*aZ....an eye on Pakistan**

aZ....an eye on Pakistan.. has been shifted to wordpress

2006-06-23T11:53:00.000+05:00

aaFor all the visitors of the az! the news is that the aZ has been shifted to wordpress due to continuous ban of blogger in Pakistan and people are finding it very hard to approach this blog through address www.aslamzohaib.blogspot.com
or even
www.getaz.co.nr
.
So the new address for the blog is
www.fullstop.wordpress.com
So remember it and from now onwards there will be no posts here...Thanks.

Feroz Khan has been banned from entering Pakistan:

2006-05-19T13:18:00.000+05:00

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has banned veteran Bollywood actor Feroz Khan from entering Pakistan after his reported remarks highlighting comfort levels of Muslims in India in comparison to that in Pakistan triggered a nationwide controversy. The Pakistan President took the decision following a report submitted by the intelligence agencies.
"Feroz Khan has been banned from entering Pakistan in future. The President's decision has been communicated to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi," a private television reported quoting sources in the Presidency on Thursday. Interior Ministry and Foreign Office have also been directed accordingly, ARY channel said quoting sources in Karachi. "The President House has taken serious notice of his remarks which were widely covered in the Indian and Pakistani media and directed the concerned authorities to blacklist him and impose ban on his next entry into Pakistan," it said. The Pakistan Foreign Office would also inform the High Commissioner in New Delhi not to issue visa to the 67-year-old actor in future, it said.

aZ--->Very well done by the Pakistani government.

100,000 fans for London Mela, Atif performing for the first time:

2006-05-18T11:33:00.000+05:00

The biggest festival of south Asian music and culture to take place outside the subcontinent comes to the capital this summer.

Details were being unveiled today of the fourth London Mela, which will cover 30 acres of Ealing's Gunnersbury Park and feature 450 different artists.
Among the key attractions at the free festival will be the first live performance in Europe by Atif Aslam, one of Islam's biggest pop stars. Radio 1 DJs Bobby Friction and Nihal will front a soundstage for up-and-coming British Asian urban acts.
In all, the huge day-long celebration on Sunday 13 August will features 10 "zones" and six stages showcasing a mix of traditional and contemporary Asian music, dance, street theatre, fashion, the visual arts and cuisine.
Organisers expect up to 100,000 to attend the Mela, a word taken from the Sanskrit, meaning "to meet". Attendance has increased rapidly, with 60,000 in 2003 rising to 90,000 last summer.
Despite this, numbers are unlikely ever to match the attendance of the Kumbh Mela in India, to which 2.5 million people flock every 12 years.
A spokeswoman said the London eventwas aimed at celebrating the culture and traditions of the 13.2 per cent of Londoners with south Asian origins. "Melas are feasts of sights, smells, sounds and taste," she added.
Other events at this year's festival will include The Grand Trunk Road, a photographic exhibition exploring one of the greatest trade routes in south Asia, from Delhi to the Khyber Pass.
In the children's area, artists will teach rangoli, the designs that traditionally deck Indian courtyards and houses at festival time.
The finale will see a performance of Bollywood Steps, a montage of famous film sequences.

Star Plus seeks landing rights in Pakistan

2006-05-18T10:23:00.000+05:00

Banned along with other foreign channels that were operating without authorisation in Pakistan, Star Plus has now sought landing rights in the country. Denying that Indian TV channels had been singled out for a ban, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) chairperson said only foreign channels that did not have broadcast rights in Pakistan had been blocked. "The Indian channel Star Plus was working illegally, but has now requested landing rights. We will decide on the request according to Pemra 's rules,”
He aid Pemra had taken "strict action" against cable operators working illegally. Cable operators were not allowed to air more than five private channels each, and were permitted to air their own advertisements on those channels only, he said. The commercials must be within "moral limits", he said.

aZ-->I think it should never be allowed to run in Pakistan. NO INdian channel should be allowed as in India no Pakistani channel is shown.

