A World Without Polio. (2000-15)

 

Paralytic Polio is caused by a virus which attacks the nerves in the spinal cord, culling off the impulse from the brain to the muscles and causing the affected muscle fibers to shrivel and die. The polio virus has only human beings as host. Inexpensive oral polio vaccine - OPV - can stop the virus and eradicate the dreaded disease of poliomyelitis for ever.

When the polio virus, the world\'s greatest crippler of children, is eradicated, the humanitarian and financial benefits ($ 1.5 billion annually) will be enormous.

Through immunization, great progress has been made in the war on polio. Allied in this cause are National Health Ministries and their workers, Rotary International, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations 3 Children\'s Fund (UNICEF), Donor Governments, Non Governmental Organizations 3 (NGO5), Specialized agencies such as the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and hundreds and thousands of Volunteers.

Extraordinary measures are needed to eradicate the polio virus. High level of routine immunization must be supplemented by (1) National Immunization Days (NIDs) (2) Rigorous Surveillance to determine where the polio virus still circulates(3) Laboratory support and (4) Mop up operations where pockets of disease remain.

Rotary International and PolioPlus.

In 1985, Rotary created PolioPlus - a program to immunize all the world\'s children against polio by 2005 - Rotary\'s centennial PolioPlus is one of the most ambitious humanitarian undertakings made by a private entity ever. It will serve as a paradigm for private/public collaborations in the fight against disease well into the next century.

Rotary\'s PolioPlus program is a shining example of the achievements made by cooperation between the United Nations and non-governmental Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations. Rotary International began in Chicago in 1905. It is the oldest and one of the largest non-profit service organizations in the world. It is comprised of 1.2 million members working in over 29,700 Clubs in 163 countries. Rotary memben initiate community projects that address many of today\'s most critical issue such as violence, AIDS, hunger, the environment and health care.

How is Rotary involved in the global polio eradication effort?

Financially: In 1985, Rotary was recognized by WHO as a non-governmental organization working in the field of international health. In the same year, Rotary set a goal to raise $ 120 million to provide the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to newborns in the developing world. When the campaign ended, Rotary has doubled its goal, collecting more than $ 247 million. Todate, Rotary has contributed US$ 385 million to the protection of nearly two billion children. By 2005, Rotary\'s financial commitment will reach a half billion US dollars.

Pakistan has received US $ 12 million upto now as Rotary\'s contribution to support the Government\'s efforts to eradicate Polio from Pakistan.

On the ground assistance: With its community-based network worldwide, Rotary is the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. Rotary volunteers assist in vaccine delivery, social mobilization and logistically help in cooperation with the National Health Ministries, WHO, UNICEF and the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Rotarians\' volunteer efforts were instrumental in the eradication of polio from the Western Hemisphere, certified polio-free in 1994.

Global Advocacy: With the end of polio in sight, the eradication campaign enters the most difficult leg of the journey involving the poorest regions of the world. Rotary\'s Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force successfully reaches out to governments worldwide to obtain vital financial and technical support needed to reach the goal of a polio-free 21st century. And Rotary\'s efforts have paid off. Countries such as Canada, Australia, Denmark, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States are major financial donors to this historic health initiative

The world stands on the threshold of victory. Rotary is making sure that donor nations and other sources must commit - NOW - the financial and technical resources needed to complete the job of eradicating polio. If we seize the opportunity, polio will join small pox as the second major disease to be eliminated from the face of the earth.

What finer gift to the children of the world in the new century than to relegate the ancient scourge of polio to history\'s dustbin.

Courtesy:Ministry of Health Government of Pakistan.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative Postage stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination on December 13, 2000.

Medicinal Plants of Pakistan. (2000-14)

 

Pakistan is endowed with the wealth of medicinal plants. These are the natural botanical source of medicines being manufactured by indigenous pharmaceutical houses in Pakistan. These are also the basic source of modern pharmaceutical market, although today it has become an entire world of synthetics, with elevated prices a common man can not afford. It is, therefore, the most appropriate time to consider development and organization of our medicinal plants industry to become independent in the provision of common indigenous natural drugs that are being used to treat diseases in most of our rural areas. In our country there are grown wild or cultivated medicinal plants species which possess great potentient in Greco-Arab (Unani or Eastern) system of medicine but also in the light of active principles or biodynamic compounds being isolated from the using ultra modern screening techniques available in our country.

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn, Mulathi/Liquorice: Included in family papilionaceae, it is a perennial herb or under shrub distributed in the subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world, particularly in the Mediterranean countries. Liquorice is the dried underground stem and root with sweetish taste used in Unani medicines in the form of extract, powder, decoction infusion or lozenges. Pharmacologically glycyrrhiza has pectoral, demulcent, diuretic, deepurative, alternative, elexipharmic, expectorant, emollient actions and a common flavouring, sweetening agent.

