Pakistan Boy Scouts Association

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Membership badge of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association

The Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA) is the national Scouting organization of Pakistan and has 516,891 members (as of 2002).

Scouting was founded in Pakistan as part of the British Indian branch of The Scout Association. The PBSA was officially founded in 1947, immediately after independence from the British and became a member of WOSM in April 1948.

J.S. Wilson, Director of the Boy Scouts International Bureau, visited Karachi in 1952 as guest of J.D. Shuja, the General Secretary of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association. During his visit, he saw Bhit Island, off Karachi, a fishing community primarily of refugees, who had been adopted by a Karachi Scout group, the Rovers and older Scouts of which were staffing a school until a regular teacher could be appointed. In Bahawalpur, wilsone was welcomed by Prince Brigadier M.A. Abbasi, Deputy Chief Scout Commissioner who had been at the 1951 World Jamboree in Austria and would later lead the Pakistani contingent at the 1957 Jubilee Jamboree. At Lahore, Wilson met the Scouts and Bluebirds (Brownies) of the Deaf and Dumb Institure, and visited A.R. Sardar Hussain, Scout Camp Chief for Pakistan, Squadron Leader H.V. Bhatty, Scout Provincial Secretary and Deputy Camp Chief, and Mir M. Mohsin, who later succeeded Shuja as General Secretary.

Scouting continued in East and West Pakistan as part of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association until the country's divided sections split in the 1970s.

Niaz M. Khan served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1963 until 1969. In 1969, Mr. Khan was awarded the Bronze Wolf, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Scouts have gained the respect of the citizens for their untiring work during floods, where they have collected and distributed food and clothing. They have evacuated trapped people to safety, and run first aid stations in refugee camps. They have been active in helping rebuild destroyed villages.

Scout program emphasis is on community service and conservation.

There is a program for handicapped Scouts supported by former Scouts in the Baden-Powell Guild.

1 Program Sections
2 Scout Motto
3 Scout Oath
4 Scout and Rover Law
5 International Scouting units in Pakistan
6 See also
7 Reference

[edit] Program Sections

Shaheen Scouts/Cubs-ages 7 to 11
Scouts-ages 12 to 16
Rovers-ages 17 to 25

[edit] Scout Motto

Almustaid, Be Prepared

[edit] Scout Oath

On my honour I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times and to obey the Scout Law.

[edit] Scout and Rover Law

Scout/Rover kable etmad hota hai A Scout/Rover is trustworthy
Scout/Rover furmanbardar aur wafadar hota hai A Scout/Rover is loyal and obedient
Scout/Rover khush ehlag aur madadgar hota hai A Scout/Rover is courteous and helpful
Scout/Rover hur aik ka dost aur hur Scout ka bhai hota hai A Scout/Rover is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout
Scout/Rover meharban aur buhadar hota hai A Scout/Rover is kind and courageous
Scout/Rover kafayat shuaar hota hai A Scout/Rover is thrifty
Scout/Rover pakeeza aur huns mukh hota hai A Scout/Rover is clean and cheerful

[edit] International Scouting units in Pakistan

In addition, there were American Boy Scouts in Pakistan, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America, which supports units around the world, until at least 1987.