International Breast Cancer Awareness (Pinktober) October 14th, 2025 (2025-21)

Breast Cancer Awareness and Control:- Breast cancer has become one of the most pressing public health challenges in Pakistan. Current statistics highlight the scale of the problem: one out of every nine women in Pakistan is at risk of developing breast cancer; nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year; and approximately 40,000 women lose their lives annually. With the highest incidence rate across Asia, Pakistan carries an alarming disease burden, where almost 70% of patients reach hospitals at stage III, when survival chances are minimal.

Scientific evidence underscores that if breast cancer is detected at an early stage, survival rates can reach up to 90%. This makes prevention, awareness, and early detection the most powerful tools available to counter the crisis. Recognizing this, the Government of Pakistan has progressively aligned its health policies to incorporate breast cancer as a national priority.

Government's Recognition and Policy Integration:- Over the past two decades, sustained advocacy and community awareness have brought breast cancer out of the shadows of taboo into the national health agenda. This transition is significant, as it reflects a policy shift where breast cancer is no longer treated merely as a private medical concern, but as a systemic challenge requiring government-led solutions.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, in consultation with provincial health departments, has taken steps to integrate cancer prevention and treatment into the broader primary and secondary healthcare framework. Initiatives such as mobile screening units, early detection awareness campaigns, and inclusion of breast health in women's primary healthcare consultations mark the beginning of a more structured national response.

1. Strategic Interventions

Ø  National Screening and Early Detection Expansion of mammography and diagnostic services through public hospitals.

Ø  Integration of breast examination and awareness into Lady Health Worker (LHW) programmes to ensure outreach to rural and underserved communities.

Ø  Establishment of clear referral pathways from primary to tertiary healthcare facilities.

2. Awareness Campaigns

Ø  Launch of sustained, nationwide public awareness drives highlighting the importance of self-examination and early medical consultation.

Ø  Leveraging national media platforms, including radio, television, and digital media, to ensure consistent messaging across all provinces and regions.

Ø  Engagement of schools, universities, and workplaces to instill awareness in younger demographics, thereby creating generational change in health-seeking behaviors.

3. Capacity Building

Ø  Training of doctors, nurses, and paramedics in specialized oncology care, counselling, and palliative support.

Ø  Development of specialized units in teaching hospitals dedicated to breast health and oncology.

Ø  Inclusion of mental health support and counselling services within treatment protocols to address the emotional impact on patients and families.

4. Infrastructure Development

Ø  Strengthening oncology departments in tertiary care hospitals across provinces.

Ø  Establishment of dedicated breast cancer facilities in regional hubs to reduce travel and financial burden on patients.

Ø  Long-term plans to build specialized centers of excellence in collaboration with medical universities and research institutions.

Role of Civil Society:- While government policy remains the backbone of national response, civil society initiatives have played a valuable supporting role. Organizations such as Pink Ribbon have, over the years, contributed to breaking the silence surrounding breast cancer, raising awareness, and facilitating patient support programmes. Their work complements state initiatives and underscores the importance of consistent advocacy in sustaining national attention on this issue.

Annual Observance and Awareness Mobilization:- The observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Pinktober) provides an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders around a unified national campaign. Under government leadership, Pinktober is increasingly being recognized as a national health observance, ensuring visibility at the highest levels of state. Official endorsements, public service messaging, and national-level events contribute to making breast cancer awareness part of public discourse.

This observance also reinforces the need for year-round action. Awareness must not be limited to one month in the calendar; instead, Pinktober should act as a launchpad for continuous, sustainable interventions across all provinces and communities.

Challenges and Way Forward:- Despite progress, Pakistan continues to face challenges:

Ø  Late Detection: A large majority of women report symptoms at advanced stages due to stigma, lack of knowledge, or poor access to healthcare.

Ø  Geographic Disparities: Rural populations remain underserved, with screening and diagnostic services concentrated in urban centers.

Ø  Financial Barriers: High costs of treatment make it inaccessible to lower-income groups, necessitating expansion of free or subsidized care.

Ø  Cultural Barriers: Social taboos and misconceptions about breast health continue to discourage open conversations and timely medical intervention.

To address these, a stronger, government-led national response is required. The way forward should emphasize:

Ø  Institutionalizing breast cancer screening and awareness in all public health facilities.

Ø  Ensuring budgetary allocations within federal and provincial health strategies dedicated specifically to breast cancer control.

Ø  Expanding public-sector treatment facilities with subsidized or free services for low-income patients.