ATN To Launch HUM TV

2006-05-17T10:47:00.000+05:00

Asian Television Network International Limitedis delighted to announce that it plans to launch as part of ATN's bouquet of South Asian Television Channels across Canada, Pakistan's family entertainment television channel, HUM TV in the Urdu language."We were delighted to sign a Canadian Distribution and Programming Agreement with one of Pakistan's finest television channels HUM TV, beforetheir launch in the USA in order to give us an edge in dealing with the potential gray market." said Shan Chrandrasekar President and CEO of ATN inCanada. "This will effectively compliment our existing South Asian offerings of several ATN channels," he added."We are proud of HUM TV's success and today enjoy the status of being the most viewed channel in urban cable and satellite homes in Pakistan and arelooking forward to launching the North American premier of HUM TV through ATN a highly experienced and committed broadcaster and distributor of South Asian Channels across Canada" said Mr. Duraid Qureshi, CEO, of HUM TV. "We are planning on producing Canadian drama using Canadian talent in collaboration with ATN for distribution not only in Canada but world wide" he added.HUM TV is the first brand of Eye Television Network Limited which is the only television network to be publicly listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange,was first launched in Pakistan just one year ago and caters to the entire family with special focus on women. Being a pure entertainment channel thecornerstones of the programming mix are Soaps, Drama, Music and Game Shows.The concept behind HUM TV is not only to cater to the entertainment needs of the audience but also take a big step towards the education andinfotainment needs of the niche audience.

aZ-->At last HUM Tv going global. Good news for the US residence. Last month PTV global was launched there and now its HUM Tv's turn.

Pakistan Television Chief Arshad Khan Quits:

2006-05-13T10:37:00.000+05:00

Managing Director of the state owned Pakistan Television (PTV) Arshed Khan has stepped down, sources said on Friday.On contact Khan, who originally hailed from Pakistan Telecom and was chief of its allied mobile company Ufone, confirmed his resignation.'The Prime Minister has assured me to be assigned with another job soon', Arshad Khan claimed without elaborating the possible slot. He said his resignation has been accepted. However, the Khan was reluctant to give any specific reason for his resignation.Whreas some reports suggest that Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi is likely to replace Arshad Khan, another one says that Secretary Information Shahid Rafi has taken over as acting Managing Director of PTV.

Ashraf Azeem new MD

Yet, a report in Islamabad indicated that the government has accepted the resignation of Managing Director PTV Arshad Khan and gave acting charge of the post to Ashraf Azeem.According to a notification of Ministry of Information, the competent authority accepting the resignation of Khan relieved him of his post and assigned the charge to PTV's Lahore General Manager Ashraf Azeem as acting MD PTV.The notification and relevant officials are mum about any reason of the sudden resignation by the incumbent MD PTV, a highly lucrative post in the government’s media apparatus.Meanwhile, unofficial sources told English daily The Nation that Khan was asked to resign. According to the sources, the assignment of acting charge to senior cadre person indicates that the Prime Minister would not decide the new PTV chief in a hurry. His decision would come after his scheduled visit to Indonesia.Meanwhile, officials are of the view that some senior bureaucrat could be selected for the position.

Fortune Tv changes logo:

2006-05-13T10:15:00.000+05:00

The new Pakistani satellite channel has changes its logo before its launch. I don't know why they have changed it because the old logo was a very nice one.
Old logo is shown above.
New logo is shown below.
Parameters for this channel are: Thaicom 3 at 78.5°E 8, 519, 720.

MTv set to rock Pak TV screens:

