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Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
LADIESFUND Awards honour Pakistani women
The prestigious 15th LADIESFUND Women's Awards 2025 Pakistan took place today at the Sindh Governor House, recognising the remarkable achievements of Pakistan's most dynamic women across multiple industries, as stated by a press release. The event was attended by distinguished guests, awardees, government officials, corporate leaders, and members of the diplomatic community, all gathered to honor and empower women making a tangible impact in Pakistan and beyond. Moneeza Hashimi, Roshaneh Zafar, Sarwar Peshimam, Sayeeda Leghari, Auntie Munawar Dadabhoy, Javeria Rajput were among winners at 15th LADIESFUND Women's Awards 2025 Pakistan. The ceremony, which was produced by Amin Gulgee, featured a mesmerizing dance performance on Pasoori by Sheema Kermani, a picture showcase highlighting the past 14 awards and local and global launches of LADIESFUND, and uplifting closing performance of Dil Dil Pakistan by Nabila Bano. A heartfelt welcome address was delivered by Federal Secretary & Advisor to Governor Sindh, S T Mustafa, who stayed on stage to present awards, alongside son of Governor Sindh Ziad Khan Kessori, and Ms Tara Uzra Dawood, President of LADIESFUND. The Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Moneeza Hashimi, a renowned media personality and advocate for women's empowerment. Visionary Awards were given to Roshaneh Zafar, founder of Kashf Foundation, and Sarwar Peshimam, co-founder of Shahi Supari, recognizing their pioneering contributions in their respective fields. The latter's business earns a revenue of PKR10 billion annually and both women are big job creators and contributors to Pakistan's economy. The event also introduced the LADIESFUND Breast Cancer Endowment Fund, spearheaded by Sima Kamil and Sana Pirzada, emphasising the commitment to healthcare initiatives for women. With over 200,000 jobs created through LADIESFUND-recognised women-led enterprises, the organisation continues to pave the way for a brighter future. The 15th LADIESFUND Women's Awards 2025 Pakistan was a powerful testament to the strength, resilience, and boundless potential of Pakistani women.
Express Tribune
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pakistani music has survived dictators, bans, and Bollywood — here's how
From Nazia Hassan to Young Stunners, Pakistan's music has evolved, adapted, and thrived against all odds. If there's one thing Pakistan has consistently done right, it's music. Despite political turmoil, censorship crackdowns, and an overall identity crisis every other decade, Pakistani artists have created magic—songs that define generations, voices that refuse to be silenced, and beats that make even the most reluctant uncles tap their feet. But how did we get here? How did Pakistan go from the classical era of ghazals and qawwalis to pop anthems, rock revolutions, and global Spotify sensations? Buckle up, because we're taking a deep dive into the Pakistani music scene—from the 1980s to today, where indie artists are breaking records, Coke Studio has basically become a religion, and folk traditions continue to thrive alongside modern beats. Let's start with the queen herself: Nazia Hassan. Before her, Pakistani music was mostly film songs, ghazals, and qawwalis. Beautiful, yes, but also a bit too serious. Then in 1981, Nazia and her brother Zoheb Hassan dropped Disco Deewane, and suddenly, Pakistan had its own pop revolution. This wasn't just a hit—it was the hit. The album topped charts in 14 countries, including India, making Nazia the first Pakistani pop superstar. Her voice, combined with British-Indian producer Biddu's disco beats, was the fresh sound Pakistan didn't even know it needed. But here's the catch: this was General Zia-ul-Haq's era, a time when anything remotely fun was frowned upon. Censorship was at an all-time high, and anything 'Western' was seen as corrupting young minds. Yet, despite this, Nazia's music flourished, and she became a household name. The '90s were wild, and Pakistani music went from an underground movement to absolute mainstream domination. Thanks to the rise of PTV's music programs and cassette culture, pop and rock bands became massive. You simply cannot talk about Pakistani music without Vital Signs. Their song Dil Dil Pakistan (1987) became a national anthem in its own right. Imagine a country obsessed with patriotic marches suddenly getting a soft rock song about love for Pakistan—it was a game-changer. The band's frontman, Junaid Jamshed, became a cultural icon, and their music blended Western influences with local sensibilities. For the first time, Pakistani youth had their own voice, their own music, their own aesthetic. While Vital Signs kept pop music alive, Junoon took a different route: Sufi Rock. Led by Salman Ahmad, Junoon blended electric guitars with poetry, and songs like Sayonee and Jazba Junoon became anthems of resistance. At the same time, Strings emerged as another powerhouse, producing Sar Kiye Yeh Pahar—a song so poetic and nostalgic it could make even Karachi's traffic feel romantic. The '90s were also the MTV generation, and Pakistani music was booming. Bands like Awaz (Haroon's old band), Ali Haider, and Fakhr-e-Alam all contributed to this golden age. Just when you thought Pakistani music couldn't get better, the 2000s happened. Noori came in with Suno Ke Main Hoon Jawan, making pop-punk anthems a thing. Entity Paradigm (EP), featuring a young Fawad Khan, introduced nu-metal to Pakistan. Aaroh, Mizmaar, and Fuzon blended Western rock with classical influences, creating a sound that was uniquely Pakistani. This was also the post-9/11 era, and Pakistan was once again dealing with political instability, media restrictions, and the war on terror. Music became a form of rebellion, with artists addressing social issues, youth frustration, and the need for identity. But despite their success, many bands started to break up. Junaid Jamshed left music for religion. EP disbanded. Even Junoon faded. It felt like Pakistani music was about to enter a dark age. And then, Coke Studio happened. Launched in 2008 by Rohail Hyatt (yes, the same guy from Vital Signs), Coke Studio became THE biggest music platform in Pakistan. It took folk music, classical influences, modern beats, and put them in one big experimental pot. This era gave us legends like Abida Parveen, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, and Ali Sethi, while also reviving folk music through artists like Mai Dhai and Saieen Zahoor. At the same time, the indie scene exploded. Hasan Raheem introduced lo-fi pop and became an instant hit. Young Stunners made Urdu rap mainstream. Shae Gill dropped Pasoori, which became a global phenomenon, proving that Pakistani music doesn't need Bollywood to make it big. With platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud, artists no longer needed record labels. They could release music independently, and the world was listening. But let's not forget Pakistan's deep-rooted cultural music traditions, which have shaped its sound for centuries. One of Pakistan's greatest musical gifts to the world is qawwali—a Sufi devotional music form that has survived for centuries. