan Air Force evolved at a very fast pace and never let enemy at peace. From F-86 and F-104s to Mirages, F-16s and JF-17s, Pakistan Air Force always remained a symbol of terror for the enemy and pride for the nation. The stamp also depicts Golden Jubilee logo along with gallantry awards won by our heroes and logo of Pakistan Air Force.

On the Eve Of Defence Day Golden Jubilee Celebrations, a set of six commemorative postage stamps of Rs. 10/-denomination of each is being issued by Pakistan Post on September 7, 2015.

YEAR OF PAKISTAN-CHINA FRIENDLY EXCHANGES. August 14, 2015 (2015-03)

Pakistan and China have an enduring, close and time-tested friendship that is unique and unprecedented in modern interstate relations. The Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership is based on mutual trust and understanding, and bilateral relations have always been high on the foreign policy agenda of both countries.

Pakistan and China have declared 2015 as the "Year of Pakistan-China Friendly Exchanges" which will further expand exchanges between Parliamentarians, think-tanks, media, youth, academics and artists of the two countries to make Pakistan-China friendship even more deeply rooted in the hearts of our peoples.

GREAT WALL OF CHINA:- The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications, construction of which began as early as the 7th century BCE The Great Wall is recognized as one of the modern wonders of the world and attracts visitors from all over the world. Pakistan's contributions toward the Government of China's efforts to renovate one section of the Great Wall were commemorated at a ceremony held in March 1989.

KARAKORUM HIGHWAY:- The Karakorum Highway (KKH) connects Pakistan and China across the Himalayan mountain range at the Khunjerab Pass. Construction of the highway began in 1959 and was completed in 1979. The KKH is the highest paved international road in the world and is also known as the Friendship Highway. The route of the KKH traces the path of the ancient Silk Road, and serves as a potent symbol of the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.

SHALIMAR GARDENS:- The Shalimar Gardens are a Mughal-era garden complex in the historic city of Lahore, Pakistan. Construction of the Gardens began in 1641 CE and was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan. The Shalimar Gardens, a classic example of Mughal aesthetics, were included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

To mark 2015 as the Year of Friendly Exchanges between Pakistan and China, a set of five commemorative postage stamps for the denomination of Rs. 10/- is being issued by Pakistan Post on 14th August 2015,

FIRST 100 MW SOLAR PLANT. May 04, 2015 (2015-02)

 

Pakistan has been suffering from an energy shortage for the last two decades. With a steadily growing population and increased economic activity, the demand for energy has been rising and the generated supply has not been able to keep up with the rapid rising demand. Despite policy efforts and development plans, the gap between supply and demand remains in the range of 4000 MW on average, leading to 6-8 hours of load shedding on a daily basis, leaving businesses and homes in the dark. Business, small and large alike have been forced to suspend operations or incur higher costs by employing expensive diesel run generators as back up during load shedding hours.

Pakistan is blessed with an abundance of solar energy and is one of the few regions having on the average 300+ days per annum of sunshine and is considered best solar zone of the world. This gift of God in the shape of solar irradiance has been here since eternity but God has given us the opportunity to harness the same.

In the year 2013, The Government of Punjab, under the vision of Chief Minister Mian M. Shahbaz Sharif, dedicated 10,000 acres of land in Cholistan, near Bahawalpur City, Pakistan, for the purpose of establishing a 1000 MW Solar Park for generation of electricity. This Solar Park is an initiative of Government of the Punjab (GoPb), Pakistan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in generation of electricity and to overcome the ever expanding gap between energy production and demand. 500 acres of land was allocated to set up the first pilot project.

The Government of the Punjab launched Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power (Pvt.) Ltd to install the first 100 MW PV Plant and act as a role model for the investors in the field of renewable energy and provide an impetus to the aspiring national and international IPPs to follow in the footsteps of QA Solar.

The site allocated is complete with interconnection facilities, access roads, water connection and a clean title to deeds. The EPC contract was awarded to TBEA Xinjiang SunOasis Co. Ltd, a renowned company from China. The Groundbreaking Ceremony of the first ever 100 MW solar PV plant in Cholistan desert near Bahawalpur was held on May 9th, 2014. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, accompanied by Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab, unveiled the plaque to establish the foundation of the plant. His Excellency, Mr. Sun Weidong, the ambassador of China to Pakistan, was also present at the venue.

Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power (Pvt.) Ltd has been able to achieve the landmark of launching Solar PV Plant from scratch with the assistance of top notch international consultants and EPC Contractor. Faced by a highly aggressive and challenging timeline, especially the mobilization and deployment of hundreds of foreign consultants/ contractors in a remote area, QA Solarwas fully confident to meet all challenges and achieve the targets on schedule.

