Postage stamps of Pakistan are those issued since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Pakistan Post has issued more than 600 sets and singles totalling more than 1300 stamps. Immediately after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the new Pakistan government was preoccupied with setting up the government so British Indian stamps continued in use without an overprint as was the practice in other countries.
The history of postage stamps in the region dates back to 1852, when Sir Bartle Frere of the British East India Company became the Chief Commissioner of Sind in 1851 and in 1852. Following the British example set by Rowland Hill, Frere improved upon the operations of the postal system of Sindh, introduced a cheap and uniform rate for postage (independent of distance travelled) and initiated the production of the Scinde Dawk stamps. These became the forerunners of the adhesive stamps to be used throughout India, Burma, the Straits Settlements and other areas controlled by the British East India Company.First Issues Collectors Club (retrieved 25 September) Their usage ceased with the introduction of official British Indian stamps in 1854.
History
1947 to 1971 At the time of independence in August 1947, the country inherited a divided (east and west) postal system established by the British. The new system started operating under the modified Post Office Act no VI of 1898.50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 155 The post office was part of the joint Department of Posts and Telegraph of the Ministry of Communications. Though the Office of the Postmaster General became operational at Lahore from 15 August 1947, the newly formed government was too preoccupied with establishing itself, therefore British Indian stamps continued to be used without an overprint as was the practice in other countries.
On 1 October 1947, the government released its first stamps, being from the 1940s British India series of King George VI stamps overprinted with the word Pakistan.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 9 Known as the Nasik Overprints, after the place near Mumbai, India, where they were overprinted, this set consists of 19 stamps.The Most Comprehensive Colour Catalogue Pakistan Postage Stamps 2006–2007 11th edition, M. I. Choudhary, Lahore, Pakistan, 2006 P.21 These Nasik overprints were also used in some Gulf states, both officially and unofficial. At the time of independence, the postal system of some of these areas was run from Karachi, and therefore, they became the responsibility of the new government.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 214 Officially these stamps were used in Muscat and Oman and its protectorate of Gwadar (on Pakistan's Baluchistan coast) and Dubai. Muscat used these stamps for a period of only 3 months from 29 December 1947 to 31 March 1948. Gwadar used this issue and various other commemorative ones until 1958. Dubai used these stamps from October 1947 until the end of March 1948.
In November 1947, Pakistan joined the Universal Postal Union as its 89th member.50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pgs 155 Nine months later on 9 July 1948, the government released its first commemorative set for the country's first anniversary which consisted of 4 stamps. The stamps were inscribed "15 August 1947" because of the prevailing confusing as to which date was Pakistan's actual date of independence.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 17 It was not until early 1949, that this confusion was cleared by declaring 14 August as independence day. The first day cancellation for this issue was the country's first special pictorial postmark.
14 August 1948 saw the released of the first definitive set consisting of 20 stamps. This set depicted scales of justice (3); crescent and star (3); Lloyd's Barrage (now Sukkur Barrage)(3); Karachi Port Trust building (5); Salimullah Hostel, Dacca University (now in Bangladesh)(3) and the Khyber Pass (3). These were withdrawn from sale on 1 January 1961.The Most Comprehensive Colour Catalogue Pakistan Postage Stamps 2006–2007 11th edition, M. I. Choudhary, Lahore, Pakistan, 2006 P.26
The centenary of Scinde Dawks was commemorated in 1952 with the release of a set of two stamps. These depicted the actual stamps plus advances in transportation since their release.
The authorities have to date issued only four booklets, with the only regular issue, released in 1956.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 166. Released on 23 March 1956, the first booklet was also the only time a private company, in this case Atco Industries, makers of Alladin battery cells, had sponsored a booklet.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 169. It contained 24 stamps of two denominations, 6 pies and 1 ½anna, from the 7th anniversary set of 1954. Each pane was separated by interleaving of butter paper. The booklet was priced at Rs. 1/8 and 10,000 booklets were printed.
Currency change In 1961, the government decided to introduce decimal currency into the country. This necessitated the surcharging of stamps to reflect this change. Six stamps were chosen from various issues and overprinted with the following denominations: 1 paisa, 2 paisas, 3 paisas, 7 paisas, 13 paisas (2 designs). Their printing was divided between two local printers, both based in Karachi: Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC) and Time Press, Karachi. Times Press used many plates for printing which resulted in varieties and shifts. Service stamps with decimal surcharges were also printed by the same printers. Forgeries in this issue exist in such numbers that they make the average person think that there are more errors and varieties than in fact.Khalid Malik, The Decimal Surcharges of Pakistan A New Perspective in Pakistan 2003 souvenir, Karachi, Pakistan, 2003 P.11 In the 2 paisas Service stamps, errors including service on front and surcharge on gum side are forgeries.The Decimal Surcharges of Pakistan A New Perspective in Pakistan 2003 souvenir, Karachi, Pakistan, 2003 P.12
Independent Department In July 1962, the government bifurcated the old department50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 156 and independently placed the postal service under the Ministry of Communications.
