First Anniversary Of Martyrdom Of Hakim Mohammed Said. (1999-14)

 

Hakim Mohammed Said a many faceted personality, Physician, Visionary, author, bibliophile, idealist, innovator, organizer, philanthropist and educationist -- embraced martyrdom on Saturday the 17th October 1998 at 6.02 am as he was about to enter his clinic.

By and large it was through Hakim Mohammed Said’s untiring efforts that the WHO accepted Tibb as an Alternate Medicine. It was his main aim that the Hakim, the Doctor and the Scientist should work jointly as a triumvirate, for “Health for all by the year 2000”. As a physician, he treated 3 million patients.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said was held in high esteem by anyone who came in touch with him so long as he lived. His magnanimous qualities of head and heart were so endearing. He was a herbalist, a physician a scholar and researcher, an able administrator, an astute planner, a visionary and an educationist all at once. He loved children and children loved him. Like a statesman, his eyes were fixed on the next generation.

He was sought by the sick and he made himself freely available to them without ever charging a fee. He was a philanthropist and a lover of knowledge. He was a true Muslim and died in a state of fasting which was his wont. He was a pious and abstemious man whose heart bled for humanity.

Each of these peerless qualities in the modern world he demonstrated with deeds which are now a part of history and which exhort us to cherish his memory.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammad Said never shirked humanitarian and national duties whenever he was called upon to play his part-as a Federal Minister of Tibb, as a Governor of the Province of Sindh, as a consultant and as an advisor.

He represented Pakistan ably in more than one hundred fifty national and international conferences and congresses in which he presented scholarly papers. These words are shy of a fuller narrative of his achievements and contributions, but his Madinat al-Hikmah the city of education, science and culture is a living symbol of all he stood for. It is a solid witness to his single-minded determination to usher in, single-handedly, a renaissance of the Glory of Islamic learning.

At Madinat al-Hikmah he now lies in peace which was his dearest dream--the benison of peace through love and dignity of mankind, peace through mutual understanding. May his soul rest in Peace, Amen.

Born on 9th January, 1920, Hakim Mohammad Said migrated to Pakistan on 9th January, 1948 and founded his Hamdard Dawakhana at Karachi. Sole proprietorship of Hamdard Dawakhana (Waqf) was converted into Islamic Waqf on 1st April 1953. Business activities and welfare activities were. carried out by Hamdard (Waqf) itself.

Later, it was considered appropriate to administer and control the charitable unit separately and independently from the business unit hence HAMDARD FOUNDATION PAKISTAN was established.

Where as HAMDARD EDUCATION SOCIETY of Pakistan was established to perform educational activities of Hamdard (Waqf).

MADINAT AL-HIKMAH Inspired by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Hakim Mohammed Said established Madinat al-Hikmah the City of Education, Science and Culture in the vicinity of Karachi in 1983, where the following educational institutions have since been established and are functioning.

1. HAMDARD PUBLIC SCHOOL

2. HAMDARD COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

3. HAMDARD COLLEGE OF COMMERCE

4. HAMDARD VILLAGE SCHOOL

5. HAMDARD UNIVERSITY: Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry

Hamdard College of Eastern Medicine

Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences

Hamdard Institute of Education and Social Sciences

Hamdard Institute of Information Technology

Dr Hafiz Mohammad Ilyas Institute of Pharmacology and Herbal Sciences Centre for Horticulture and Hydrochemistry Lab.

BAIT AL-HIKMAH It is fully equipped with latest facilities and is one of the largest libraries in South Asia.

COMMITMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said was deeply interested in the development of children of Pakistan. Throughout his life he worked for their health, education and development by establishing the following.

BAZM-E-HAMDARD NAUNEHAL now NAUNEHAL ASSEMBLY

NAUNEHAL SHAHR (CHILDREN’S CITY) where children will receive education through recreation. A full-fledged children’s literature division, NAUNEHAL ADAB was established to produce good quality books.

NAUNEHAL BOOK CLUB which has a membership of over five thousand. The Club has played an important role in promoting book reading among children.

INTELLECTUAL FORUMS

SHAM-I-HAMDARD now MAJLIS-E-SHOORA --- HAMDARD THINKERS FORUM: Dialogue with a galaxy of prominent scientists, historians. culturists, educationists, writers, poets, physicians, intellectuals, scholars, lawyers, economists, jurists, journalists etc.

PUBLICATIONS

Wrote and edited over 200 books both in Urdu and English languages. Published more than 500 articles on Islam, medicine, history and philosophy of science etc. Regular publications included.

