Wetlands Of Pakistan. The Arabian Sea Coral Reefs. (2012-20)

 

Wetlands of Pakistan The Arabian Sea Coral Reefs Commemorative Postage Stamps October 4, 2012:- Coral Reef Discovery Along Makran Coast, (Arabian Sea) Pakistan:- Coral Reefs are the “Rainforests” of the ocean. Reefs are ecologically important ecosystems and have a high biodiversity that serves as a storage bank of rich genetic resources. They are a source of food and medicine, and they protect the coast from wave erosion. Scientists have found an abundance of compounds to help fight heart disease, asthma, cancer, HIV and more.

Coral reefs are structure made of limestone deposited by living organisms. Although thousands of species inhabit coral reefs, however, only a fraction production produces the limestone that build the reef. The most important reef building organisms are the corals. Although there are hundreds of different species of corals but in general they are classified as either hard or soft coral. Hard corals (hermatypic) grow in colonies and are the architects of coral reefs.

Coral reefs are one of the oldest environments on earth. Most of the existing reefs have been growing from over 5,000 years.

There are three basic kinds of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs grow in shallow waters close to the coast. Barrier reefs are separated from land by lagoon, growing parallel to the coast and forming a large and continuous reef. Atolls are ring-shaped reefs that develop near the sea surface on underwater islands or island that sink, or subside.

Coral reefs are vital to coastal fisheries. It provide spawning, nursery, refuge and feeding areas for a large variety of organisms, including economically important crustaceans (e.g. shrimps, spiny lobsters and crabs).

A field mission of the Pakistan Wetlands Programme (PWP), lead by coral expert from Millport University, UK, indentified the first ever coral reef ecosystem near the Astola Island. Before this discovery it was blindly believed that coral reefs are not existed in Pakistan’s jurisdiction of the Arabian Sea.

The basis of information collected about coral reef associated fish species from the fishing areas near Gwader, an expedition team encompassing divers from PWP and Pakistan Navy conducted a survey of the possible coral sites in 2011 and discovered large area of deep sea coral near Gwader. This underwater survey was conducted in five sites in Gwader along the Arabian Sea. The most significant sites were: Cher Koh, Baladi Koh and Ganjabad. The coral colonies occurring at the Cher Koh, Baladi Koh and Ganjabad are mostly in growing stage and present a healthy condition.

Coral cannot survive it the water temperature is too high. Global warming has already led to increase levels of coral bleaching and this is predicated to increase in requency and severity in the coming decades. Adverse affects of this phenomenon cannot be avoided in terms of reefs ecosystems along Makran Coast.

On Wetlands of Pakistan (The Arabian Sea Coral Reefs), Pakistan Post is issuing a set of four commemorative postage stamps each denomination of Rs.8/- on October 4, 2012.

PAKISTAN WILDLIFE SERIES MIGRATORY BIRDS IN PAKISTAN (2012-19)

Migratory Birds in Pakistan Wild Life Series Commemorative Postage Stamps September 27, 2012:- Siberian Crane Order: Gruiformes. Family : Gruidae:- Siberian Cranes are widely dispersed in their breeding areas and rare highly territorial. They maintain feeding territories in winter but many form small and loose flocks, and gather closer at their winter roosts. They are very diurnal, feeding almost all through the day and their migration is done. When feeding on submerged vegetation, they often immerse their heads entirely underwater. When calling the birds stretch their neck forward. The context of several calls have been identified and several of these vary with sex. Individual variation is very slight and most calls have a dominant frequency of about 1.4khs. the unison calls duets between paired males and female however are more distinctive with marked differences across pairs. The female produces a higher pitched call which is the “loo” in the duetted “doodleloo” call. Pairs with walk around other pairs to threaten them and drive them away from their territory. In captivity, one individual was recorded to have lived for nearly 62 years while another lived for 83 years.

White Stork Order: Ciconiiformes. Famiy : Cicniidae:- The White Stork is a large bird. It has a length of 100-115 cm (39-45 in) and a standing h4eight of 100-125 cm (39-49 in). The wingspan is 155-215 cm (61-85 in) and its weight is 2.3-4.4 kg (5.1-9.7 lb). Like all storks, it has long legs, a long neck, and a long, straight, pointed beak.