2006-05-13T10:07:00.000+05:00

The Music Television (MTv), which runs in nearly 100 countries, is soon to launch in Pakistan. While the tentative date for the launch of the channel is June-July, but things are still being finalised and it is expected that MTv would begin rocking the Pakistanis by the year-end.
MTV will be Pakistan's fourth music channel, after 'The Muzik,' 'Indus Music,' 'Channel G'.
Wiqar Ali Khan, who is serving as one of the executives and a VJ of the channel, said that the channel would be formally launched by the end of this year. "I cannot give the exact dates of the launch right now, because we will officially announce our openings when we do. But it is definitely coming to Pakistan," the Daily Times quoted Khan as saying.
He added: "MTV would not only concentrate on promoting Pakistani musicians and songs, it would also play songs from around the world. I believe it is MTV's policy to bring in a bit of everything, but our priority would be Pakistani music."
Besides the three music channels, other family channels such as 'Hum TV' also play songs, said the paper.
The rights for bringing the channel to Pakistan have been awarded to Indus Network, he said and added: "We are in the process of preparing our offices and studios here in Karachi. A lot of TV channels had presented their bids to start and telecast MTV Pakistan, but eventually it was won by Indus."
Allaying fears of a clash of interest between MTv and "Indus Music", he said: "Indus Music is going international. It will be serving songs of Pakistani artists to an international viewer-ship. It will finish its operations here and will be replaced with MTv Pakistan which would cater to the local audience."
Wiqar also said that international artists such as Sting, Michael Bolton or even Michael Jackson would be brought over to Pakistan through his channel. "MTV will definitely bring international artists here to Pakistan," he said.

aZ---> Indus Music digging hole for himself as ARY Digital has dug hole for ARY One World by bringing Aljazeera Urdu to Pakistan.

PTV to be Exclusive Media Partner for Women’s Expo:

2006-04-02T09:43:00.000+05:00

Pakistan Television Corporation Limited (PTV) would be the media partner for Women’s Expo, which will be held here from 13 to 16 April, 2006 at the Expo Centre.
PTV would setup its Live Studio and a Celebrity Corner at Women’s Expo Venue from where it would telecast live transmission for the four days of exhibition.
PTV has also planned live programs from the venue on regular intervals on daily basis. PTV will also set up four channel stalls for its channels PTV 1, PTV World, PTV National and PTV Bolan during the Expo.
The Managing Director PTV, Arshad Khan said that being the largest national television network PTV had always been supporting and educating the women folk of Pakistan.
Khan stated that with PTV as Media Partner the forthcoming Women’s Expo would be practically taken to the nook and corner of the country due to its massive reach.
He said that Media had a vital role to play in building and changing perceptions of people therefore PTV had decided to play its due role in projecting the positive side of Pakistani women.
Mustafa Qayyum CEO 4th Dimension Pvt. Ltd. said that Women’s Expo would serve as a platform where over hundred thousand Pakistani women from all age groups would congregate, meet and discuss their issues.
They would vocalize their concerns; celebrate their identity, achievements and individuality; highlight their contribution in the society and converge efforts towards Women Development and Empowerment.
Four-day Women’s Expo is the first ever national-interactive platform for Pakistani Women that would promote the progressive image of Pakistan globally.
The idea behind Women’s Expo is to develop a National Women’s Interactive Platform to integrate the efforts of all concerned quarters that are working for Women Development and Empowerment.
This interactive platform would help improve collaboration and bridge gap amongst Government, Non-Government Sector, Corporate sector and Public.

Pakistan gets women combat pilots:

2006-03-31T10:07:00.000+05:00

The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) has inducted four women as fighter pilots for the first time.
The women were part of a batch of 36 cadets who were awarded flying badges after three years of gruelling training at the PAF academy at Risalpur.
Being a fighter pilot has until now been a purely male domain. Women could join the armed forces but only for non-combat jobs like the medical corps.
Three years ago the PAF decided to allow women to train as fighter pilots.

First batch

Never before had any woman been part of the batch of fighter pilots being awarded flying badges.
And the difference was recognised by the vice chief of the army, Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, who handed out the certificates of honour to the successful men and women cadets.
Expressing his delight, Gen Hayat said the air force had taken the lead to induct women in the combat units of the armed forces.
When the BBC visited the training academy nearly a year ago, the first batch of four women cadets had just moved on to fly jet-engine planes.
There were six others who were in the second batch and a few others in the aerospace unit.