1. Monthly Unesco Payami (Urdu version of UNESCO Courier), 1977-90

2. Quarterly Hamdard lslamicus-1978 continued

3. Quarterly Hamdard Medicine-i 957 continued

4. SPEM, Bulletin of the Society for the Promotion of Eastern Medicine-1958-1967

5. Medical Times (Fortnightly) -1963-1987

POSITIONS HELD

Advisor/Federal Minister to the President of Pakistan on Tibb, 1979-82. Governor of Sindh 19th July 1993 to 21st January 1994.

HONOURS PRIZES AND AWARDS

1. D.Sc. “Medicina Alternative” The International Multidisciplinary Scientific Society on Alternative Medicine-i 984.

2. Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan 1966

3. Sadiq Dost Award, from the people of Bahawalpur through Commissioner of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

4. Certificate of merit from the Institute of History of Science and Technology, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey 1981

5. Islamic Medicine Prize, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, Kuwait 1982

6. Winner of the Novosti Press Agency’s (USSR) Abu Ali lbn Sina (Avecenna) International Prize for 1989

7. World No-Tobacco Day Medal Award-1995 from World Health Organization

8. Award conferred by the Pakistan League of the United States of America, New York, 1996 for services in the field of health, education and social work

9 Outstanding Pakistani Award by the Rotary Club Islamabad Cosmopolitan--i 996

ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEARNED SOCIETIES

NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. President, Institute of Health and Tibbi (Medical) Research

2. Secretary General, Society for the Promotion of Eastern Medicine (SPEM)

3. Founder, Awaz-e-Akhlaq Movement

4. President, Society for the Promotion and Improvement of Libraries (SPIL) Pakistan

5. President, Pakistan Historical Society

6. President, Ibn-e-Khaldun Education Society

7. President, Institute of Central and West Asian Studies

8. Member, Board of Governors, Sindh Madressah-Tul-Islam

9. President, Cancer Association of Pakistan

10. President, Pakistan Tibbi Association

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

1. Member, Administrative Council of the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, UNESCO, Paris, France

2. Member, Executive Committee, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Paris, France

3. Member, New York Academy of Sciences, New York, USA

4. Associate Member, Royal Society of Health, London, England

5. Member, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France

6. Member, International Council for Health, Physical Educational, Recreation, Sport and Dance, USA

7. Member, The Institute for Advanced Research in Asian, Science and Medicine, USA

8. Member, American Institute of the History of Pharmacy, USA

9. British Society for History of Science, England

10. Vice President, Board of Trustees of the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences Kuwait

11. Member, History of Science Society USA

12. Member of the Planetary Society USA

13. Chairman, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Pakistan Chapter

14. International Trustee Duke of Edinburgh’s Award London

Courtesy: HAMDARD FOUNDATION PAKISTAN, KARACHI.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 51 denomination on October 17, 1999.

125th Anniversary Of The Universal Postal Union. (1999-13)

 

The first known postal document, found in Egypt, dates from 255 BC. But even before that time postal services existed on nearly every continent in the form of messengers serving kings and emperors.

Over time, religious orders and Universities added their own message delivery systems and eventually, private individuals were allowed to use these messengers in order to communicate with one another.

In these early Postal Systems the Postal charges were generally paid by the recipient. In the seventeenth century the first International Postal treaty was established, consisting of bilateral agreements governing the transit of mail within several European countries.

Two centuries later, the web of bilateral arrangements between countries had become so complex that it began to, impede the rapidly developing trade and commercial sectors.

National Postal reforms started the process of bringing order and simplification to the International Postal Services.

Probably the most important of these took place in England in 1840 under the, leadership of Sir Rowland Hill. Letters were to be prepaid, using a uniform rate of one -’a penny in the domestic service for all letters of a certain weight, regardless of the distance involved.

On the initiative of United States Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, a conference was held in 1863, in Paris, France, to continue the process of postal reform at the international level.

Further attempts to improve the international postal service on the basis of bilateral agreements during the rest of the 1 860s could not keep pace with rapid technological, economic, commercial and cultural developments.

Heinrich Von Stephan, a senior postal official from the North German Confederation, then drew up a plan for an International Postal Union.

At his suggestion, the Swiss Government convened in Berne, from 15 September 1874, a conference which was attended by representatives from twenty two nations. On 9 October, a day now celebrated throughout the world as World Post Day, the Treaty of Berne establishing the General Postal Union was signed.

