RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Post issued two special commemorative postage stamps and a souvenir sheet on the 200th birth anniversary of Mata Sahib Hasi Devi, the fifth head of the historic Shadani Darbar located in the Hayat Pitafi area of Ghotki, Sukkur district in Sindh, to promote interfaith harmony and Sufi traditions in the region.

The postage stamp and souvenir sheet, printed in a beautiful design on watermarked paper by Pakistan Security Printing Corporation, designed by Abu Obaidullah Ayaz and issued by Pakistan Post on Sunday, have been fixed at a value of Rs40 each. Philatelic bureaus and major post offices across the country remained open on Sunday for the sale of the stamps.

It has been said in the souvenir that the basic background of this historic issuance is to pay tribute to Mata Sahib Hasi Devi’s Sufi lifestyle and her selfless services for humanity. Mata Sahib Hasi Devi was born in 1826, and in 1852 she assumed the throne of Shadani Darbar, which is considered the largest and most sacred centre of the Hindu community in Sindh, and was founded in 1786 by Sant Shada Ram Sahib.

Pakistan Post, in the historical background of this issuance, also mentioned the famous incident of Mata Sahib Hasi Devi when she provided grain to thousands of people continuously for six months during a severe famine in Sindh.

Throughout her life, Mata Sahib Hasi Devi always taught all communities to live together in peace, love and tolerance, and due to her good morals, local Muslims of Sindh also had deep devotion for her and even today look at this Darbar with respect.

Sindhi Hindus around the world and philately enthusiasts have termed this step by Pakistan Post as a big and welcome step towards interfaith tolerance and preservation of shared Sufi culture.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2026