RECIPIENT OF SITARA-E-JURAT AIR COMMODORE (R) M. M. ALAM SJ (with bar) MARCH 20, 2014 (2014-02)

The chronicles on the World's Aviation Hall of Fame and the accomplishments of Pakistan Air Force will remain incomplete without mentioning of Air Commodore (Retd) Muhammad Mahmood Alam (Late), popularly known as "M. M. Alam"- A daring fighter pilot, Top Gun of his own class, war hero, a committed professional, scholar par excellence, a patriotic Pakistani and, an icon and a role model not only for the PAF airmen but for aviators across the globe.

M. M. Alam, nick named as Little Dragon, was born on 06 July 1935 in a well-educated family of Calcutta, then in British India. At that time his father, Muhammad Masood Alam, a senior Civil Servant was posted in the province of Bihar. Alam was the eldest amongst five brothers and six sisters - a family which has the distinct honour of producing four PhDs (three brothers and one sister) for Pakistan. In 1971, after emergence of Bangladesh, despite his family was settled there, Alam decided to settle in Pakistan which is a manifestation of his profound patriotism and loyalty to Pakistan. The family ultimately migrated to Pakistan after 1971, when Alam was a Wing Commander and posted at Air Headquarters.

Like any youth, joining the Armed Forces of Pakistan to attain martyrdom was Alam's passion. His desire found its way forward through "Shaheen Air Scouts" established by former Royal Pakistan Air Force Chief, the late Air Vice Marshal Atcherly in 1950s with the objective to inspire and motivate young students to join RPAF. After completing secondary education from Government High School, Dhaka, in 1951, M. M. Alam joined RPAF in 1952 and was granted commission on 2nd of October, 1953.

In 1954, Pilot Officer M. M. Alam started his career as a Squadron Pilot in No. 9 and then in No. 14 Squadrons flying the best aircraft then available with RPAF. Today, these squadrons take great pride in being associated with M. M. Alam.

In 1963, he was appointed as Air Gunnery & Tactical Instructor at Fighter Leader School. Later on, M. M. Alam commanded No. 11. No. 5 and No. 26 Squadrons of PAF. At Air Headquarters some of his prestigious appointments were Director Operation Research. Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Flight Safety) and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans). He also remained on deputation in Syria.

Year 1965 was unquestionably the peak point of the Pakistan Air Force's history as it brought into focus the fundamental character of this relentless Air Force when faced, for the first time, with a full scale confrontation with its number one enemy, the Indian Air Force. During this aerial battle, Squadron Leader M. M. Alam, who was Commanding No. 11 Squadron at Sargodha, emerged as Pakistan's top-scoring fighter ace. On 7th September 1965, Alam shot down 05 Hawker Hunter Fighters of Indian Air Force, in air-to-air combat. On that Alam's day, in less than sixty seconds, the first four metallic birds were made rubbles within a span of 30 seconds only. His feat is still an unbroken world record and a dream for any claimant of Top Gun. Amazing it was, indeed, for many that how Squadron Leader Alam did that. Alam had an answer for this, and he said: "We were fighting with a passion founded on faith..... (Battle for Pakistan By John Friker p. 20). For his exceptional flying skills and valour, he was awarded Sitarai Juraat and Bar'. The Govt of Pakistan also paid him a befitting tribute by naming one of the prominent roads in Gulberg, Lahore after this living legend's name.

During 1971 Indo-Pak war, Wing Commander M. M. Alam was assigned the important duty of planning strategic aerial strikes on enemy's assets and supporting the friendly forces. He was one of the masterminds, planning strikes on ground. Very few know that his name was often used by his junior PAF pilots using his call sign while impersonating as if "Alam is actually" in Air, resultantly winning the half of the likely Air Battle before it actually took place.

In 80's, M. M. Alam being a member of the PAF selection team that visited different countries selected American F-16s to meet PAF's future requirements. It was certainly Alam's foresight and wisdom that till date the F-16s are a terror in the sky for the enemy and a source of pride for every Pakistani.

In 1982, "the man who married the sky", retired from Pakistan Air Force as an Air Commodore and took up residence in Karachi Alam led a simple life with little more than a pile of books stacked around him. It is believed that Alam not only advised and inspired the Afghan Mujahideen in their operations against the Soviet invasion but also gave all his savings in the cause of Jihad

National heroes like Air Commodore M. M. Alam (Retd) are a source of inspiration for the posterity. He was an individual who drew strength from his Faith in Almighty Allah and proved himself worthy of the revered greatness which very few achieve in their life. He will always remain alive in the hearts of the nation. His deeds conveyed the massage that the ultimate aim of life is to fulfil our duty towards the Supreme Power, Allah, and our fellow beings.