To speed up the sorting of mail, during the 1960s, the post office installed five Thrisell Electro Magnetic Sorting Machines in Karachi and Lahore.Perveiz A. Gill, Mechanization and Automation in Pakistan Post Office, published in PakPost vol 1 no 2, July–December 1991 pg 18 However, during the 1980s their use was stopped.
1972 to date 1972 was the beginning of a new period in the country's postal history, with the eastern wing of the country lost in the 1971 War, forming the new country of Bangladesh. However, the post office continued to use three languages on stamps until the end of the year.
From August 1986, a number of special services were introduced within the country. These included Air Express (Airex) (2 August 1986);Sultan Ahmed, A critical look at the special services, published in PakPost, no 1, vol 1, January – June 1991, pg 51 Urgent Mail Service (UMS) (1 January 1987);50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pg 157 local packet and parcel service or Local Express Delivery (LES) (22 April 1987); International Speed Post (ISP) (1 September 1986) and Postal Giro Service (15 March 1988)
In January 1988, 5-digit postcodes were introduce in the countryPerveiz A. Gill, Measures to improve service in Karachi. Published in PakPost no. 1, vol. 1 January – June 1991 pg 35 to facilitate delivery.
On 14 August 1990, the government released its largest set on pioneers of freedom. Designed by Saeed Akhtar it was released in three sheets of nine stamps.
To improve and expedite the transmission and delivery of international mail, a new office was constructed in Islamabad which started working in December 1990.Malik, Mohammad Arshad, Islamabad International Mail Office. Published in PakPost no. 1, vol. 1 January – June 1991 pg46 This helped to reduce pressure on the office in Karachi.
From 1991, Express Mail was sub contracted at Karachi.
Pakistan Postal Services Corporation Between 1 August 1992 and 6 July 1996, the post office was separated from the Ministry and made an independent corporation.50 Year of Pakistan, Volume I Summary, FBS, Statistics Division, GoP, Islamabad 1998 Pgs 157–158 It was during this period that philately was first commercialised.
Pakistan Post In 2001, the government raises basic inland postage rates from Rs. 2 to Rs. 4.
In 2002, Pakistan Postal Services Management Board was created.
Ministry of Postal Services On 3 November 2008, the department was placed under the postal division of the newly created Ministry of Postal Services. Senator Israr Ullah Zehri was appointed its first minister.
The first stamp issued under the new ministry was released on 10 December 2008, to honour the awarding of UN Human Rights Award to Benazir Bhutto.2008 issues Pakistan Philately. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
In November 2009, the government again raised minimum postage by 100% to Rs. 8. To improve services, the Post Office has implemented a plan to establish 100 express centres throughout the country by June 2010. These will includes centres at Hyderabad, Islamabad (1) Karachi, Lahore (6), Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi (6) and Sukkur and provide a number of services under one roof.
Postage Stamps
Nasik Overprints
On 1 October 1947, the government released its first stamps, being from the 1940s British India series of King George VI stamps overprinted with the word Pakistan. Known as the Nasik Overprints, after the place near Mumbai, India, where they were overprinted, this set consists of 19 stamps.
Definitives
Over the last 60 years, 17 definitive or regular series have been issued. The first series was issued on 14 August 1948 and consisted of 20 stamps. These stamps featured scales of justice (3); crescent and star (3); Lloyd's Barrage (now Sukkur barrage)(3); Karachi Port Trust building (5); Salimullah Hostel, Dacca University (3) and the Khyber Pass (3). Mian Mahmood Alam Suharwardy gave 2 designs for this set: scale of justice and star and crescent.Mahbub Jamal Zahedi, Fifty years of Pakistan stamps, Karachi, Sanaa Publications (1997) p. 183 These along with the 1949 redrawn series, were withdrawn from sale on 1 January 1961.
The 1951, 1954, 1955 and 1956 Independence Anniversary issues were all basically definitive series. During this time, these stamps featured the Badshahi Mosque and Jahangir's Tomb in Lahore; the Kaghan Valley and the mountains around Gilgit; tea gardens, jute fields and Karnaphuli Paper Mill in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and a textile mill, cotton fields and a Sui Gas Plant in West Pakistan.