Ø  Engaging educational institutions for youth-focused awareness programmes.

Ø  Establishing a robust data collection and cancer registry system to guide evidence-based policymaking.

Conclusion:- Breast cancer is both preventable and treatable, provided it is addressed with urgency and coordinated policy. Pakistan has made significant strides in acknowledging it as a national priority, but the challenge requires sustained action. Government leadership, institutional support, and continuous awareness are, the pillars upon which success depends.

The focus must remain clear: every woman in Pakistan deserves access to knowledge, screening, and treatment that can save her life. By placing breast cancer firmly within the national health agenda and ensuring implementation of structured interventions, Pakistan can move toward reducing mortality, improving survival rates, and ultimately transforming breast cancer from a fatal disease into a manageable health condition.

On International Breast Cancer Awareness Month (#Pinktober), Pakistan Post is issuing the Commemorative Postage Stamp and Souvenir Sheet of denomination Rs. 30/-on October 14th, 2025.

World Dyslexia Awareness Day. October 8th, 2025 (2025-20)

Dyslexia is a learning disability in reading affecting kids and adults alike. People with Dyslexia have trouble reading at a good pace and without mistakes. They may also have a hard time with reading comprehension, spelling, writing and at times sequential memory. It is estimated that Dyslexia is estimated to have a prevalence of 5% to 17% among school-age children. Children with Dyslexia have difficulty in learning to read as they mix letters and remember spellings. Dyslexia is caused by differences in the way the brain processes language, making it harder to connect letters with sounds and recognize words automatically. It does not result from vision or hearing problems. Also, it is not due to mental retardation, brain damage, or a lack of intelligence. It has to be understood that Dyslexia is not a mental disorder and has nothing to do with the IQ of the individual.

In 1877, German neurologist Adolf Kussmaul was the first to identify a phenomenon which he named Wortblindheit (word-blindness). 10 years later, Rudolf Berlin, a German ophthalmologist coined the term "Dyslexia" which has Greek roots for "difficulty with words". Over the years, countless studies have researched Dyslexia, concluding it is not a disability at all, but those with it think differently. In 2002, MRIs done by professionals at Yale University found that the brains of people with Dyslexia worked differently as compared to ordinary people. Many individuals with Dyslexia are also highly creative and great at thinking outside the box.

It is important to remember that diagnosis of Dyslexia is just not the end of the academic road of an individual. Every Dyslexic individual sees and learns about the world from a different perspective. Historians feel it's possible that many major figures from the past had learning and thinking differences. However, it's hard to know for sure about people who lived 100 years ago or more as there aren't enough records. But here are some accomplished individuals who made a big impact on history, from centuries past to more recent times. They overcame challenges and may inspire our children to do the same.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). As an artist, inventor, scientist, engineer, and writer, Leonardo da Vinci had many talents. He also had interesting habits, like writing backward, spelling strangely, and not following through on projects. Today, we understand that these traits can all be characteristics of Dyslexia and other learning and thinking differences. Whether or not he had Dyslexia, Leonardo used his strengths to earn a place as one of history's greatest geniuses.

Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922). Bell reinvented the field of communications by creating the first telephone. But years earlier, he struggled in school. Even though he was gifted at problem solving, it's thought that he had trouble reading and writing, possibly as a result of Dyslexia. He was eventually homeschooled by his mother. With her help, Bell learned to manage his challenges and he went on to change the world.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931). School didn't come easily for Edison, either. He was considered "difficult". Historians believe he may have had Dyslexia. But his appetite for knowledge was huge. He developed effective ways to study and learn on his own. As a result, Edison's unique way of tackling problems helped him make history. He shaped modern life by inventing the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the light bulb.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955). Einstein was well known for his brilliance in math and physics but he also struggled with language difficulties, leading some people to suggest he may have had Dyslexia. He had extremely delayed speech and didn't speak fluently until he was 6 years old. Einstein also had problems getting his thoughts down, retrieving language and reading out loud, all characteristic signs of Dyslexia. Nobel laureate of 1921 in physics, his contributions in theoretical Physics demonstrated a unique and novel approach to problem solving which is one of the strengths associated with Dyslexia.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). According to many accounts, the world-famous artist may have had Dyslexia. He expressed feelings that many kids who learn and think differently have. "Don't think I didn't try (to learn at school)," he said. "I tried hard. I would start but immediately be lost." Fortunately, his father, an art teacher, encouraged him to develop his artistic talents. His unique vision of the world came through in his powerful works of art. The rest is art history.

