FDC#2 from Pakistan: Centenary Celebration of Catholic Cathedral Church; Lahore; Pakistan in 2007

Today I am here to share with you a wonderful FDC featuring a very nice and historical stamp issued on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of Catholic Cathedral Church in Lahore, Pakistan. The Catholic Cathedral Church in Lahore has a rich history to offer. This magnificent edifice was constructed by the Belgian Capuchins in a prominent place in the heart of the city and consecrated on 19^th November 1907 as the mother Church of the diocese of Lahore. It replaced the historic old Pro-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception built in 1861 near the famous Anarkali bazaar, outside the Old City.

The stamp was of Rs 5 denomination and was issued on 19th November 2007. I have a couple of such covers available for swap if anyone is interested. I can swap it for FDCs depicting themes like Olympics, Football, etc.

Pakistan Stamps featuring Aquarium Fishes issued on Universal Postal Union Day 2004

Hi!
Here I have for you one of the most beautiful stamp sheet from Pakistan.

The sheet was issued on the eve of National Philatelic Exhibition Lahore 2004 which was held on Universal Postal Day 2004. The set of Aquarium Fishes consists of 5 different types of fishes. These include the following:-

• Yellow Dwarf Cichlid
• Striped Gourami
• Tiger Barb
• Neon Tetra
• Black Widow

Aren't they beautiful?
The stamps in the sheet are also staggered in each row. You are welcome to post your comments about this beautiful piece of philatelic art.
Best Regards

Pakistan Stamps with Aircrafts - A tribute to Pakistan Air Force (PAF)

Hi Pals!
Here I have for you another nice stamp sheet with 10 nice stamps issued to commemorate the Pakistan Air Force Day on September 7, 1987. Each stamp is of PKR 3/- denomination.

To share the PAF's pride in its rich heritage of courage, sacrifice and professional excellence as well as to honour those daring pilots who wrote a glorious chapter in our history with their blood, Pakistan Post Office issued this nice set of 10 commemorative postage stamps, each depicting a different PAF aircraft, on the occasion of the 1987 Air Force Day.

The scenes depicted on the stamps are from a series of specially commissioned aviation paintings done by Squadron Leader Masood A Hussaini, the officially appointed aviation artist of the Pakistan Air Force. The set of 10 stamps, each bearing the impression of a combat, transport or training aircraft, shows how the PAF grew from its modest beginnings 40 years ago, to its present hard-hitting posture. Manned by highly professional men, the PAF stands ready today to rise swiftly to deter and defeat aggression against Pakistan.

Seventh September occupies a place of prominence on the PAF calendar. Popularly known as the Air Force Day, it evokes memories of heroism and gallant displayed by the nation's air arm during September '65 India-Pakistan war.

It was on this day, 22 years ago, that a small band of daring PAF pilots supported by an equally dedicated group of officers and men on the ground rose to the very heights of professionalism and, although outnumbered and outmatched in equipment, blunted the aggressor's air power. As a mark of respect for the glorious acts of valour performed by these brave sons of the soil (a number of whom achieved "shahadat" during that war), the Pakistan Air Force observes 7th September as the Air Force Day.

The occasion is celebrated all over the country with great patriotic fervour and public enthusiasm. The day starts with prayers of thanks giving and "Quran Khwani" for the "Shuhada" at the PAF mosques. This is followed by special Air Force Day parades at all PAF Bases to mark the occasion. In an impressive ceremony in the city of Karachi, Flight Cadets from PAF Academy, Risalpur, which had the proud distinction of being the only military Academy ever visited by the Quaid-e-Azam, mount Guard at the Quaid\'s mausoleum to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.

The Air Bases are then thrown open to general public to afford them an yearly opportunity to see their Air Force from close quarters and to gain first hand knowledge about some of its equipment and weapons. The elaborate equipment arrays and flying displays held on the occasion draw countless Pakistanis of all ages and from different walks of life to these air bases throughout the day. All types of aircraft held on the PAF inventory can be seen performing thrilling aerial maneuvers over the PAF airfields throughout the day, to the great enjoyment of all visitors, specially young students of schools and colleges. As evening approaches, the gates of the air bases close till the next year behind the departing citizens, when they would be welcomed again by their hosts in blue.

Isn't it a wonderful piece of work???

FDC#1 from Pakistan: SAF Games Islamabad 2004

My Dear Friends!
Hello again!
I have been missing my blog for a while now. Finally I have got a scanner and I am good to go with my posts. So here is the first FDC to show you from my collection. It is one of my favorite ones.

The FDC was issued on the event of 9th SAF Games held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 29 Mar to 7 Apr 2004. For those of you who do not know the details, SAF Games stand for South Asian Federation Games. The countries included in SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation) participate in these games. There are in fact 7 members of the organization including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan. In April 2007, Afghanistan also joined the organization as the 8th member.

The stamp sheet issued on the occasion contained 16 stamps of value PKR2 each. On the stamps the players are featured in different sporting styles while on the border of the sheet, a bear named Baloo which was the mascot of the event is featured with the SAF Games Torch. Baloo can also be seen on each stamp in the background in different sporting postures.

I also attended the opening and the closing ceremonies held in the Jinnah Stadium Islamabad and it was some real great time. Especially the fire works performed by a teamof specialists from China was brilliant.

Please pray for my dad!!!

My dear friends!
Hello!
I hope and pray that you all are fine and happy.
I have been away from my blog for quite sometime now.
My dad had a heart attack about ten days back, so I was at home with my family. He remained admitted in the hospital for some days before undergoing angiography followed by an angioplasty procedure.
By the grace of God, everything is fine now.
I would request all my collector friends to please pray for his health and happiness.
May God bless you all and we can continue swapping everything from stamps, phonecards, FDCs, coins to any item imaginable.
If you need any collectible from Pakistan, please feel free to contact me on faisalcheema44@gmail.com
Best Regards

Benazir Bhutto's Coin

So finally I have the first picture of the coin featuring Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
(Late).
Although the portrait on the coin seems less like her, still it's a nice one.

Happy to visit the Post Office again

Hello!
It has really been a nice day and I visited the General Post Office at Rawalpindi, Pakistan after a long time away from stamps and FDCs. I found a number of nice miniature sheets on the late Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto(1953-2007) who was murdered last year on 27 December 2008 during a political rally.

Today I also laid my hands on the commemorative coin featuring Benazir Bhutto. It's a Rupees 10 coin with a crescent and star on one side and the portrait of Benazir Bhutto on the other side. The inscription on the coin says "Daughter of the East - Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed".

Do any of you want these stamps in any form - Miniature sheets, FDC, mint stamp?

If yes contact me on faisalcheema44@gmail.com with an offer.

Happy Collecting

A beautiful Miniature Sheet Available for Swap

Here is another Miniature sheet and a stamp issued on the Golden Jubilee of First Ascent of K-2 (The Second highest peak in the world). Beautiful for mountain related items collectors and all other collectors. Only one miniature sheet is available with me for swap. Make a good offer at faisalcheema44@gmail.com .

Set of Mushrooms Stamps for Swap

I have this very nice set of Mushrooms of 10 x Stamps for swap. If someone is interested, feel free to contact me on faisalcheema44@gmail.com with your nice offer. I donot have its FDC but I have Many other FDCs to Swap with you from Pakistan. Only one set is available for swap. I can swap it for nice thematic mint 1:1 or used stamps(Send me an offer). Also I want to swap FDCs.