Post Office (Okara)

 post office  Add category

You can click on the above pictures for enlarged view;

This is where used to be the one and only Post Office in Okara, since the creation of Pakistan.

Arzi Navees (Scribes) used to sit on mats in front of the post office. A Scribe is a person who writes letters, contracts, books, or documents by hand and helps illiterate or unskilled people in correspondence. The Scribe Profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing and education.

At the main entrance of Post Office, there used to be Telegraph Section, where we could see Morse-Code Telegraph Machines operated by trained operators of Post Office to send and receive Telegrams. As a child I was very fascinated to watch the operator sending Morse Signals with the clicks of index finger. I have added five pictures of Telegraph Machines at the top of this writeup, you can click on the thumbnails to enlarge pictures. The clicks of Telegraph Machines sounded like tick tick of a pendulum-clock. Those machines were also used at Railway Station Control Rooms.

Opposite post office,the upper-floor of the first house (on the left corner) was owned by Yaqoob Sahib, whom we called Yaqoob Bhai. He had sisters and three younger brothers, Iqbal Bhai, Akhtar Bhai and Asghar. Yaqoob Bhai was post office employee until he retired. He would be in his mid 70s by now.

I wonder if the post office is still situated at this location!

I love Okara and have many memories associated it. Our family owned agricultural lands and fruit orchards (Bagh) in the vicinity of Okara, in Gogera, in Karman Wala, and in Marula (North of Renala Khurd). Gogera used to be District Headquarters prior to Montgomery-Sahiwal during British Rule. I grew up in Lahore, but Okara was like a second home for us.

In late 1970s, we moved to USA, and love it here, while my brother and sisters are still settled in Lahore. You can search for uzkmi, through Wikimapia Search Bar on top right and read more about my snippets or tidbits.

Usman Muhammad Khan
New Jersey 08054-3315 USA
Wikimapia User: uzkmi
Updated: August 30, 2012

Hum Na Honge To Hume Yaad Karegi Duniya ...

Apne Jeene Ki Ada Bhi Anokhi Sab Se
Apne Marne Ka Bhi Andaaz Nirala Hoga

Ek Din Bik Jayega, Maati Ke Mol
Jag Mein Reh Jayenge Pyare Tere Bol

Dooje Ke Hothon Ko Dekar Apne Geet
Koi Nishani Chhor, Phir Duniya Se Dol