Muhammad Ali (1942-2016). One of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali struggled with Dyslexia. He has said he could barely read his high school textbooks. Nonetheless, he managed to graduate. He became an Olympic gold medallist at the age of 18 and he was world heavyweight boxing champion at 22. He is also remembered today for having strong principles. He refused to fight in the Vietnam War, even though this damaged his sports career.

Design Elements

Ø  All the main inscriptions on the stamp have been done using red colour as red is accepted as the colour associated to Dyslexia awareness. The dreaded red, a colour many kids have seen throughout their education has been re-appropriated. The red pen used to highlight mistakes is all too familiar for Dyslexics around the world. Dyslexia Associations have chosen this colour to take back its meaning and globally promote Dyslexia awareness.

Ø  Scrambled text reading "You may find this hard to read. Imagine if everything you read looked like this" and mirror imaged E in Dyslexia on the stamp stimulates the experience of reading with Dyslexia.

Ø  PAKISTAN (in English) has been inscribed in the font created by Daniel Britton, a graphic designer who himself is a Dyslexic. His created typeface removes parts of the alphabets to illustrate the difficulties faced in reading by Dyslexics by breaking down the reading time of a non-dyslexic down to the speed of a Dyslexic by removing around 40% of each letter. This slows down the user's reading experience to the speed of a Dyslexic, thus recreating the frustration and embarrassment of everyday reading of a Dyslexic.

Ø  Dyslexia symbol has been used on the labels and on the postmark for this issue. Formed with the letters pq bd, the symbol is inspired by Dyslexics and how they process information differently in ways that provide advantages in reasoning and understanding relationships.

Ø  The unorthodox First Day Cover is crafted by Youshay, a diagnosed 12-year-old Dyslexic to raise awareness about the topic.

On the occasion of World Dyslexia Awareness Day on 8th October 2025, Pakistan Post is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp and a Souvenir Sheet valued at Rs. 30/- denomination each. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Post is the first postal organization in the World to issue a stamp on Dyslexia Awareness Day.

Commissioning of First Indigenously Constructed F-22P Ship in Pakistan, September 3, 2013 (2013-20)

1. The foundation of Sino-Pak relations was laid six decades ago by our forefathers based on the shared bonds of mutual trust, respect, brotherhood and friendship between the people of two countries. Since then, this relationship has grown deeper and fonder in all spheres of defence, economic and culture; particularly in defence collaboration.

2. In line with Government Policy, Pakistan Navy is actively engaged with Chinese companies for development in various fields. The hallmark of Sino-Pak naval collaboration is construction of state-of-the-art F-22P Frigates with special element of Transfer of Technology (ToT) whose contract was signed on 04 Apr 05. This project included aspects of ship design, construction, test & trials, ammunition and spare support. These Frigates (Sword Class) evolved from the existing design of Chinese Frigates with certain modifications and customization to meet Pakistan Navy's operational requirements.

3. Three ships constructed in China under this project have been inducted in Pakistan Navy. First ship named PNS ZULFIQAUR was commissioned on 29 Jul 09, 2nd ship named PNS SHAMSHEER was commissioned on 19 Dec 09 and 3rd ship named PNS SAIF was commissioned on 15 Sep 10. It was a proud moment for both countries that all three F22P Frigates were delivered as per the schedule. It is a mammoth achievement while looking at the technical complexities of this mega project. This achievement has been made possible through excellent cooperation, immaculate planning, meticulous execution, resolve, dedication and untiring commitment of Pakistani and Chinese authorities for fulfillment of this project.

4. The fourth ship of this class PNS ASLAT is first ever modern frigate constructed indigenously in 65 years history of Pakistan. The project is a leap forward in self-reliance and indigenization of military hardware. This has marked the beginning of modern shipbuilding era that places Pakistan amongst few leading nations in warship building. The frigate project has not only helped in developing human resource but also helped in revitalizing ship building industry of Pakistan.

5. PNS ASLAT, the guided missile frigate is second ship to bear the name "ASLAT". The first ship to named "ASLAT" was Garcia Class frigate (EX-USS O CALLAHAN FF-1501), acquired from the US Navy on 08 February 1989. This frigate remained in active service in Pakistan Navy till June 1993. The name "ASLAT" is derived from an Arabic word and is a type of sword used by Arabs during early days of Islam.