Membership in the Union grew so quickly that the name was changed in 1878 to ‘Universal Postal Union. The Treaty of Berne succeeded in unifying a conflicting international maze of postal services and regulations into a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange of letter post items.

It reduced the multitude of rates for mail between the twenty two countries which met in Berne to a single rate for all. Within the single territory, the principle of freedom of transit for letter post items was also guaranteed by all parties.

The barriers and frontiers which had impeded the free flow and growth of international mail had finally been pulled down. Today, by virtue of its mission to promote and develop Communication between the people of the world, the UPU is called upon to play an important leadership role in (promoting the continued revitalization of postal services.

UPU AS A SINGLE UN SPECIALISED AGENCY

The UPU became a specialized agency of the United Nations on 1 July 1948. Since then, its relations and active cooperation with other International bodies have grown and intensified.

UNION BODIES

The Universal Postal Congress, which brings together plenipotentiaries of all member countries, is the supreme authority of the Union and meets, in principle, every five years.

One of the major accomplishments of Congress held since the first Berne Congress in 1874 has been to allow UPU member countries to develop and integrate new products and services into the international postal network.

The Council of Administration (CA) consists of a Chairman and 40 member countries and meets in principle each year at UPU headquarters in Berne. It ensures the continuity of the Union’s work between Congresses, supervises Union activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues of interest to the Union.

THE POSTAL OPERATIONS COUNCIL (POO) is the technical and operational body of UPU and consists of 40 elected member countries. It deals with the operational, economic and commercial aspects of international postal services. At its first meeting after each Congress, the POC revises the Detailed Regulations It promotes the introduction of new postal Products by collecting, analyzing and publicizing the results of experiments with new products undertaken by some postal services.

THE INTERNATIONAL BUREAU established by the Treaty of Berne in 1874, is located in Berne and provides Secretariat and support facilities for the UPU’ s bodies. It serves as an organ of liaison, in formation and consultation and promotes technical cooperation among Union members.

It also acts as a clearing house for the settlement of accounts between postal administrations for inter administration charges related to the exchange of postal items and international reply coupons.

The principle of technical cooperation was first introduced into the UPU Constitution at the 1964 Vienna Congress, resulting from the need to provide assistance to the many newly formed countries that had become members of the UPU during the early 1 960s.

Funding for these activities typically came from the UNDP or other international development agencies or was given on a bilateral basis.

Now, however, the major portion of funding for technical cooperation activities comes from the contributions that member countries make to the UPU budget or to a special voluntary fund. One of the principal goals of the Postal Development Action Group (PDAG), a special working group set up within the UPU, is to increase the level of outside financial resources devoted to the reform and modernization of postal services.

Through its efforts, international financial institutions are increasingly aware of the need for investment in the postal sector.

With the rapid growth of competition, alternative forms of Communication and higher customer expectations, they are under constant pressure to make further improvements in the quality of their postal products. With this in mind, each Congress since 1984 has adopted a policy aimed at reinforcing the quality of the International Postal Service.

As updated by the 1994 Seoul Congress, the UPU’s quality of service activities include updating and implementing quality of service standards based on customer needs and expectations monitoring on a permanent basis the quality of mail transportation on a worldwide scale and the effectiveness of the world postal network organizing and promoting field missions aimed at improving quality of service setting up an information and assistance help desk at the International Bureau.

As a way of spreading the use of advanced information technology systems to the postal services of developing countries, the UPU has undertaken a global Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) project.

Through the development of computer applications that facilitate international mail processing and allow the exchange of electronic data with one another, postal services now have the ability to track mail shipments from end to end and to provide customers with tracking information on time certain products like EMS.

PHILATELY

There are today a countless number of collectors of postage stamps. However, UPU Congress have set down from time to time guidelines and recommended postage stamp themes that are likely to contribute in a general way to strengthening the bonds of international friendship. Toward this end, the 1989 Washington Congress adopted recommendations regarding a “Philatelic code of ethics for use by UPU member countries”.

The UPU has also undertaken a number of activities designed to promote philately and has established a contact Committee with the major philatelic associations. The United Nations postal administration, created in 1951, regularly issues postage stamps from New York, Geneva and Vienna on behalf of the United Nations.

SECURITY

Both the 1989 Washington and the 1994 Seoul Congress recognized the vital importance of Security as a key factor of success for today’s postal business, Indeed, Postal Security ranks high among the Union’s priorities as part of a global effort to help postal services improve their image, enhance their quality of service and protect their revenue.