To commemorate the recipient of Sitara-e-Jurat Air Commodore (R) M. M. Alam SJ (with bar), Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination on March 20, 2014.

MEN OF LETTERS SERIES HABIB JALIB (1928-1993) MARCH 12, 2014 (2014-01)

Habib Jalib (Real name: Habib Ahmed) was a renowned revolutionary poet of Pakistan who, throughout of his life, resisted against tyranny and injustice in his poetry. He was a political activist and a staunch democrat too.

He was born on March 24, 1928 in District Hoshiarpur, East Punjab, India. His father's name was Sufi Inayat Ullah Khan. He got early education in Miani Afghana (his native town) and Delhi. After partition, Habib Jalib migrated to Pakistan and got admission in Government High School, Jacob Lines Karachi. In Karachi, he started working as a proof reader in daily "Imroz".

Habib Jalib started poetry in 1942. In the beginning, his poetry was dominated by sentiments of romance and admirations for the natural landscape. But gradually, bitterness crept in his poetry in response of social injustice, tyranny and other irritating factors. As a poet, he showed equal command on 'Ghazal' and 'Nazm', Jalib adopted simple style and diction in his poetry and focused common people and their issues.

He believed in freedom of individuals. His poetry reflects his love for mankind and sympathy for his countrymen. He was quite sensitive to his fellow beings and their grief and miseries were very ably reflected in his poetry.

His first collection of poetry, "Barg-e-Awara", was published in 1957 in which the tone of his ghazal was mild but, with the passage of time, it had gone vociferous.

His distinct, lively and lyrical style of recitation of poetry became very popular with the people. He was able to stir the audience with the emotional waves generated by his words and style of recitation. Gradually, he started to be recognized as 'Shaayer-e-Awaam' (Poet of masses).

He was imprisoned many times due to his criticism on policies of different governments, but he never compromised on his principles.

In poetry, some of his magnum opus are "Musheer", "Dastoor", Raqs Zanjeer Pehen Kar", "Main ne Us se", 'Awaaz-e-Dost', "Maan kay paon talay jannat hai", "Farangi ka Jo May Darban Hota", "Main ne us se ye kaha", "Aye moon yahaan na nikla kar", etc.

Some of his popular verses are:

1. "This is the reward of the beauty of pride, wherever you go, you steal the past"

2. "I don't like such a dastoor, morning dawn, I don't know it"

3. "Hey moon, don't come out from here and see dreams without name..."

Habib Jalib also wrote songs for the film industry of Pakistan. Some of the renowned movies for which he wrote songs were "Bharosa", "Do Raasay", "Musiqaar", "Zarqa", "Samaaj", "Naag Muni", "Maan, Bahu Aur Beta" and "Ye Aman"

He died on March 12, 1993 at Lahore.

On 23 March 2009, President of Pakistan gave the highest civil award to Habib Jalib, after his death, which was received by his daughter.

Books of Habib Jalib:

Ø  Barg-e-Awara

Ø  Sir-e-Maqtal

Ø  Ahd-e-Sitam

Ø  Mention of the flowing blood

Ø  Goshay main frame kay

Ø  Ahd-e-Saza

Ø  Harf-e-Haq

Ø  Is shehar-e-kharabi main

Ø  Jalib Name

Ø  Harf-e-Sar-e-Daar

Ø  "Kuliyaat-e-Habib Jalib" was published after his death.

The list of books written on Habib Jalib:

Ø  Someone please come out with a lamp (Mujahib Barelvi)

Ø  Beyaad-e-Jalib ((Mujahib Barelvi)

Ø  Habib Jalib - Fan and power (Nand Kishor Vikram, published from Delhi)

Ø  Jalib Beeti (Jang publishers)

Ø  Click Download to save Beesvin Sadi Ka Awami Shair mp3 youtube com

Ø  Jalib Jalib (Jamal Ehsaani)

Ø  Jalib, Insaaf Ka Taalib (Zia Sajid)

Ø  Testimony of Habib Jalib's house (Saeed Pervez)

Ø  Habib Jalib - Shair-e-Shola Nava (Saeed Pervez)

Ø  Memoir of Pakistani Etiquette Habib Jalib Fan and Person (Saeed Pervez)

Ø  Habib Jalib I am in deep sleep (Saeed Pervez)

Ø  Habib Jalib - Roodad-e-Wafa (Nasir Jalib)

On Men of Letters Series Habib Jalib Pakistan Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.15/- denomination on March 12, 2014

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.