6. On 20 December 2009, the keel of Guided Missile Frigate PNS ASLAT, the fourth ship of Sword Class Frigate was laid in Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW), Pakistan. She was launched on 16 June 2011. On 11 September 2012, the ship sailed into the Arabian Sea on her maiden sea trip for her machinery and propulsion trials. On 02 February 2013, PNS ASLAT successfully completed a series of sea trials spanned over a period of four months. The ship was commissioned on 17 April 2013 and will be inducted in PN Fleet in August 2013.

7. F22P Frigates are specially designed for anti-submarine warfare and can effectively counter air and surface threats as well. These Frigates are also provided with an organic helicopter named Z9EC helicopter, which can also detect and attack enemy submarines independently. Along with long range weapons and sensors, sufficient self defence systems provide these ships the flexibility for operating in multithreat environment while ensuring own safety. These ships have enhanced operational capabilities as well as reach of Pakistan Navy.

8. Following additional benefits have also been accrued from the project:

a. Gaining expertise in large warship construction.

b. Reviving KS&EW and creating job opportunities.

c. Involvement of consortium of local companies.

d. Development of down stream local industry.

e. Enhancement of export potential.

f. Saving of considerable foreign exchange.

9. The F22P ships are fitted with multipurpose state of the art weapons and sensors which make them extremely versatile warships with tremendous fire power. These ships have not only augmented Pakistan Navy's combat potential but have also afforded Pakistan Navy an opportunity to enhance its forward presence in the area of interest, contributing to balance of power in the region.

10. F22P Frigate Project is a hallmark of our successful technological shift from West to East which could only be achieved through intimate teamwork despite language barrier between the two parties. Success of this project has not only enhanced mutual confidence but has also paved way for further strengthening of strategic partnership. F-22P Frigate Project is the manifestation of our everlasting strategic partnership. Pakistan Navy will continue to play its role for taking this mutually rewarding relationship between Pakistan and China to new heights of success in the years to come.

On Commissioning of First indigenously construcred F-22P ship in Pakistan a commemorative postage stamp of Rs.10/-denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on September 3, 2013.

Hazrat Syedna Pir Mehr Ali Shah (R.A) (1859 to 1937) July 20, 2013 (2013-19)

Hazrat Syedna Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golra Sharif holds a prominent position among the eminent scholars of Islam and Pakistan, who, in the wake of the demise of the Muslims, instilled in their hearts the feelings of monotheism, love for the beloved Prophet, acceptable wealth, and adherence to the Shariat of Islam, and paved the way for the establishment of an independent and dignified autonomous Islamic state. He fought every anti-Islamic individual and movement with great courage and perseverance and convinced the people of Islam that the nation of the Prophet Hashemite is special in its composition.

He was the greatest preserver and proponent of the two-nation theory in the Indian subcontinent. Pir Mehar Ali Shah Mohalla, Sadat Qadir of Golz town and tehsil of Pochohar and Rawalpindi district were the eyes and lamps of Gilani. In 1859, when the ominous shadow of British imperialism was gradually enveloping the entire subcontinent, the sun of knowledge and guidance rose in the town of Golra Sharif, under the rule of the Sikhs, whose bright and shining rays spread the light of the true teachings of Roman Islam not only to the subcontinent but also to the entire Arab countries, Turkestan and the African continent.

His early education and training were under the supervision of teachers from Khanqah Khushiya in Golra. Later, he studied under Maulana Muhammad Shafi in Bhoi, Hassan Abdal area and Maulana Hafiz Sultan Mahmud in Anga Sharif, Son Saksar area and left for India to complete his studies in the field of rational sciences. During the Qiyaam Anga Sharif, he accompanied his respected teacher to Sial Sharif, District Sargodha, and also took allegiance from him in the Chishtia Nizamia order. In the Alia Qadri order, he

His father's maternal uncle, Hazrat Pir Syed Fazal Din, also known as Bade Pir Sahib, was already a beneficiary. In India, he first went to Hazrat Maulana Ahmed Hassan Kanpuri, a Muhaddith, but he was about to leave for Hajj, so he was not able to visit him.

After being excused, he went to Aligarh and joined the teachings of Maulana Lutfullah Ali Garhi. He stayed there for two and a half years and completed his religious studies. Later, he visited Maulana Ahmad Ali Saharanpuri to specialize in Hadith. There, he also benefited from the blessings of Hadith and the Sahib of Hadith for about two and a half years. In 187, he obtained the degree of Syed and reached the well-known homeland on the orders of his perfect teacher and continued his teaching and teaching. At the same time, he was satisfied through physical exercises and struggles and his spiritual progress also continued. With the blessings and blessings of his teachers, he was also granted the values ​​of Caliphate and permission.