The sexes are indentical in appearance, except that males are larger than females on average. The plumage is mainly white with black flight feathers and wing coverts; the black is caused by the pigment melanin. The breast eathers are long and shaggy forming a ruff which is used in some sourtship displays. The irises are dull brown a bright red beak and red legs, the coloration of which is derived from carotenoids in the diet. In parts of Spain, studies have shown that the pigment is based on astazanthin obtained from an introduced species of cray fish (Procambarus clarkia) and the bright red beak colours show up even in nestlings, in contrast to the duller beaks of young White Storks elsewhere.

Snow Geese Order: Anseriformes. Family : Anatidae:- The Snow Geese has two color plumage morphs white (snow) or gray / blue (blue), thus the common description as snows and blues.

White morph birds are white except for black wing tips but blue morph geese have bluish grey plumage replacing the white except on the head neck and tail tip. The immature blue phase is drab or slate-gray with little to no white on the head, nick or belly. Both snow and blue phase have rose-red feet and legs, and pink bills with black tomia (cutting edges) giving them a black “grin patch”. The colors are not as bright on the feet, legs and bill of immature birds. The head can be stained rusty-brown from minerals in the soil where they feed. They are very vocal and can often be heard from more than a mile away.

Shoveler Duck Order : Anseriformes. Family : Anatidae:- This species is unmistable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The bredding dark has an iridescent dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by white border. In early fall the male will have a white crescent on each side of the face.

Non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake resembles the female. The female is a drab mottled brown like other dabblers, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is gray tinged with orange on cutting edge and lower mandible. The female’s forewing is gray.

On Migratory Birds in Pakistan (Wild Life Series), Pakistan Post is issuing a set of four commemorative postage stamps each denomination of Rs.8/- on September 27, 2012.

30 Years of Sialkot chamber of Commerce & Industry. (2012-18)

 

30Th Years of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce And Industry (1982-2012) Commemorative Postage Stamp September 26, 2012:- The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry is one of the Top Chambers of the Country representing the export oriented industry of Sialkot. The Chamber was established in 1982 and the late Mr. A. D. Bhutta was its founder President.

The city of Sialkot is known world over for rich industrial heritage in the field of Sports goods, Surgical instruments, Military Uniform Badges & Accessories, Musical Instruments which has now expanded with addition of Martial Arts Equipments & Accessories, Knives & Cutlery, Gloves, Leather Garments, Sports wears, add more sectors etc. The local business communities, despite many constraints, have accelerated the pace of industrialization in the city, which had been originally progressing at a snail pace. The reason of this very slow progress was that the fact no trade body was there to give protection to the interest of the local industrialists. The Sialkot Association of Trade and Industry was formed in 1976 and it was affiliated with Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The said Association provided progressive and appreciative services to the business community. There were 1000 firms registered with the association within a span of seven years up to 1982. Owing to the efforts of the said Association most of the Government regulatory offices were shifted to Sialkot, but because of the bureaucratic attitude of the Government functionaries, decision on most of the cases could not be taken.

In view of the problem and difficulties of the trading community, the urgency of constituting a Chamber was widely felt, which could provide a more prestigious and dignified forum to the local business community which could effectively take up the issues with Government for redressal. It was decided by the pioneers of the local community to get the existing Association to the level of Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Association adopted the necessary resolution in the meeting held on 12-12-1979 for taking up the matter with Ministry of Commerce. Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry passed similar resolution on 28-07-1981. The Sialkot Chamber was incorporated under company Act 1913 vide License No. 24 dated 15-07-1982 issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan under section 3 of Trade Organization Ordinance 1961 and was formally affiliated with FPCCI on 17-08-1982.

The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI), comprises of its 7000 plus active members including proprietorships, Associations of Persons (AOPs), Partnerships, Corporations dealing in industry, commerce and trade. Most of them are connected with the production and exports. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry has always come up to the expectations of its members and other stakeholders by contributing its services for the promotion and development of Trade, Industry and Commerce since its inception.

Being apex trade body of Sialkot, the activities of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry are manifold and multidimensional in nature. It is watching and safeguarding the interest of the business community on one hand and helping the Government in the formulation of various trade policies through workable proposals, suggestions and recommendations on the other hand. The global activities of the Sialkot Chamber have extended beyond all frontiers in terms of establishing business links among the locals and those at far ends of the world. It keeps a close eye on the global business trends and provides information to the members accordingly. Through its proactive approach the Sialkot Chamber has greatly contributed in expansion of industries, promotion of exports and generating economic activity.