CHILD ART COMPETITION STAMPS NATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION 'PAKISTAN 2016' KARACHI. December 30, 2016 (2016-15)

The basic concept behind the 'Child art' is to bring out the creativity in the young and express their ideas to the world. To encourage and promote this art on spot painting/ drawing competition in 2 hours' time during Stamp Exhibition, and to achieve a milestone in the world of Philately, Pakistan Post is issuing a special souvenir sheet of postage stamp depicting "Art Work" by the children, designs of which are taken from the "Stamp Drawing competition" held by Stamp Society of Pakistan Joined by Pakistan Post as a live event during the annual National Stamp Exhibition.

The Stamp Society of Pakistan has organized various National Stamp Exhibition and Stamp Drawing Competition jointly sponsored by Dawn Media Group, Philatelic Federation of Pakistan and Pakistan Post Office based on FIAP rules at Expo Centre, Karachi. During the last nine years, this was held under the banner of "Life Style Exhibition" organized by Dawn Media Group.

The Stamp Society of Pakistan is among the pioneering Stamp Society with over 150 members and has been proactive in disseminating knowledge and awareness through regular exhibitions. In collaboration with the Dawn Lifestyle and the patronage of Philatelic Federation of Pakistan, the exhibitions have been popular. A number of new stamp collector got rejuvenated as collectors and some also participated in the Asian and International exhibitions after due accredition and judging at Expo Centre, Karachi over the last two decades.

The Pakistan Post, Dawn Media Group, Stamp Society of Pakistan and Philatelic Federation of Pakistan made it possible to print the country's first ever stamp design which was selected through the LIVE Stamp Drawing competition in 2010,2011 and 2012 in Sheet of Eight. These stamps depict drawings of previous year young winners and issued on the First Day of the Exhibition.

This Youth Painting Competition is divided in two age groups. Group "A" for children from 4 to 10 years old and group "B" from 11 to 17 years. The competition is announced in the news papers, and large number of children from all major schools of Karachi / Sindh participate in the competition along their teachers and parents. Participation and intrest of children has increased each year and we have now seen entries from all over Pakistan. The children have portrayed the given topics on their paintings in a very creative manner which are judged by Mr. Adil Salahuddin, (Sitara-e-Imtiaz), Senior Officials of Pakistan Post, every year and four awards are give in each age group

Children not only draw from life, but also portray what is happening arround them. They also become more aware of the current situations of the country, which they try to depict in their paintings. It's a real treat to see the excitement and intrest of the children and a strong desire to draw better than other participants in just two hours.

A set of eight stamps with two labels in the center are being issued from the selected paintings by the following young artists. These drawings have been taken from the past competitions (years).

This is the fourth time that the paintings selected from Live Stamp Drawing Competitions are depicted on stamps and fifth time for the Child Art. This effort by the organizers and Pakistan Post has encouraged the youth and opened the doorway to young artists in the country. One day they will also become serious Philatelists.

Please find below the names of the Winners of Child Art Competition

1.       Maryam Abdul Raheem                                Age: 8 Years       School: Bright Future School

2.       Aqsa Qadoos     Age: 7 years      Beacon House DHA Campus, Karachi

3.       Marius Bano      Age: 13 years     Mama Parsi Girls Secondary School Karachi.

4.       Mr. Anique Azam            Age: 13 Years     Institute for learning & Development

5.       Ali Muhammad Nizar Premji      Age: 9 Years       School: Foundation Public School

6.       Hajira Azim Age: 9 Years

This is a combined team work of Pakistan Post, Mr. Adil Salahuddin, the Organizers Mr. Iqbal Nanjee (Chairman of Organizing Committee & President), Engr. Afzal Nanjee, Mr. Usman Tahir of Stamp Society of Pakistan, and the Officials of Philatelic Federation who took keen interest in organizing the events for the Philatelic World.

On Child Art Competition, a Special Postage Stamp of Rs.8/- (Set of 8) denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on December 30, 2016.

