COLLEGE HAND BOOK
POSTAL STAFF COLLEGE ISLAMABAD
The Project of Postal Staff College was conceived in 1982 primarily to meet with the training and development needs of managerial cadres of Pakistan Post Office as well as Postal administrations of fellow developing countries seeking technical assistance from the Government of Pakistan. The project was jointly sponsored by the Government of Pakistan, the United Nations Development Programme and the Universal Postal Union. The Government of Pakistan provided funds for the college and hostel buildings as well as for managerial, instructional and support services. The United Nations Development Programme and the Universal Postal Union assisted us, under their project, "Pak/82/009-Modernization of Postal Training Facilities in Pakistan", by provision of a considerable number of items of audio-visual equipment including a printing press. Two micro buses were also provided by the UNDP. Another major contribution from the UNDP was a considerable number of fellowships for training abroad of Postal officer of Pakistan in various fields of study particularly in modern management of postal services and management of training.
BUILDING
The college building includes adequate number of class-rooms, a seminar room, audio-visual room, printing room, syndicate rooms, a cafeteria, a well-stocked library and other rooms for administrative and support services staff. In addition, a very well-equipped auditorium, with a seating capacity of about 400 persons, is also available on the premises. The auditorium, as well as the college building, is being centrally air conditioned.
HOSTEL
A spacious hostel is available which can accommodate 40 trainees at a time and also has guest rooms, warden's residence, dining & drawing halls, lounge and other recreational facilities. This handbook has been prepared to provide you with needful information and to help you get the maximum benefit and enjoyment from your stay in Pakistan. It contains such information that should be useful to you during your stay in Pakistan. If you find you need other information, do not hesitate to ask. This Handbook is revised periodically, however, if you find an item that requires revision, or wish additional information to be included, please share your ideas with us. The staff of the College welcome you to Islamabad. We look forward to working with you in the coming weeks and helping you, make your stay here a rewarding and worthwhile experience.
INTRODUCTION
PAKISTAN emerged on the map of the world on 14th August, 1947. Lying between the latitudes of 23 Degrees 30 Minutes and 36 degrees 45Minutes north and between the longitudes of 61Degrees and 75 Degrees 31Minutes East, Pakistan stretches over 1,600 kms north to south and about 885 kms broad east to west covering a total area of 796,095 sq. kms. It comprises four provinces: Baluchistan, North-West Frontier, the Punjab and Sindh; the Federally Administrated Areas and the Federal Capital Area (Islamabad). Pakistan is a land of diversified relief. In the north it is bound by the Himalayan ranges, the Karakoram range and the Hindukush beyond it. The Himalayas have an average elevation of 6,100 metres with some of the highest peaks in the world. K-2 (Mount Godwin Austin), 8,611 metres, is the highest peak of the Karakoram range and the second highest in the world. Tirich Mir, 7,736 metres, is the highest peak of the Hindukush. Below the Karakoram is the parallel range of the Himalayas extending far to the east and on to the west, ending up at the Naga Parbat Peak, 8,068 metres, standing 8th in world rating. Pakistan's geo-strategic location makes it vital to the super powers and gives it potentially a decisive role in keeping balance of power in Asia and peace in the world. Pakistan is being described as: guarding the traditional invasion routes from Central Asia to the subcontinent" "as commanding the sea lanes from the oil gulf into the Arabian Sea" and as "blocking access to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean". Out of the total area of 796,095 sq. kms, about 475,884 sq. kms in the north-west and west from a highly differentiated mountainous terrain. The remaining 320,211 sq. kms present a flat and gradational surface. The whole land, excluding most of Baluchistan, falls into the hydrological unit drained by the Indus system of rivers. The unit includes the north-western hills, northern and north-western sub-mountainous, upper and lower Indus plains and parts of Baluchistan, which is a region of small rivers. Large parts of it form areas of inland drainage. Pakistan comprises six major physical divisions or regions: (1) Northern mountains; (2) Western off-shoots of the Himalayas; (3) Baluchistan Plateau; (4) Pothwar Plateau and the Salt Range; (5) Upper and Lower Indus Plains; and (6) The Thar Desert. South-Asia has attracted migrants from both north-east and north -west from times immemorial. For thousands of years, people have entered through these routes settling and mixing with the local population. These included Dravidians, Aryans, Greeks, Turks, Persians, Afghans, Arabs and Moughals. However, the dominant racial