ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Post Office Department (PPOD) is going to release a commemorative postage stamp worth Rs20 featuring Abdul Sattar Edhi.

The renowned philanthropist and social worker, and founder of the Edhi Foundation, Edhi died on July 8 in Karachi.

The design of the stamp is based on a sketch of Edhi by Saeed Akhtar. It will become available in all post offices in the country on Monday, after an inaugural ceremony in Karachi on Sunday.

Commemorative postage stamps have been issued in honour of former heads of state, entries into statehood, historical events, historic sites, famous people, native flora and fauna and for causes, such as to raise awareness of rare medical conditions.

According to Inland Mail Director PPOD Mohammad Shakoor, the first adhesive postage stamp in the subcontinent was introduced by Sir Farar in 1852, and was named Scindi Dawk. “It was in three colours,” Mr Shakoor said.

“In Pakistan, the department of post and telegraphy, of the Ministry of Communication, released the first stamps in October 1947. It was originally an Indian stamp on which Pakistan’s name was printed. In July 1948, four stamps worth two ana each were released. The stamps were designed by Abdur Rahman Chughtai, and featured pictures of the constituent assemblies,” he said.

So far, around 1,500 postal stamps have been issued by the Pakistani government since independence, of which 250 feature notable personalities.

“Of the 250 stamps, 58 had pictures of pioneers of freedom and 11 martyrs – including one Kashmiri – who received or were declared equivalent to the Nishan-i-Haider,” Mr Shakoor said.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2016