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan took it to an international stage, blending traditional poetry with a spiritual intensity that still leaves people mesmerized. Today, artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, and Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad continue this legacy, proving that qawwali will never go out of style. Pakistan's regional folk music is just as important. Sindhi folk music, with its deep-rooted poetry and Alghoza melodies, is best represented by Allan Fakir and Mai Dhai. Balochi folk music, featuring instruments like the Soroz and Dambura, tells the stories of the desert. Pashto music, driven by the Rubab, has given us legends like Sardar Ali Takkar and modern stars like Gul Panra. Punjabi folk, full of dhol beats and bhangra energy, remains popular worldwide, thanks to artists like Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi and Arif Lohar. But the music industry hasn't been free from political take a quick looks at this: Zia's era (1980s): Banned concerts, censored lyrics, and discouraged anything 'Western.' Musharraf's era (2000s): A boom in private channels helped musicians, but political instability still created uncertainty. Post-2010s: Music festivals were shut down, concerts were banned, and yet, musicians found ways to keep going. Artists like Ali Gul Pir have used satire in rap to criticize society. Rock bands like Laal have openly sung about political injustice. The resistance is still alive. From Nazia Hassan's disco beats to Young Stunners' rap bars, Pakistani music has evolved, adapted, and thrived despite all odds. So the next time someone tells you "Pakistani music isn't what it used to be," just send them a playlist. From Sufi to rock, pop to rap, and deep-rooted folk traditions, we've got something for everyone. The legacy continues, and it's louder than ever.
Express Tribune
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Atif Aslam's ICC Champions Trophy anthem packs a punch
It is time for cricket fans and music fans to come together and rejoice in unison: Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke, the official anthem for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, has been released, with none other than Pakistan's very own pitch-perfect belter Atif Aslam lending his powerhouse vocals to keep your feet tapping. Performed by Aslam, produced by Abdullah Siddiqui and co-written by Adnan Dhool and Asfanyar Asad, Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke is the perfect high-octane track worthy of the return of the Champions Trophy to Pakistan after a gap of eight years. High-energy vocals and visuals The video features Aslam and a horde of what we can only assume are cricket aficionados dancing along the streets, mimicking the nation's love affair with the sport, be it on the streets or in the stadium. Aslam's accompanying dancers hold aloft a set of flags representing each of the nations participating in the Champions Trophy, symbolising the unifying power of both sport and music. With never a dull moment, segments of the song dip into a video game-like simulation as would-be players (men and women alike) select a bat of their choice. This celebratory dance number may be set in a minor key, but it is powered by an upbeat tempo that defies you to sit still and fuels the excitement and adrenaline only an upcoming cricket tournament can bring. Whatever the outcome of the tournament, both music and cricket fans can at least jive along to a new anthem to keep the mood upbeat should a tense cricket match begin to slip into the jaws of defeat. The fast-paced lyrics may spitfire past you on the first listen, but no one will be able to deny that Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke is an electrifying homage to cricket. In under two minutes, we have received the message loud and clear: cricket is in our blood, it is to be revered, and most important of all, it is coming back. What the fans are saying Whether Jeeto Baazi Khel Ke will slip into the hallowed halls of immortal cricket songs and dethrone Dil Dil Pakistan is debatable, but the fusion of pop and pounding traditional beats alongside Aslam's soaring voice makes the song irresistible to listen to – and fans in the comments section agree. "Probably the best ICC Champions Trophy song," wrote one fan, having been won over by the banger. Yet another fan commented, "What a song. Epic! Atif is always giving his best! Loved it. Perfect song for the perfect occasion." Taking note of the appearance of flags in the video, one commenter penned their thoughts on Aslam's ability to foster cross-border relations. "Atif Aslam is the bridge between borders," penned the user, adding three emojis for the Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi flags. What sets the track apart is its very existence, since previous Champions Trophy tournaments did not feature an official anthem. However, with Aslam on board in this tightly knitted number, the upcoming tournament will have the benefit of music-fuelled adrenaline even if the sporting fixtures themselves fail to live up to expectations. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to start on February 19, beginning with a Pakistan-New Zealand clash. The tournament will see the top eight One Day International teams competing, with matches set to take place in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