His residence in Gwara Sharif, his perfect mastery of the rational and the immaterial, and his effective style of eloquence and reasoning in teaching soon made him a source of inspiration. His fame and influence expanded day by day, and in addition to many great scholars and sheikhs, a large number of the common people recognized his excellences, form, and content and became filled with the spirit of eloquence. His most prominent characteristics included his complete knowledge of the true Sharia and the Quran, his compassionate and compassionate attitude towards the rights of God, and his truthfulness and boldness in all situations, whose friends were Friends and foes were also recognized.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was not only a master in external and internal sciences but also held a very prominent position as a eloquent poet, an authentic scholar and a practical scholar and a great thinker and administrator. During his blessed life, he not only neutralized all the anti-Islamic forces but also, through his scholarly knowledge and religious understanding, uprooted those false ideas and ideologies whose aim was to destroy the Islamic nation by changing the intellectual dimension and worldly attitudes of the Wahid Muslim Ummah.

In that era, Islamic principles and teachings were being attacked from all directions without mercy and without mercy. Atheism, naturalism, distortion and discord, denial of Hadith and Quran were being promoted. The established beliefs of Islam were being targeted and the pillars of religion were being used as a training ground by the agents of British imperialism in various guises. The British government, in order to eradicate Islam and Muslims, had used the most effective arrow of its quiver, the denial of the finality of the Prophethood and the creation of a native prophet, in the form of a self-proclaimed prophet, and had understood that now Islamic unity would be shattered and the force that had kept the Islamic world united would be destroyed. In this era, there was a dire need for a mosque, religion and nation to protect and correct the authentic and established beliefs of Islam, which Allah, the Almighty, fulfilled in the form of Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah.

Pir Sahib defeated every anti-Islamic movement and ideology with his divine worthiness, passion for love of Mustafa and the finger of faith, making the truth of other Islamic beliefs clear and strengthened the Islamic nation's faith and belief in the Quran and Sunnah. He stopped the path of distortion in the religion in the name of renewal of religion and reform of beliefs and by beautifully interpreting and explaining Islamic teachings in the light of the Prophet's instructions, he not only stopped the growing storm of atheism but also steadied the wavering steps of the people of Islam with such acceptance that today, almost eighty years after his passing, the infidel powers have not found any refuge to fulfill their evil intentions. Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah's greatest achievement was exposing the false claims of the British self-made false prophet and ending the sedition.

He used to oppose the prophethood. Through his works "Shams-ul-Ilaha", he clarified the lies and slander of Mirza Qadiani and proved the correctness and truthfulness of the true teachings and beliefs of Islam, thus preventing the spread of this fitna not only in the Indian subcontinent but also in the entire Islamic world, which would have further divided the Muslims into merely regional human and national groups instead of members of the Islamic nation. In the 19th century, when the Muslim world had not yet come into existence and when the flag of British tyranny was flying in full glory across the subcontinent,

The country was flourishing with splendor and Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam were still in their student days. Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was the only one who was fully trusted by all the sects and groups of the Islamic nation, namely Sunnis, Shiites, Deobandi, Barelvi, Hadith and Quran. As the unified and most trusted leader of the Islamic nation, he stood in front of a large crowd of scholars, scholars and the public in the Badshahi Mosque of Lahore to refute Mirza Qadiani's claim to prophethood. At that time, if Hazrat Sahib's help had not been grateful, the identity of the Muslims as a nation would have been lost and the struggle for freedom and the achievement of Pakistan would not have been successful in this match, as a result of which the ranks of British imperialism were thrown out of the subcontinent and the establishment of Pakistan was made possible. In this sense, he must be counted among the real founders of Pakistan.