'Dream come true'

One of the female cadets and now a fighter pilot, Saba Khan, then told the BBC that joining the air force to become a pilot was like a dream come true.
Other female cadets were equally excited.
At the passing out, one of the graduating women flying officers, Nadia Gul, received the trophy for best academic achievement along with two of her male colleagues who got trophies for best flying performance and general duties.
The air force academy is still male-dominated, and it is not clear what the real feelings of the male cadets have been to the induction of women into the fighter pilot programme. Officially, most have welcomed the move.
Even so, the fact that four women are now officially fighter pilots is a clear indication that the new policy of opening up the combat units of the Pakistani armed forces for women is here to stay.

Iqbal shoots with Pakistani singer:

2006-03-30T09:02:00.000+05:00

Taking a break from his television schedule, Iqbal Khan recently shot for a music video. Titled Tu Yu Ye (only you), the shoot took place in the city along with Pakistani singer Mehreen Raheem. Giving details about the video, Raheem said, “It was great fun working with Iqbal. He’s quite popular in Pakistan and I chose him because his personality suits the character in my song.”

Overwhelmed

Calling her trip to India an interesting experience, she said, “I am overwhelmed by the warmth of the Indian people.” Directed by Rahul Sood, the video will air in a month’s time. Iqbal, too, sounded excited about working in the video. “I think relations between India and Pakistan are improving day by day. When I heard that Mehreen is from Pakistan, I was even more keen to do the video. She has a great voice and is a really fabulous person.” Is this his first music video?“No, I have worked in a music album before, but after Balaji, this is my first stint outside television.” When asked about his character and the mood of the song, he said, “The song is very catchy, and has a Punjabi-Sindhi feel. I play a guy who is best friends with another chap in the video. We have lots of fun and kid around.”

aZ--->Now this is the way to take the overnight fame. I don't even know her who she is. I think she didn't find any appropriate person then Iqbal in Pakistan....Interesting.........

Sahara One Television changes logo, on-air identity:

2006-03-29T08:10:00.000+05:00

Sahara One Television has once again changed its on-air channel identity and logo.
In order to reflect the dreams and aspirations of the new age Indian woman, the channel will don a new logo from 28 March. Inspired from the blooms of a lotus, the colours and form speak for themselves.
Sahara One Television's prime time programming revolves around contemporary Indian women minus the saas-bahu sagas in shows like Woh Rehne Waali Mehlon Ki, Haare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan and Kituu Sabb Jantii Hai.
The channel had last changed its logo in October 2004.
"The new logo is designed by Yellow Frog a design outfit of Percept H, part of Percept Holdings Company and gives Sahara One Television the crucial singular visual identity along with colour palettes that give continuity and a never-ending promise. Though the new logo is soft in appeal, it has an inner strength that is exuded via the bloom and the colours. It is interesting to notice that the form that is created for O is inspired from a lotus petal," said Sahara One Television COO Purnendu Bose.
Speaking on the reason behind changing the logo, Bose said, "The old logo with the diamonds around it was too restrictive and was not flexible. It wasn't a reflection of the true Indian woman and we wanted a logo that reflected our target audience."

aZ--->Look at the transition of logo from bottom to top. How simple it was at the start and how nice it is now.

Singer Sam:the upcoming singer

2006-03-29T07:46:00.000+05:00

Assam Rao aka Sam is the name of the new upcoming singer from Multan. He is unique in his own regard as he is singing classically in a modern way and with a modern touch. Although he is still regarded as the underground singer but the way he performed and rocked a recently held event at BZU, let me tell you that he is the one to see in the future. I few pictures of that particular event are posted here.
Sorry for the qulity of these pics as these were taken from mobile phone.He only knows one way of singing and that is singing with heart.Crowd gathered and enjoying the singing.