DINSHAW BYRAMJI AVARI PHILANTHROPIST (1902-1988) December 18, 2016 (2016-14)

Born on 22nd August 1902, in a humble family, Mr. Dinshaw Byramji Avari studied in an orphanage as his mother had passed away and his father had to work during the day. He passed his Matriculation exam studing on the light of a candle and passed his B.Com studing on the light of a hurricane lantern and became the first person of his village to have become a B.com graduate. He paid for his college education by giving tutions. He then joined the Sunlife Insurance Company of Canada working as a clerk while at the same time working as an Insurance Agent.

His determination to succeed was exemplified by becoming the highest selling insurance agent of his territory, while simultaneously holding a day job with the same company. This showed his perseverance which resulted in his being appointed as Manager of Sunlife for Karachi and with record business having been achieved, he became General Manager for Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP Punjab and Afghanistan.

An additional accomplishment was his becoming the first Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) in Asia.

When he could no longer progress, being Asian, he switched careers to become a hotelier, investing his savings and borrowing the rest to purchase Bristol Hotel Karachi, on the condition that he and his wife Khorshed be trained in the business. This remarkable ability of changing course at age 42 to learn a new trade is a lesson in adapting to changing times and multifarious circumstances. Proving there is no substitute for hard work, he was at the Empress market in Karachi daily at 4:00am, virtually forcing the hotel venture successfull through sheer force of will, sweat and industry.

Within a few years, realizing the scope for first class hotels he built Beach Luxury Hotel Karachi, in barren, marshy grounds. The first Governor of Sindh Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, told Khorshed that Dinshawji needed his head examined for building a hotel in such a locality. However the move was a huge success and from 35 rooms the hotel grew to 150 rooms, with banquet halls, swimming pool and other luxuries unknown in Pakistan. He proved wrong his friend the Governor and all who laughed at him for investing in this venture, while being responsible to turn around this marshy land into an elite locality known as New Queens Road (now M.T. Khan Road), which is today the prime area of Karachi.

The highly dynamic Dinshawji, brought many firsts to Pakistan. He introduced buffets which we take for granted today, but at the time was criticized for treating guest like dogs, making them stand and eat. He introduced Chinese food, Lebanese Shawarma, the subcontinent's first Japanese restaurant, and hotel swimming pools. This innovativeness manifested itself many times in business, social community work.

While still building a business Dinshawji was deeply involved with social causes, like the war effort, he was decorated by the British Government, a founding member of Rotary and trustee of many Parsi trusts including Karachi Parsi Anjuman. Apart from numerous other social activities, he was also:-

1. Trustee BVS Boys & Mama Parsi Girls schools, and BMH Parsi Hospital

2. Deaf & Dumb Center - founder and president

3. Pakistan Sea Scouts founder member

4. Member Society for prevantion of Cruetly to Animals

5. Hotels Association of Pakistan - founder president

6. Member Sind Red Cross / Red Crescent Society

Having gained experience of hotels, and even operated Pines Hotel Nathiagali for a few years, he purchased Nedous Hotel Lahore, renaming it Park Luxury. Subsequently, he built the 5 Star international standard hotel on this site and opened the Lahore Hilton in January 1978, dedicated to his late wife Khorshed, who passed away the previous year. It was renamed Avari Lahore in 1988.

Anecdotally, the president of Hilton reffered to Dinshawji as "not a very young man who is most dynamic and young in spirit, thoughts and ideas". This attribute to his dynamic, young thinking spirit spoke volumes for his attitude to life, ability to clinch new ideas, and openness to listen to all as he believed everyone has something to contribute.

Believing in the Zoroastrian motto "content with what I have but discontented with what I am", he planned the tallest, grandest Karachi hotel. During construction, problems of Rupee devaluation, cement & steel shortages contractual problems and floods were overcome with his determination and wisdom and Avari Towers opened in April 1985. As hotel accommodation was declining at this time, he wisely developed plazas at the hotels to provide quality office space, providing steady income.

Being a self made man he never forgot the down-trodden and poor. His doors were open to all 24 hours a day. His motto was to trust everyone at face value unless they proved him otherwise. With these principles his strength gave strength to others and his love and kindness have been felt by all and sundry.

He passed away on December 18, 1988. However his legacy continues to this day his principles and philosphy institutionalized forming the foundations of the Avari family and Group.

On Death Anniversary Dinshaw Byramji Avari (Philanthropist), a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs.8/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on December 18, 2016.