When the people were allowed to write to their relatives and friends in India held as Prisoners of War (POWs), the formulae type air letter sheets were rubber stamped to mention the service. Various rubber handstamps were used at different places mainly reading "Postage Free/Prisoners of War Mail". The rubber stamps were produced in various shapes and sizes, such as text in two lines, in three lines, circular, double circle and decorated circle etc. Some round rubber stamps had a cross in the centre and were applied with brick-red ink. In some Red Cross types, the rubber stamp inscription was different: "Prisoners of War Mail/Listed".
Pakistan Red Cross Society, West Pakistan Provincial Branch, also released various types of letter sheets with one side having straight lines for writing. The writing instructions were printed in English and Urdu above first line as "(Not exceeding 250 words)". The other side of the sheet had provision for writing the address. Two closing flaps, one gummed.
A notification released by government said that "...........5p Formulae aerogramme is issued for POW in India. The Form will be rubber stamped before sale with the following words.
Postage Free - Prisoners of War Mail
These are issued from the following Post Offices: Cambellpur (Now Chakwal), Gujrat, Jhelum, Karachi, Kohat, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Sialkot. All the above Head Post Offices have been supplied with the necessary number of rubber stamps for this purpose by the Director General. Each HO will use one rubber stamp for stamping the aerogramme form, sold at its own counter or its sub office....
Date of Issue: April 11, 1972
Size of letter sheet: 249.00 x 176.00 mm
5p blue and new blue on blue overlay on grey
Some above examples of Prisoners of War (POW) Mail, stampless letter sheets.
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