To focus the attention of public on natural botanical sources of medicines Pakistan Post Office is issuing a special postage stamp of Rs. 2/- denomination on November 28, 2000

IDEAS-2000 (International Defence Exhibition and Seminar) (2000-13)

This stamp commemorates the first Commercial Exhibition of an International dimension held in Pakistan. It signifies the efforts by the Government of Pakistan for channelising and focusing the activities of manufacturers including those in the defence sector toward exports. IDEAS - 2000 provides a platform for Pakistan and foreign defence manufacturers to display their products to a wide range of visitors including delegations and trade professionals with its theme \"Arms For Peace\". IDEAS - 2000 is a reflection of Pakistan\'s desire to promote international peace and stability through deterrence.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative Postage stamp of Rs. 7/- denomination on November 14, 2000.

Creating The Future, Conference. (2000-12)

 

We have just witnessed the dawning of a new era, of a new millennium, of the 21sf century. It is a well known fact that the driving force for the 21st century is knowledge. At a time when the rest of the world has transformed, Pakistan still remains far behind in every sphere. The need of the hour is education, as it is education which has the power to transform every society and the individual that comprise it. 'Creating the Future\' is a step in that direction. Breakneck rate of innovations and ever reducing distances are bringing about a revolution in our perceptions. No more can we distance ourselves from the events unfolding around us and afford to close our eyes to the reality. In order to catch up we need a tremendous effort given the head start that the others already have on us.

In response to this challenge Sensei International and The NEWS bring to Pakistan an exciting event called "Creating the Future" on November 3rd and 4th 2000. This is a conference which provides the Pakistani business world a unique opportunity to discover the latest approaches being adopted by business leaders around the world. The conference showcases leaders in various management disciplines such as Information Technology, Sales, Human Resources and Marketing.

This event did not just happen overnight. In March 1999, Sensei International organised a unique event in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event was aptly entitled \"Creating the Future\". The concept of this program was to bring on one platform leaders of various management disciplines so that the audience could get a glimpse of cuffing edge developments in these fields from all over the world.

The success of "Creating the Future" in Colombo spurred Sensei to bring this unique conference to Pakistan. An event of this magnitude required Sensei to partner with another like minded organisation who had a similar interest in opening a window to the world for the Pakistani corporate environment. The "NEWS" was a natural choice for this partnership. Thus \"Creating the Future\" for Pakistan was set to be launched.

The speakers of this event are people of international repute who have a proven track record in their various fields. The speakers are:

Mr. Hermawan Kartajaya - Mr. Kartajaya has recently published a book co-authored with Philip Kotler entitled \"Repositioning Asia: From Bubble to Sustainable Economy\". He is the Leading Service Officer of Mark Plus Strategy Consulting, a firm based in Indonesia, which he founded in 1989. Mr. Kartajaya is the President of Indonesia Marketing Association (1996-1999 and 1999-2000) and the Vice Chairman and one of only 12 members of the World Marketing Association (WMA) council, to which he proposed a paper for a worldwide re-definition of marketing. Bob Urichuck - Mr. Urichuck is an international speaker, trainer and consultant. As an advocate of constant improvement and cultivator of human potential for organisations and individuals, Bob\'s mission over the past 25 years has been to inspire, educate and empower people and organisations, to significantly increase their performance capability while constantly improving the quality of their lives and the lives of others with whom they come in contact. Building on his past experience as a successful entrepreneur and sales professional, Bob\'s present work as a sales and performance consultant has made him a sought-after speaker and trainer across Canada, the United States and Asia.

Tom Burns - Mr. Burns joined Intel Corporation in 1979 in their Embedded Controller Group. In 1981 he was transferred to Intel Japan for two and a half years where he was responsible for growing the embedded controller market. Upon his return to the US he held various marketing and management roles in the Automotive and Smart Card division of Intel. After another stint in Japan, in 1995 he took an assignment with Intel Asia Pacific in Hong Kong. He has been manager of the Intel Insider Program and Intel's Retail and Reseller program. In 1997 he took on the additional responsibility of running Intel's Internet Websites. Late in 1997 he started the Regional Content Group which he currently manages.

Alan Davidson - Mr. Davidson is the Leadership and Supervisory

Development Manager overseeing Europe and the Middle East for one of the world\'s most admired company 3M. This is a company that pushes for regeneration and re-energizing its people, processes and policies. Alan's 3M experience spans Europe, USA, Middle East, South Asia, Far East and more.