type in Pakistan is the Indo-Aryans. Some people in the Kalat region have the Dravidian traces. The Baluchs and Pathans are predominantly an admixture of Turks and Iranians, two of the important branches of the Aryans. The history of the Baluchs reflect their valor, love for freedom and fear of God. They lead a simple life and are honest and straightforward. The Pathans of the North-West Frontier are born fighters. They are industrious and hard working. The Punjabi is mainly a farmer-soldier, though he is efficient and hard working in other occupations too. Usually tall, well built, active, forward-looking, disciplined and industrious, he makes a very fine soldier. The Sindhi way of working and living has a direct impact of Islam. Sindh is known as Bab-ul-Islam (Gateway to Islam). The majority of the population is composed of Muslims. A small minority of Hindus, mostly big landlords, is settled mainly in the border districts of Sindh. Christians are widely spread and form about 3 percent of the total population. An economically notable minority, mostly settled in Karachi, is that of the Parsis numbering between 3-4 thousands. With the exception of the Head of the State and the Prime Minister, every post is open to them (the minorities). The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the right to profess, practice and propagate their religions. They have their elected representatives both in the Federal and Provincial Legislatures and also in the local bodies. A number of languages are spoken in Pakistan. These languages heavily lean on Persian and Arabic. Urdu is the national language and forms a common linguistic link between the people of various regions. English continues to be used for higher education, particularly in scientific and technical fields. Besides, English is mainly used for commercial, legal and other official business. Located in the north of the tropic of cancer, Pakistan possesses a great range of climatic diversity, from some of the hottest in the world in Jacobabad and Sibi districts to the snowy cold parts of Baluchistan and northern mountain areas. Along the coastal belt, the climate is modified by sea breezes. Pakistan is on the margin of the monsoon climate. The rainfall is barely sufficient and this it possesses a dry climate. Due to the diversity of the climate a large variety of crops is cultivated balancing the agricultural economy of the country. In plains, the minimum temperature in the month of January varies from 4oC to 15oC and in June/July from 30oC to 39oC. The maximum temperature in January varies from 17oC to 24oC and in June/July from 37C to 45oC. Pakistan suffers from a general deficiency of rainfall. According to a latest study the mean annual rainfall varies from 5 to 100 CMS. More than 90 percent of the area receives less than 51 CMS. Around 75 percent of the mean annual rainfall occur during the months of July, August and September while that in the hot weather occasional light rains follow dust storms. Owing to high summer temperatures and the resultant high rate of evaporation and transpiration, the effectiveness of the rainfall is low except in the northern strip of mountains and adjacent lands. We always keenly look forward to our guest participants from abroad and on our part make every endeavor to make their stay in Pakistan as pleasant and fruitful as possible.
To learn more about Pakistan visit the following web sites:-
BEFORE LEAVING FOR PAKISTAN
Please ascertain from your travel agency or Pakistan mission in your country and complete all visa and health requirements before leaving for Pakistan in order to avoid any inconvenience on arrival and during stay in Pakistan. Also please bring six passport size photographs with you for any future need during your stay in Pakistan.
ARRIVAL IN PAKISTAN
Complete information about your arrival in Pakistan, including flight number, place and time of origin and time of arrival etc. should be communicated to this administration well in time, preferably on telephone or by telex or fax for reception at the Karachi and/or Islamabad International Airports. Connecting flights at Karachi for Islamabad may involve some waiting and transit accommodation in Karachi, Prior information to our Liaison Officer at Karachi will facilitate these arrangements. The addresses and telephone number of Liaison Officers at Karachi/Islamabad appear at the end of this booklet. Since you will be based in Islamabad, the following information may come in handy and prove helpful during your stay.
ACCOMMODATION IN ISLAMABAD
Participants' accommodation in Islamabad is arranged in our Hostel providing comfortable boarding and lodging facilities. Two participants share one room with attached bath. While accommodation is free, the mess arrangements are financed and managed by trainees themselves.
EMERGENCY REPORTS / CALLS
Please contact the Course Administrator, nominated separately for each training course, during office hours for any assistance and guidance. After office hours please contact Hostel Warden in the Hostel, Duty Officer at the Reception of the College or any member of the faculty on residential telephone.