Through concerted efforts of the members and facilitating role of the Sialkot Chamber, the export earning of the city stand at US $ 1.4(B) annually.

Social Compliance of the Sialkot Chamber:- The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry has not only made its contribution towards promotion of exports for Pakistan but has also contributed extensively in social sector due to which Sialkot has become a role model for the other cities of developing countries. The Social Projects taken up by the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry include but not limited to:

Sialkot Dry Port Trust,

Sialkot Seerat Study Centre,

Sialkot Export Processing Zone;

Child Labor Elimination Program;

Universal Primary Education;

Khud Kafalat Rozghar Trust;

Sialkot City Package;

Sialkot International Airport;

Sialkot Tannery Zone;

Sports Industry Development Centre, Sialkot;

Sports Industry Development Trust, Sialkot;

Sialkot Business and Commerce Centre;

Sialkot Transport Company;

Quality Certification Program;

On 30th Years of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on September 26, 2012.

65 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE PAKISTAN August 30, 2012 (2012-17)

 

This year the Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated with immense joyous and prayers due to the Holy month of Ramdan. The day is a national holiday in Pakistan. It is traditional for Pakistanis to celebrate all over the country with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks taking place in the capital, Islamabad.

The official festivities usually take place in Islamabad and commence with the raising of the national flag on the President House and Parliament building and later the leaders deliver speeches that are televised live. In the speech, they highlight the achievement of the government, goals set for the future and in the words of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, bring "Unity, Faith and Discipline" to the people of Pakistan.

This year a stamp is issued which depicts the effigy of the first stamp of Pakistan and the portrait of the artist, Abdur Rahman Chughtai who designed the first stamp for Pakistan which is the main feature of todays issued stamp.

Abdur Rahman Chughtai was a painter and intellectual from Pakistan who created his own unique, distinctive paintings style influenced by Mughal art, miniature paintings, Art Nouveau and Islamic art traditions. He is considered 'the first significant modern Muslim artist from South Asia, and the national artist of Pakistan. He was given the title of Khan Bahadur in 1934, awarded Pakistan's Hilal-i-Imtiaz in 1960 and the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance in 1968.

Chughtai's works are displayed at the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Peace Palace (in The Hague), United Nations Headquarters, New York, the Kennedy Memorial in Boston, the US State Department (in Washington, D.C.), President's House Bon, AP State Archaeology Museum, Queen Juliana's Palace in the Netherlands, Emperor's Palace Bangkok, President House Islamabad, Governors Houses in Lahore and Karachi, and the National Art Gallery, Islamabad.

Chughtai's contribution in the philatelic world is very much appreciated for the designing of early series of Commemorative Postage Stamps for Pakistan.

Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.10/- denomination on August 30, 2012.

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF KING EDWARD MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, LAHORE COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP August 28, 2012 (2012-16)

In the year 1857, the idea of a medical school for the undivided Punjab was placed before the Imperial Government.In 1860, Dr. J.B. Scriven became the first Principal of the proposed Lahore Medical School. It started functioning in Artillery Barracks at the present site of the Government College. This was the second college in Hindustan, the first was built in Calcutta. Matriculation examination was taken by the Principal of the Lahore Medical School as an entry examination to be the medical student. A 60 bedded hospital was attached with this medical school. This hospital was situated in the foreign stables near Tibbi police station, Taxali Gate Lahore. In 1868 the Senate of the Universitty of Dublin granted students of the Lahore Medical School "privilege similar to the granted to students from English Schools".

The present famous Mayo Hospital building was completed in 1870, on an area of 52.2 Acres, and was named after the Earl of Mayo.

With the opening of Punjab University in 1870, the responsibility of conducting exams was entrusted to the University. Training of hospital assistants and assistant surgeons was started in 1879. Training for Dai's was started in 1882 and Nursing school was started in 1883. This institution came to be known as the Lahore Medical College in 1886.

The foundation stone of the Mayo Hospital extension as part of the King Edward VII Memorial Fund was Laid on the 21st of December, 1911. Since that time, the Lahore Medical College came to be known as King Edward Medical College. The K.E.M.C. comprised:

(a) Patiala Block: administrative offices, a large library cum examination hall, four lecture theatres, a museum, a council room and common rooms for staff and students.

(b) Bahawalpur Block: the Pathology Department on the ground floor and the Physiology Department on the first floor each with a lecture theatre, practical classrooms, work rooms, etc.

