Pakistan has won a Gold medal in the International Stamp Exhibition ‘‘London 2022’’ held in the United Kingdom (UK). M. Arif Balgamwala is a prominent Pakistani businessman and philatelist (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), and former Chairman Karachi Chamber’s Diplomatic Sub-Committee, former Chairman Pakistan Chemicals & Dyes Merchants Association.
The exhibition, held at the Business Design Centre at Islington London, took place on 19-26 Feb 2022. The exhibition is held every 10 years. Arif Balgamwala has the unique honor of being the first Pakistani to win a Gold Medal for his comprehensive collection of Pakistan Overprints (1947 to 1949) of this exhibition.
Muhammad Arif Balgamwala while naming his success to Pakistan, said that he is very proud of his country which gave him this position and stature today.
Arif vowed that he would continue his efforts to brighten the name of Pakistan and project the soft image of the country to the world via the field of philately.
Balgamwala has been involved at various levels of philately, both within and outside the country. He has served as Vice President (Sindh) in the Philatelic Federation of Pakistan; treasurer, Stamp Society of Pakistan and chairman, Philatelic & Numismatic Society of Pakistan. He is also Pakistan’s delegate to the FIP Commission on Aerophilately.
On 23 March 2010, he received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his services to philately.