For Emergency Help ( POLICE,
FIRE,
MEDICAL etc DIAL 15 )
| S.NO: | NAME | DESIGNATION | OFFICE | RESIDENCE |
| 1 | Mr. Zia-ur-Rahman | Addl. DG(Training) | 9261704 | 2292220 |
| 2 | Mr. Ehtisham Yasin | Director | 9260223 | 2251511 |
| 3 | Mr. Abdul Rashid | Joint Director | 9260085 | 2251511 |
| 4 | Mr. Wasim Zafar | Chief Inspector (Training) | 9261578 | 9207601 |
| 5 | Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed | Senior Instructor | 9260761 | 2251511 |
| 6 | Ms. Attifa Rafat | Senior Instructor | 9260099 | 9260270 |
| 7 | Ms.Samina Suleman | Senior Instructor | 9261301 | |
| 8 | Mr. Fasiuddin Siddiqui | Training Officer | 9260302 | 9260772 |
| 9 | College Reception |
Available Round the Clock |
9260288 | |
| 10 | Hostel Reception |
Available Round the Clock |
2251511 |
Country Code for Pakistan: 92 City Code for Islamabad: 51
LIAISON OFFICER AT KARACHI
Principal, Postal Training Centre, Karachi. Telephone (Office): 92-21-5670775 & 9203938
LIAISON OFFICER AT LAHORE
Mrs. Rubina Tayyab, Deputy Postmaster General, Lahore. Telephone (Office): 92-42-9211329 & 9211330 (Residence): 92-42-5759404 (Mobile): 92-300-4204963
LIAISON OFFICER AT PESHAWAR
Mr. Khalid Javed, Assistant Postmaster General (Administration), NWFF, Peshawar. Telephone (Office): 92-91-9213388
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation for participants is available for attending the College. Visits / Excursions Trips. Field Study trips to Peshawar, Lahore and other places except Karachi will be made on the college coaster.
POSTAL SERVICE
The Post Office is at a walking distance from the College, in the Directorate General, Pakistan Post Office known as P&T Complex Post Office. However, participants desiring to post mail may hand over their postal articles at the reception counter. They may ask for postage stamps and postal stationery at the Postal Staff College, Reception. Should you like anything to be sent to you by post before or after your departure from home country please use the postal address of the Director, who has made special arrangements for the handling of your mail. You can also use the following address for correspondence:
Postal Staff College,
G-8/4, Islamabad-44000.
PAKISTAN.
Telephone: (College) 92-51-9260085 & 9260223 & 9260288
Telephone : (Hostel) 92-51-2251511
Fax: 92-51-9260388
E.Mail: info@psc.edu.pk
Web Site: http://www.psc.edu.pk
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
Telephone service will be available in the College, Foreign participants are allowed to make two three minute free calls to their homes, one call at the time of arrival and one at the time of departure-Additional telephone calls can be made on payment from the Hostel or the College. PTCL calling cards are available in different denominations which can be used to make phone calls domestic as well as International from any digital telephone line by calling a toll free number. Collect call to USA is available through SPRINT. Please ask the Course Administrator/Hostel Warden for assistance.
SECRETARIAT SERVICE
Recording, typing photocopying, distribution of documents and any personal assistance such as emergency medical treatment, visits to embassies etc. will be managed by the Course Administrator.
CLIMATE
(Time & Weather in Islamabad)
Winter start in November, and last till February, during which temperature in Islamabad may vary from -2.0oC minimum to 18oC maximum. The lowest temperature ever recorded in winter is -3.9o0. Both days and nights can be extremely cold. Summer spans the months of June, July and August, during which temperature may vary from 30oC minimum to 40oC maximum. Monsoon rains could be expected during July and August. The maximum temperature ever recorded in Islamabad in Summer is 46oC. Both days and nights can be very hot and dry or very hot and humid. Weather is mild during other months. During the heat of the summer the participants are sometimes taken to cool hill resorts of Abbottabad and Murree on weekends.
CLOTHING
In Winter, warm clothing throughout the day / night is advised. Winter in Islamabad. (November-February) can sometimes, be very extreme. Light summer clothing is needed in April as it is warm in the Month of April in Islamabad and Hot in Lahore and Karachi.
MEDICAL SERVICE
Please contact the Course Administrator during working hours and Hostel Warden, during stay in hostel, for any medical help. It may be noted that medical aid of occasional nature only will be rendered free of charge at the Postal Medical Centre / Government Hospital; chronic ailments are not treated.
LANGUAGE
English will be the language and medium of instruction of the course. English is also conveniently understood in hotels, offices and shopping areas.
CURRENCY
The currency denominations are "Paisa" and "Rupee" One hundred paisas equal one rupee. The exchange rate of rupee is subject to market fluctuations. At present it is around 58.00 to one US dollar. Click on the link above " Foreign Currency Exchange Rates" to get latest real time rates with the courtesy of Albarka Islamic Bank Pakistan.
TIME ZONE
Pakistan Standard Time is 5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
DEPARTURE FROM PAKISTAN
Departure arrangements from Pakistan will be made by the Course Coordinator.
To visit the Official Web Site of Pakistan Post Office Click on the URL Below:-