The existence of Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah was a systematic amalgamation of divine blessings, divine harvest and the gifts of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for the Saudi Islamic subcontinent. He was certainly a unique individual who was capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the Caliphate of the Prophet. His works "A'la-e-Kalimath-ul-Allah Takhchi-e-Haqq" Shamsul-Hidayah Saif Chishti, Hadiyat-ur-Rasul, Al-Futuhat-ul-Muhammadiya and Tasfiyya Mabin Sunni Shia, in addition to his collection of letters Maktoobat-e-Mehr, this collection of sayings, Malfuzat-e-Mehriya and various religious and jurisprudential. Selection of Fatwas, Fatadi-e-Mehr, he was still committed to the path of moderation and moderation in accordance with the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for guidance in every aspect of life for the Muslim Ummah and the scholars of Islam and was against extremism and takfir. Similarly, he was also opposed to fabricated interpretations and renewal and definition in Islamic Sharia. It was only through the writing, speech and knowledge of the great man to prevent the promotion of fanatical attitudes and thoughts and beliefs by different sects and groups and to promote harmony and unity among Islamic sects that it was possible for the Muslims of the subcontinent to establish and maintain their national and ethnic identity.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah, by giving political guidance to the Muslims of the subcontinent, promoted correct religious ideas by opposing the path of the people who were facing destruction as a nation. He also opposed their joining the Congress and saved them from being divided and destroyed, especially from the harmful effects of anti-Muslim movements like the Migration Movement and the Hindu-Muslim Unity, which were aimed at eliminating Muslims as a nation from the subcontinent. Apart from this, another great and valuable service of his was that in that era when there were vigorous efforts to eradicate Islam, Muslims and Islamic teachings, he established centers for teaching Tafseer, Hadith and Fiqh through madrasas and khanqahs in various parts of the subcontinent for the full and comprehensive dissemination of Islamic beliefs and Islamic teachings.

Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah is a very mature, righteous and comprehensive personality, about whom there is not much that can be said and written. In short, it can be said that he is a benefactor of the Islamic subcontinent who bravely fought against the infidel, apostate, irreligious and tyrant forces, who defeated the ungodly in the struggle of the nation and led them towards their goal, and lit such lamps of knowledge, wisdom and action, by whose light Pakistan is still shining today.

The Imam of Muslims, the reformer of religion and nation, Hazrat Syed Na Pir Mehr Ali Shah (may Allah have mercy on him), is issuing a commemorative stamp of Rs. 8 on July 30, 2013.

Birds of Pakistan Series Red Vented Bulbul, July 01, 2013 (2013-18)

RED VENTED BULBUL:- The Red Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is a member of the bulbul family of passerines. It is resident breeder across the Subcontinent, including Pakistan, Sri lanka extending east to Burma and parts of Tibet. It has been introduced in many other parts of the world and has established itself in the wild on several Pacific islands including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Hawaii. It has also established itself in parts of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. It is included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

The Red-vented Bulbul was originally described by Linneaus in 1766. Several populations of this widespread species have been named as subspecies (or races). The nominate race is found in Pakistan and India, also found in Kashmir and Kohat down to the Salt Range along Hamalayas.

The Red-vented Bulbul is easily indentified by its short crest giving the head a squarish appearance. The body is dark brown with scaly pattern while the head is darker or black. The rump is white while the vent is red. The black tail is tipped in white. The Himalayan races have a more prominent crest and are more streaked on the underside.

Sexes are similar in plumage, but young birds are duller than adults. The typical call has been transcribed as ginger beer but a number of sharp single note calls likened as pick are also produced. Their alarm calls are usually respond to and heeded by many other species of bird.

Habitat and distribution

This is a bird of dry scrub, open forest, plains and cultivated lands. In this native range it is rarely found in mature forest. A study based of 54 localities in Pakistan and India concluded that vegetation is the single most important factor that determines the distribution of the species.

Behavior and ecology:- Red-vented bulbuls feed on fruits, petals of flowers, nectar, insects and occasionally geckos. They have also been seen feeding on the leaves of Medicago sativa.

Red-vented bulbuls build their nests in bushes at a height of around 7 to 10 ft. Two or three eggs is a typical clutch. Nests are occasionally built inside houses or in a hole or in mud bank. In one instance, a nest was found on a floating mat of Water hyacinth leaves and nests in tree cavities have also been noted.

They breed from June to September. The eggs are pale-pinkish with spots of darker red more dense at the broad end. They are capable of having multiple clutches in a year. Nests are small flat cups made of small twigs but sometimes making use of metal wires. The eggs hatch after about 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks and on feeding trips wait for the young to excrete, swallowing the faecal produced.

In culture:- In Pakistan these birds were frequently kept as cage pets and for fighting especially in the Carnatic region. They would be held on the finger with a thread attached and when they fought they would seize the red feathers of the opponents.

They are frequently tamed and carry it about the bazaars, tied with a string to the finger or to a little crutched perch, which is often made of precious metals.

On Birds of Pakistan Series-Red vented Bulbul, Pakistan Post is issuing a Definitive postage stamp of Rs.8/-denomination on July 1, 2013.