Film appreciation course opens to Pakistanis:

2006-03-29T07:21:00.000+05:00

Setting a precedent, the immensely popular film appreciation course organised by the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has now been opened to candidates from Pakistan. According to NFAI director K.S. Sasidharan, Ajmal Kamal, editor of a Karachi-based film magazine, is set to become the first Pakistani participant in the 30-year history of the film appreciation course. The course starts on May 15 this year. Sasidharan said that the ministry of external affairs has cleared Kamal's visit, subject to his selection. This is a clear sign that diplomatic and cultural relations between the two countries are heading in a healthy direction. It also reflects the growing interest in Indian cinema in Pakistan, he adds. The course gives participants a taste of the best of Indian and world cinema. Around 100 classics — fiction, non-fiction, documentary and children s films — are screened.
A nod in the direction of current filmmaking trends has added digital films, animated films and cartoons to this list.There are lectures on the history of Indian and world cinema, as well as classes on film theory and the different approaches to analysing films. Filmmakers screen their work during the course and discuss it with audiences. P.K. Nair, former director,NFAI points out that the course represents the richness of the cinematic medium. It includes a session on popular cinema which screens a hit film of the year and analyses its ingredients. "We started this course in the 1970s to make the public familiar with the language of cinema. Exposing audiences to a wide range of films broadens their vision." Satish Bahadur, former professor, FTII, is one of the pioneers of the course. He stresses that the course is not meant to teach filmmaking, but to direct participants to study film as an art form. Familiar names who have attended the course include Ashutosh Gowariker (in his pre-Lagaan days) and actresses Anita Kanwar, Deepti Naval and Neena Gupta. The selection process for 2006 is in full swing. The list of participants will be finalised in a couple of weeks.

VJ Sophie to play lead in a Pakistani film:

2006-03-27T09:31:00.000+05:00

Bollywood has caught up with the Indo-Pak bonhomie with popular video jockey Sophie, who made her debut in films recently with Shaadi No 1, having been approached to play the lead role opposite one of the biggest male actors in Pakistan.
However, Sophie is yet to give her nod to the project which would be shot in India. Says Sophie: "Right now I wouldn't like to divulge the name of the director or the actor. All that I can say is that I am eager to take up films, which offer me versatile roles and am keen on working with good banners and directors instead of just making myself available for dolled up glam roles".

Goa: Watch out ! Pakistani 'Jal' has a Big Crowd in its Hold

2006-03-27T09:01:00.000+05:00

Jal, a Pakistani band, which rocked Bollywood through its song Woh Lamhe.., feels that political diplomacy between India and Pakistan should play a different tune.
With much happening over the relations between two nations, this young band members, opined that music and films should be chipped in to further ties between two nations.

"More than 80 per cent of people in Pakistan want Indian movies to be screened in Pakistani theatres,"Gohar Mumtaz, a band member felt.

The Pakistani band, which is touring India, performed in Goa to raise funds for the rehabilitating vulnerable women and children in the concert organised by a NGO -- Women's Institute for Social Education (WISE).

"Music is one thing which will help both the countries come together. Both countries exchanging music will come as a great help,"feels Farhan Butt, lead vocals in the band who sang 'Woh lamhe.'

This young band members feel that though political boundaries have divided two nations, the people are not divided."Till now we have performed in 15 to 16 cities of India and response of the crowd is enormous,"Gohar stated.

The band shot to fame with 'woh lamhe' song which is picturised in movie 'Zaher'.

"We have composed nine to ten songs for our new album and expect to release it by September-October, this year," stated Gohar.

aWhen asked whether this album too would contribute to Bollywood, Gohar quipped,"we will compose the songs, and if an Bollywood film likes to pick it up, it is their look out."

With Pakistani youths inclined towards western rock music trend and Bollywood busy with re-mixing, the Jal duo feels that original tracks in the albums would bring in musical revolution in India and Pakistan.

