Pakistan-Thailand 🇵🇰 🇹🇭 Joint Issue: 70th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations - Buddhist Heritage

Despite the exact date of establishment of Diplomatic Relations being 10 October, the Thai Stamp Programme had a Thailand-Pakistan Joint Issue scheduled on 15 November.The Year 2021 marked the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan 🇵🇰 & Thailand 🇹🇭 on October 10. To commemorate this anniversary the Pakistani Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand 🇹🇭 Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad announced that both countries will jointly issue stamps to celebrate the occasion.

The theme chosen for this Joint Issue is the Buddhist Heritage of both countries. From Thailand the Wat Phra Si Sanphet Temple's (วัดพระศรีสรรเพชญ์) famous White Marble Buddha and from Pakistan the Buddhist remains of Taxila (ٹیکسلا) were chosen to be featured on the stamps alongwith the National Flags.

The Thai & Pakistani Stamps were designed by Ms. Euamporn Supharoekchai & Mr. Masood-ur-Rehman respectively.

On 15 November, Thailand Post issued it's Stamp Set with a beautiful design and a print run of 5,00,000 Stamp Sets. The Stamp Set contains two stamps of 3 บาท (Baht) denomination each.

The Full Sheet has a blue border and is printed by the Thai British Security Printing Company. Each Sheet contains 10 Stamps (5 Stamp Sets) and has a Face Value of 30 บาท (Baht). A total of 1,00,000 Sheets were printed.

The First Day Cover / FDC features the National Flowers: Jasmine (Pakistan 🇵🇰) & Ratchaphruek (Thailand 🇹🇭) and the First Day Postmark bears the 70th Anniversary logo and Flags. 6,500 First Day Covers / FDCs were prepared.

In addition, as is the Thai Post's custom in case of Joint Issues, 19 Special Postmarks were also made available at 19 GPOs in important cities. The postmarks bear various National Symbols ranging from National Flowers, Buddha Figures, Flags to Maps of the two countries. The postmarks are available for 1 Year from the date of issuance. It would be a great feat to collect covers with all the 19 Postmarks.

Although it was initially planned that both Pakistan & Thailand would issue the Stamps on the same date (i.e. 15 November) but due to some unknown reasons the Pakistani Issue was cancelled by the Secretary of Communication at the eleventh hour. In response, philatelists raised concerns over unnecessary interference and through efforts of some senior philatelists, finally Pakistan Post issued the Stamp Set on 31st of December (Better late than never 🙂).

On 31 December Pakistan Post issued the Joint Issue with Thailand having the same design. The Pakistani Issue is a bit more brighter/colourful but the original design was not copied exactly though. Although it's a beautiful design but there are a few errors (due to carelessness) in the Pakistani Issue. Firstly the country name "Thailand" naturally should've been removed but was not. Secondly, there is a difference of boldness of the text "Rs.20" in both the stamps. Thirdly, the Pakistani Flag, it's dimensions & proportions are not correct. The crescent in our flag is disoriented.

The First Day Cover / FDC features the 70th Anniversary logo and the First Day Postmark is a descriptive one.

The Pakistani Full contains 40 Stamps (20 Stamp Sets). 4,00,000 Stamps (2,00,000 Stamp Sets) were printed by the National Security Printing Company, Karachi. Each Stamp Set contains two stamps of denomination 20 Rupees each. The Full Sheet has two imprints.

In conclusion, the issuance of a second Joint Stamp Set between our two countries symbolises our strong ties and friendship with Thailand 🇹🇭 and our common cultural and historical roots. Our common Buddhist Heritage is a precious asset and makes our bond stronger.

Long Live Pakistan-Thailand 🇵🇰 🇹🇭 Friendship! 🤝🏻

Note: I've got both the Pakistani & Thai Issues for Swap & Sale. Anyone interested can contact me.