(c) Faridkot Block: a complete unit for teaching Anatomy.

(d) Kapurthala Block: the Department of Materia Medica.

(e) A cold storage block with separate Pathology and medico legal postmortem theatres.

The Government Hospital for women and children was officialy opened by the Countess of Willington in 1933 and named after her. MBBS degree was recognized by GMC of England in 1936. This year BDS classes were introduced and first issue of KEMCOL was published.

During the Second World War, the Principal organized a Medical College Ambulance Corps. However, it was 1947, when under the supervision of stalwarts like Colonel llahi Bakhsh, Riaz-e-Qadeer and Sardar Ali Sheikh that the students worked selflessly to attend the down-trodden people who had migrated from India.

After the creation of Pakistan, Colonel Ilahi Bakhsh was appointed the first Principal of KEMC. It was the vision of the Col. Ilahi Bukhsh and succeeding Principals that new departments and chairs were created as the years passed by, in the field of operative surgery, ENT, Clinical, Midwifery, Anesthesia, Cardiology., Thoracic Surgery, Neurology, Dermatology, Orthopedic and Pediatrics. Recent additions, Plastic Surgery department started in 1989 and Maxillofacial surgery started functioning in 1997.

College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Science (COAVS) was established in 2004 and is imparting education in 9 new courses in ophthalmology, COAVS has now been recognized nationally and internationally in the field of eye health. Postgraduate courses lead to the following Diplomas.

M.D., M.S. D.M.R.E., D.T.C.D. D.L.O., D.A.M.S., D.A, D.C.P. D.M.R.T., D.M.R.D., D.G.O., F.C.P.S.

The Islamic Summit Conference took place in Lahore in 1974 and the staff of King Edward Medical College, gave round the Clock Medical Care to the visiting, heads of the States. In December 1976 King Edward Medical College hosted a National Teachers Convention.

Prof. Mumtaz Hassan became the Principal of KEMC in the year 1999. It was due to his efforts that King Edward Medical College was upgraded to the level of the university. This historic event of formation of King Edward Medical University took place on 12th May 2005 when the Act of the Establishment of King Edward Medical University was passed. The Notification was issued on 7th January 2006 by the orders of the Governor of Punjab and Prof. Mumtaz Hassan was appointed as acting Vice Chancellor of this second oldest institute of the subcontinent.

Prof. M. Zafarullah Khan was appointed the second acting vice chancellor of the university and he continued his efforts to establish this institution.

After the retirement of Prof. M. Zafarullah Khan, Prof. Asad Aslam Khan (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), the Pro-Vice Chancellor, has entrusted with the duties of Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University. Under his leadership following landmarks has been achieved: (i). The Dead Project of Strengthening of KEMU sponsored by HEC was made live by contributing funds from the own resources from the University which is at the final stage of completion. (ii) An Animal House has been established to stimulate the state of the art research facilities.

(iii) Students Facilitation Area has been developed to cater to the needs of the

Kemcolians, (v) Advanced Lab. & Diagnostic Centre has been established which has upgraded teaching, research and diagnostic facilities by many folds on the one hand and will not only provide all types diagnostic facilities to the public at large at affordable rates but will also serve as source of generating own resources for the KEMU.

The Kind Edward Medical University is offering the following programs.

1). Undergraduate Programs:

MBBS, DPT (Doctor of Physiotherapy), B.Sc. (Vision Sciences), B.Sc. (Allied Health Sciences in 20 disciplines), B.Sc. (Nursing), TDP. (Transition Doctors of Physiotherapy)

ii). Postgraduate Programs:

i). Diploma programs in 20 Disciplines

ii). M.Phil (Basic Sciences) in 14 Disciplines

iii). iv). M.D. (Medicine and allied Specialties ) in 20 Disciplines M.S. (Surgery and allied specialties) in 20 Disciplines

v). MDS (Dental Surgery) in 5 Disciplines

vi). FCPS/MRCP (Training in all specialties)

iii). Doctoral Programs (Ph.D)

i) Doctoral Program in 16 Discipline.

The University is determined and vigorously putting the best efforts to make KEMU the State of the Art Institution to enable it to achieve its core objective viz, to part, improve and upgrade teaching, medical and diagnostic facilities and stimulate innovation through research.

On the occasion of 150th Anniversary of King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/- denomination on August 28, 2012.