Construction of 26-storey Media Tower, PTV Multan to start soon: Sh. Rashid

2006-03-27T08:44:00.000+05:00

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said work on construction of 26-storey Islamabad Media Tower and Pakistan Television Centre at Multan would be started soon.
The Minister stated this while presiding over a briefing to review progress on various projects being undertaken by the subordinate offices of the Ministry of Information.
The projects include Islamabad Media Tower, Direct-to-Home service, setting up of PTV Centre Multan and re-strengthening of Sindhi and Arabic services by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the official news agency of Pakistan.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed directed the Managing Director PTV to immediately start work on setting up of PTV Centre Multan without any delay. He said this step will go a long way in providing direct access for the people of the southern part of Punjab and adjoining areas to information besides providing an opportunity to the talented people of the area at their door step.
He said Islamabad Media Tower would help promote electronic media activity by providing various facilities to the electronic channels under one roof. On the occasion, the Minister was apprised that the world class smart building of Media Tower having a total covered area of 205,000 square feet would be constructed at a specified plot in the Blue area. The design and other architectural formalities for the building have already been completed while other necessary formalities would soon be finalized, he was told.
Secretary Information informed the Minister that Italy has shown keen interest in the news exchange programme with Pakistan and soon an agreement in this behalf would be reached.

aZ-->I think instead of media tower they should make a whole media city because the way channels are comming these days, I think in two to three years time that media tower would not be enough. Good step taken to start PTV centre in Multan.

37 new electronic channels soon: Sheikh Rashid

2006-03-25T11:06:00.000+05:00

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmad Friday announced that around thirty seven new electronic channels will come to market soon.
"Today fifteen private television channels are operating in the country and around thirty-seven more are in the pipeline", he stated this while addressing at the launching ceremony of Lahore edition of a national daily.
He further said that Pakistan Television will start direct transmission in America during this month claiming the development that print media has witnessed is unsurpassed. "Around twelve hundred newspapers are being published nation-wide", he revealed.
He said the extension in PTV transmission would earn the state television Rs 2 crore in revenues from forty thousand new viewers. "Friendly relations exist between government and newspaper and gone are the days when state use to terrorize media", He cited.
"Today we can gauge the pedestal at which media stand by the fact that at times newspaper refuse to publish government advertisements as they are over occupied with the advertisements coming from private sector", he said.
He said main reason behind this is the rapid development in business and industry in the country due to the adept measures taken by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
He said running the ministry is not easy but saying that we are afraid of anyone is away from reality.
The Ministry remained under extreme pressure due to the international issues of Afghanistan and Iraq and internal situation of turmoil in Waziristan and Balochistan.
He was of the view that Present government has set high standards of tolerance there are opposition government in two provinces. "We consider Akram Durrani as our brother", he added.
Talking of the intense competition and rapid developments in the field, he said there are 70 people in his department who are getting handsome salaries.
He told that two DTH Channels have been handed over to private sector. This has generated Rs 52 crore in revenues.
This will open up transmission of innumerable channels on viewers’ television screens.
He lauded the policies of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in this regard.

SRK of Pakistan (Humayun Saeed) producing an Indo-Pak movie:

2006-03-24T10:41:00.000+05:00

He has been called the Shahrukh Khan of Pakistan, Humayun Saeed is both an accomplished actor and entertainer. The 35-year-old Pakistani heartthrob has won awards for television dramas and films, including a National Award for best newcomer, and regaled his international fans by dancing on stage with Shahrukh Khan at the Zee Film Awards.
After a meteoric rise from modelling to his own production company Humayun Saeed is firmly established at the pinnacle of the Pakistani entertainment industry. His production house, H.S. Production is financing a joint Indo-Pak film which should start filming next month.
On his recent trip to London he spoke to Sajeda Momin about his personal aspirations and those for his country.

What is the unique experience for you being in London?
Here, I get to see the response to my work from my Indian and Pakistani fans. Like in US, they get to see my serials on Zee TV which is watched by the South Asian diaspora. They recognise me and appreciate my work much more than people in India who may not have seen my films or plays. Here there is no difference between Indians and Pakistanis. They look the same, talk the same and enjoy the same sort of entertainment.

I believe you are producing a Indo-Pak venture.
Yes. I am very excited about it. The film is being written by Javed Siddique, an Indian writer who has given marvellous films as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Bazigaar and Koi Mil Gaya. The films will have lyrics by Gulzar Shaib and Mahima Chaudhury and I will act in it. Pakistani director, Shehzad Rafique will direct.