In this regard, a special group, the Postal Security Action Group (PSAG), has laid out an intensive work programme up to the end of the 20th century.

CUSTOMER FOCUS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT

As part of the UPU’s objective of promoting closer ties to postal customers, greater emphasis is now being placed on cooperation with organizations representing some of the major users of international postal services.

Working toward this goal, contact Committees have been established with representatives of the publishing industry and with several Philatelic associations. At the first annual UPU “Customer’s Day” held during the 1996 P00, the doors of the International Bureau were opened to postal customers in order to listen first hand to their concerns regarding the improvement of international postal services.

The UPU has also undertaken a unique project aimed at stimulating the development and growth of direct mail-advertising mail and order fulfillment service throughout the world.

To commemorate 125th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of denomination of Rs 10 on October 9,1999.

10th Asian Optimist Sailing Championship. (1999-12)

 

The first Optimist was built in 1948 and was soon a popular youth boat in and around Clearwater and St. Petersburg. For some time, it was only known in that area.

The turning point for the Optimist class came in 1954 when Axel Damagaard, skipper of a Danish three masted tall ship, saw an Optimist while his ship was visiting the United States. When he returned to Denmark Axel promoted the design.

The Optimist soon became very popular throughout Scandinavia where it was renamed the International Optimist Dinghy-its official name today.

The IDA spread throughout Europe in the 1960’s. In 1962, the first World Championship were held, at Humble in the UK in 1965, seven nations got together and formed the IODA (International Optimist Dinghy Association).

In 1973, the class received International status from the sailing world’s governing body, the International Yacht Racing Union (now ISAF). During the 1 970s the popularity of the Optimist spread to Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Today, the Optimist is the World’s largest and fastest growing-sailing class, bigger than lasers, Hobbies, Sunfish, or any other One-design. While many boats Claim “International” in their title, there is none which is sailed in more countries. The Optimist may be the World’s only true “International” Dinghy.

The International Optimist is the only dinghy recognised by International Sailing Federation for young people under 16 years of age. It is sailed by over 200,000 people worldwide, including most future competitors at the Olympic Games.

The 10th Asian Championship in Karachi is an important contribution to the rapid development of the Optimist in Asia. In 1998 Asian sailors won their first ever medals at the World Championship, winning gold, silver and bronze.

Both the two previous Optimist philatelic issues, in 1995 (Aaland Islands, Finland) and 1997 (United Kingdom), were a great success.

In Pakistan, 10th Asian Optimist Sailing Championship is being held from 30th September to 7th October, 99 at marina Club Karachi.

Courtesy: Pakistan Optimist Sailing Association (POSA).

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing one commemorative postage stamp of Rs 2 denomination on October 7,1999.

9th Asian Sailing Championship. (1999-11)

As early as 1980 Asian countries planned to have regional sailing championships. Initially these championships were called Asian Regattas. To make common public understand the sailing was added instead of Regatta. As per the rules of Asian Sailing Championship it is held every alternate year.

Pakistan sailors have dominated in Enterprise class ever since 1978 when they won the first Gold medal. Later our sailors also excelled in other classes too.

It is interesting to note that 5 major international classes are extensively sailed in Pakistan and these are Enterprise, 470, Laser, Mistral and Optimist, Each boat is different from other and although basics are same, however, while racing each boat requires different expertise and handling. A brief detail is enumerated below.

a) ENTERPRISE It is a British design boat which is famous for having Blue sails. Two persons are required to sail the boat. In Pakistan since our sailors have won 4 Gold and 2 Silver Medals in last 6 consecutive Asian Games, the class is very popular and has attained a status of National class.

b) 470A French boat which is 470CM long. It has 3 sails and require 2 persons to sail it. It is an Olympic class as well and come in the category of High performance dinghy. In Pakistan many clubs are Using this boat for experienced sailors.

c) LASER Laser is a single handed boat, It is also a British boat and requires a strong person to as it is very tough to handle during in strong breeze. Laser is also an Olympic class and in Pakistan it is very popular class. Pakistani sailors have participated in this class in many Asian Championships.

d) MISTRAL Yet another Olympic class which is extremely difficult to handle. The boat comes under the category of surfing boards. In Pakistan this class is quite popular and competed at National and International level.

e) OPTIMIST A pram of sailing which is an international boat and the most popular class amongst children. The class was started as early as 1988 by Pakistan Sailing Federation and soon due to its popularity it has gained a Status that no club is complete without Optimist. This is a boat for children under 15 years of age. In addition to Asian, Games Optimist boat is also sailed in regional and World Championships.

