Pakistan — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Pakistan Post (پاکستان پوسٹ) is Pakistan’s national postal operator, a government department. Pakistan was created on 14 August 1947 through partition from British India — one of history’s most dramatic and traumatic political events. Pakistan’s first stamps were Indian stamps overprinted with the word “Pakistan” in English and Urdu, as the new nation had no time to produce its own stamps before the partition date. These overprinted stamps are among philately’s most historically charged first issues, documents of a violent and transformative moment in world history.

Notable Stamp Issues

Pakistan’s first stamps in August 1947 were British India stamps overprinted “Pakistan” — in various typefaces and positions, creating numerous varieties. Pakistan’s own-design stamps appeared from 1948, featuring the crescent and star, the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, and the Khyber Pass. The 1948 definitives established Pakistani philatelic identity. East Pakistan (1947–1971) issued Pakistani stamps until the 1971 war of independence created Bangladesh. West Pakistan’s stamps continued. Notable modern issues feature the K2 (second highest mountain), Mohenjo-daro (Indus Valley Civilisation), and Islamic architectural heritage.

Collecting Tips

Scott Asia catalogue covers Pakistani stamps. The 1947 overprints require specialist study — multiple settings exist and forgeries are known. Pakistan’s stamps from the 1948–1960 period are well-printed and affordable classic material. East Pakistan (Bangladesh war) postal history (1971) is a significant and rare collecting area. K2 and Karakoram mountain stamps are popular with mountaineering thematic collectors. The Indus Valley Civilisation at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa appear on archaeology stamps.

Part of the Asia Postal Directory.