In a record span of time, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power has installed the first ever utility scale, photovoltaic, ground mounted and fixed tilted power plant in Pakistan. Compared to other power generation plants, this power plant will be a source of clean and renewable energy and on the basis of reduction in greenhouse gases emissions; this project has the capability of qualifying for clean development mechanism. In addition to lowering GHG emissions, solar power plant will also lead to reduction in other various atmospheric pollutants, that are discharged in coal powered plants, such as mercury, Sulphur dioxide etc.

The solar park initiative, it is hoped, will bring not only economic activity, but will also provide jobs and a unique set of skills to the inhabitants of the area. This project aims to mark the beginning of the Province's journey towards generation of renewable energy and a cleaner and greener future and pave way for others to join in the mission of fulfilling the country's energy needs for a better world.

On First 100 MW Solar Plant., a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on May 4, 2015.

ASIAN PACIFIC POSTAL UNION (APPU) EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING AT ISLAMABAD. March 24, 2015 (2015-01)

Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is the Regional Postal Union formed in 1961 under Article 8 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). Any sovereign country which is member of the Universal Postal Union and whose entire territory is situated in Asia, Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia or Polynesia may accede to APPU.

2. The idea behind its formation was to create a single postal territory amongst the member-countries, to improve the Postal Services in the region and to institute developing a large degree of cooperation between them. Pakistan joined this organization in 1977. Following 32 countries. are its members:-

1. Afghanistan                   2.  Japan               3. Papua New Guinea    4. Australia

5. Lao                    6. Philippines                     7. Bangladesh                    8. Korea Republic

9. Samoa              10. Bhutan                          11. Malaysia                       12. Singapore

13. Brunei Darussalam                   14. Maldives                       15. Solomon Islands

16. Cambodia                     17. China                              18. Mongolia                      19. Sri Lanka

20. Fiji                   21. Myanmar                     22. Thailand                        23.  Nauru

24. Tonga                             25. India                               26. Nepal                             27.  Vanuatu

28. Indonesia                     29. New Zealand                              30. Vietnam        31. Iran

32. Pakistan

3 The Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) performs its functions through the following permanent organs:-

(a) Congress

This is the supreme organ of the Union. It is composed of plenipotentiary representatives of member-countries and is empowered to amend Constitution and General Regulations of the Union. It meets every four-year at a pre-selected place.

(b) Executive Council

To ensure the continuity of the work of the Union in the intervals between Congresses, the Executive Council meets, in principle once each year, unless the majority of member-countries decide otherwise. All member-countries are required to participate in its meetings.

(c) Office

Ø  The Bureau serves as a medium of liaison, information, inquiry and training for the member-countries of the Union.

Ø  The Bureau is composed of the administrative section and the training section

Ø  The host country of the Bureau shall be determined by Congress, or in exceptional circumstances by the Executive Council. In principle, that country shall remain as the host of the Bureau for at least five years.

4. There are following other organizations associated with the Asian-Pacific Postal Union for organizing an efficient postal service within the Asian-Pacific Region:-

(i) The Asian-Pacific Postal College

This institution, based in Bangkok, Thailand is imparting training to postal officers of the member-countries. Pakistan has always benefited from the courses offered by this institution. Officers of Pakistan Post are also being regularly deputed to this institution to carry out tutorial activities.

(ii) Asian-Pacific Post Cooperative

The Asia-Pacific Post cooperative is based in Singapore. Its main tasks are (i) To maintain and improve the quality of express Mail Service for handling time-sensitive services offered by postal administrations of member-countries, (ii) to carry out quality of Service Tests to remove bottle-necks with the aim to improve it, (iii) Management of Track & Trace system for EMS products, and (iv) to study questions of immediate interest to member-countries to make the postal products attractive to commercial users.

5. Pakistan attaches great importance to this organization, Pakistan has been availing following advantages by maintaining its membership in the Asian-Pacific Postal Union and by participating in its meeting:-

Ø  Excellent training facilities are offered by the College run by the Union in certain specialized fields. Each year three free fellowships are offered to Pakistan Post.

Ø  Seminars & workshops are regularly conducted on various important postal operations including Direct Mail Marketing, Parcel Post marketing, ISP Marketing, terminal dues, Postal Financial services etc. and the member countries can be benefited much by attending these forums.

Ø  Close cooperation in providing economical, speedier and reliable means of communications to develop socio-economic relations between peoples in the region.

Ø  Smooth exchange of postal mails keeping the operating costs as low as possible in the region

Ø  Adoption of coordinated approach over the issues of interest in the Asian Pacific Region within the Universal Postal Union

Ø  Coordination in implementing the five-yearly Postal Strategic Plans chalked out by the Universal Postal Union within the region.

Ø  Development in technical cooperation to modernize the postal services

Ø  Sharing ideas and exchange of information for improvement in the postal services.

Ø  Reliance on the technical support of the Asian Pacific Post cooperative

Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU) Executive Council Meeting at Islamabad, a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 10/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on March 24, 2015.