Omar S. Khan - Mr. Omar Khan is the Senior Partner of Sensei International and has consulted and trained on peak performance for numerous companies including "Fortune 500" companies, Olympic Athletes, CEO's, Clergy and many more from different backgrounds and from various parts of the world. It was his vision that made a small consulting firm from Pakistan into a multi-national business with offices in Pakistan, Dubai, Sri Lanka, Singapore, UK and Canada. Omar read his B.A, M.A at Oxford University. After further studies at Stanford Law School in the USA, he trained in the break through science of NLP in which he is now a globally acknowledged expert. Omar has recently published a book entitled "Synergy".

With a mix of speakers like above, we hope that "Creating the Future" will spur many a minds to rethink their present strategy and change existing paradigms, thus hopefully germinating the seed of corporate revolution in Pakistan. We hope that this event will prove be a milestone in transforming our country and putting it on the path of progress and prosperity. Courtesy: The "News", Karachi.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative Postage stamp of Rs. 5/- denomination on November 4, 2000.

125 Years of Excellence, National College of Arts, Lahore. (2000-11)

Like all old institutions, the National College of Arts, has a historical tradition. Much of its present tone was set long when it was known as the Mayo School of Arts. Gazetteers written about the city of Lahore in 1915 describe the work being done at the school as one of the cultural highlights of the urban center.

A teacher of painting and sculpture Lockwood Kipling, working then in Bombay, school of arts and crafts was appointed its first Principal parallel to his charge of the Curator of the Lahore Museum.

The Mayo School was intended to be a technical college in the beginning. Lockwood Kipling the curator-Principal allowed the functions of the museum and the school to merge in a creative manner.

The school had proper workshops equipped with tools and machines. In 1902 four large machine workshops and photolithographic studio were already functioning. By 1911, nearly a lakh of rupees worth of machinery and tools were being operated in the school for such diverse crafts as jewelry, cotton-printing, bookbinding, cabinet making, light-metal work, carpentry and blacksmithy.

By 1915 the work done at the school was recognized all over India and also in England. The principal works executed by its craftsmen were thus located:

Wood-carving, plaster-work and interior in Barnes Court, Simla; Government House, Lahore; Circuit House, designs for amphitheater at the Delhi Darbar; execution of decorative work including carpets and shamianas of gold thread and repusse metal work and designs for the Law and Oriental Colleges, Lahore; design and decorative work in plaster for the new Railway Theatre, Lahore; a carved console table for Government House, Lahore; Punjab carving for the Billiard Room of Bag shot Park, England for the Duke of Connaught; an eight canon stalls for the Lefory Memorial in Lahore Cantonment\'s Church.

In 1958 the school was upgraded by the then West Pakistan Government into the National College of Arts. The craft and industry oriented structure of the school, which has provided much needed early nurturance to such diverse occupations as carpentry lacquer-work btacksmI1~V, goldsmithy, silversmithy, pottery, needlework, architectural draftsmanship, sanitation, plumbing, civil engineering and commercial art, was updated and confined to three departments Fine Arts, Design and Architecture.

The changed structure of the College allowed proper focus on Fine Arts. The department began to train new talent in modern and traditional painting, graphic art and sculpture. The Department of Design began to turn out professionals textile design. Publicity Design, Product Design and Ceramics. The rapidly growing demand in the building sector for architects began to be met by the College, together with other professional universities of the country. In 1963, the Government recognized the College as the premier arts institution in Pakistan, was taken away from the Department of Industries and placed under the Education Department with its own Board of Governors. The new policy in 1972 further recognized the achievements of the college and planned its development into a center of Excellence in the Visual Arts. A high-powered Board of Governors was constituted to ensure a measure of autonomy under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The College specializes in production of a certain kind of artistic work, which at once satisfies the creative demands of a work of art and the more pragmatic requirements of a profession. One of the leading architects of Pakistan, Nayyar Ali Dada, an old student and a member of the Board of Governors of the College combines the talents of an architect with facility of drawing.

This capacity of the college graduates to apply art to specific projects has allowed them to take on projects in various fields. They have helped design primary school buildings and produce new building material for construction. They prepared a visual study of the indigenous architecture of Pakistan for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture ceremonies, Lahore.

Since 1963 when the present college was invested with a new arts structure, it has carried courses in three departments, Architecture, Fine Arts and Design. All these courses are professional and enable the graduate to relate his talent to the job market.

In 1985, through an ordinance the college has been granted the status of an autonomous degree awarding institution and now awards Bachelor Degrees in Fine Arts, Design and Architecture. The ordinance also empowers the institution to institute postgraduate programmes in the field of Visual Arts. Some of these programmes are at the planning stage now. An MA (Hon) in Visual Arts and M.Phil in Communication and Cultural Studies have started from this year. It is hoped that post graduate programmers will lead NCA to realize its potential as a Center for Excellence in Visual arts in Pakistan.

Courtesy: National College of Arts Lahore

To commemorate the 125th Anniversary of the National College of Arts Lahore Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative Postage stamp of Ps. 5/- denomination on October 28, 2000.