In Pakistan, Asian Championship is being held from 24 - 30 September at Beach View Club, Karachi. This is the 9th issue of Asian event which is the biggest sailing event in the history of Pakistan. The previous history is as under.

1st - 1981 - India

2nd - 1983 - Japan

3rd - 1985 - South Korea

4th - 1987 - Indonesia

5th - 1989 - China

6th - 1991 - Hong Kong

7th - 1983 - Japan

8th - 1995 - Singapore

9th - 1999 - Pakistan

The 9th issue was originally scheduled in 1997 in Thailand, which could not be held it.

Therefore now Pakistan is hosting this mega sailing event. Pakistan made this bid in 1996 during AYF meeting held and was formally confirmed last year on 11 Dec 98 during AYF meeting at Thailand.

Courtesy: Pakistan Sailing Federation.

To commemorate the occasion Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 5 commemorative postage stamps of Rs 2 denomination each on September 28,1999.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations Of The Founding Of The People's Republic Of China. (1999-10)

 

The year 1999 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (1 949-1999). This event is all the more important for the Chinese nation as the whole mankind is on the verge of entering the 21st century.

People’s Republic of China appeared on the map of the world on October 1, 1949, which was the culmination of the glorious struggle of the Chinese people started from the democratic Revolution of 1911 led by Dr. Sun Yat Sen who inspired the resurgence of China.

The Chinese people suffered greatly for more than a century but they never compromised with the status quo and relentlessly struggled against the forces of exploitation. Eventually, they came out victorious under the dynamic leadership of Mao Zedong.

On October 1, 1949, some 300,000 people gathered at the Tian’anmen square in Beijing and Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People’s Government proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The national flag of China is red in colour which symbolizes Revolution, the five stars on the flag symbolize the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the communist party of china (CPC).

The national emblem of China is ‘Tian’ an men in the center illuminated by five stars and encircled by ears of grain and a cogwheel. Tian’anmen symbolizes the Chinese nation and the ears of grain and the cogwheel represent the working class and peasantry.

After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong and Chou En Lai played a vital role not only to strengthen the roots of the Communist Party of China but also to improve the economic lot of the Chinese people.

Chou En Lai was the chief architect of New China’s foreign policy and led the country with remarkable dexterity and talent, Henry Kissinger described Chou En Lai as “the greatest statesman of our era”.

He was a man of remarkable vision. After gaining for China its rightful place in the UN Security Council in 1971, Chou En Lai recorded yet an other major diplomatic success when in early 1972, he received US President Richard Nixon in Beijing.

The visit led to normalization of relations between China and the United States of America. In this historic reconciliation, Pakistan served as a bridge between the two great nations of the world.

After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976, Deng Xiao Ping guided the country and embarked upon a programme of modernization, with economic reconstruction as its priority task.

Deng Xiao Ping was the chief architect of China’s Reform and the opening up drive (1978) to the outside world. Today, the People’s Republic of China is an emerging economic giant in Asia.

Since 1980, China has established special economic zones in Guandong, Fujian and the province of Hainan. In 1984, China opened 14 coastal cities to overseas investment. In 1990, the Chinese government decided to open the Pudong New Zone in Shanghai to overseas investment, which has now become an international economic center.

On July 1,1997, People’s Republic of China resumed its sovereignty over Hong Kong and proclaimed it a Special Administrative Region under the principle of “ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS”. People’s Republic of China will resume her sovereignty over Macao on 20th December 1999.

Pak-China friendship is unique in the history of the world. Pakistan was one of the first countries, which accorded recognition to People’s Republic of China. The government of Liaquat Au khan vigorously supported the cause of China in the United Nations.

Formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China were established on May21, 1951.

Pakistan and China have maintained extremely cordial relations during the last five decades.

China has always extended full co-operation to Pakistan in its developmental projects in agriculture, energy, industry, defence and tele-communications. This is considered a model relationship among two neighboring countries of the Third World.

With the rapidly growing closer relations between the two countries, the exchange of cultural and trade delegations has become more frequent. China fully supports Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir. Likewise, Pakistan has always subscribed to the idea of “One China” policy.

People’s Republic of China is destined to become more vigorous and achieve even greater successes in the next century. It is hoped that bilateral relations between Pakistan and China will further strengthen in the next millennium.

LONG LIVE PAK-CHINA FRIENDSHIP

To commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations Pakistan Post Office is issuing a set of 2 commemorative postage stamps of denomination of Rs 2 and Rs 15 on September 21, 1999.