Would you like to see more interaction between the Indian and Pakistani entertainment industries?
Definitely. I think as relations improve, and they are with the possibility of a consulate opening in Karachi, increased people-to-people contact can only help. We have so much to offer to each other. Imagine what we could achieve together. I will do whatever I can to that end. Earlier I had wanted to bring Indian stars to Pakistan but it created such a controversy that I couldn’t. Things are better now.

Have you ever thought of working in Indian films?
Of course, I would love to and I was offered a role in a film called Goa to London but I had date problems. I have been offered second leads in Indian films but I am not happy with that. I would like to play the lead or at least one of the leads in a large cast.

Any particular Indian director you would like to work with?
Ram Gopal Verma, Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and Mani Ratnam to name just a few. For me the storyline and the character are very important. In fact, so far in Pakistan I have done more TV serials than films as there are more substantial roles in TV dramas.

What sort of roles are you looking for?
They can be anything, they don’t always have to be the romantic lead as long as it is a strong role. I started my film career playing a negative role. I played an abusive husband in Inteha. I like the idea of doing a realistic character role.

Do you think there is a future for the Pakistani film industry?
aThere is a future that needs to be revived. That is what I hope to do with my production house. There are some excellent young directors in Pakistan who are doing great things with commercials, but they need financiers to give them a chance to show their talent. People like Sakir Mallick, Jami, Ehsan Rahim, Sohail Javed, Asim Reza, Asad are all talented but haven’t had a chance to prove themselves.

India, Pak cable operators form SAARC Electronic Media Association:

2006-03-23T12:40:00.000+05:00

At a time when relationship between India and Pakistan are thawing a bit for the better, Indian and Pakistani cable operators have joined hands to push for a regional body that would take up industry issues in the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) region.
The campaign for such a body has been jointly launched by India’s Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh and Pakistan Electronics Media Association (PEMA).
According to Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh founder-president AK Rastogi, “The time has come when an organisation is launched that will work for the interest of cable operators and the cable and broadcast industry in the SAARC region, including interfacing with various governments.”
SAARC region includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. “A meeting of the new organisation, attended by Pakistani and Indian representatives, has been held. Consent from those in other countries had been taken earlier,” Rastogi added.
Such a body, according to Rastogi, would go a long way in creating awareness about the industry and its intricacies amongst the general populace of various South Asian countries.Concurring with Rastogi, PEMA’s founder chairperson Muhammad Ibrahim Rana told Indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th Convergence India 2006, that even the Pakistani government has realised the futility of banning Indian TV channels.
“There is a growing feeling in Pakistan that Indian TV channels like Zee TV, Star Plus, NGC and Sony can be given landing rights with certain riders like inclusion of a certain percentage of Pakistani content on the channels’ Pakistan feed,” Rana said.
However, these content-related riders are worrying some Indian and foreign broadcasters who have sought permission from the Pakistani authorities to beam there.
For example, a senior executive of Zee Telefilms, India’s largest vertically integrated media company, said, “These conditions being flaunted by Pakistani authorities for giving a green signal to us will only increase cost and red tapism. Does the Indian government put such conditions on Pakistani channels, including PTV?”
Pakistan may not see eye to eye with India over various issues, but when it comes to watching Indian cable television, most Pakistanis will tune in faster to Indian general entertainment channels than a runaway rickshaw.
It is this factor, according to some critics, that has stopped the Pakistani cable industry and subscriber homes from growing as fast as their Indian counterparts.
While India boasts of over 61 million C&S households, PEMA’s Rana said that the total number of cable TV homes in Pakistan would be approximately 2 million. Though Dubai-based ARY Digital has obtained a DTH licence, it is yet to start the service.
“But if Indian TV channels agree to about 20 per cent of Pakistani programming on their Pakistan feeds, we don’t see any reason why the likes of Zee and Star cannot be seen in our country,” Rana said, admitting that before a ban was put in place Zee News, notably, had seized a fair market share.
The SAARC Electronic Media Association can work towards removal of such governmental, political and social barriers, Rana asserted.

PTV Newscaster Ishrat Saqib robbed:

2006-03-21T08:33:00.000+05:00

Unidentified thieves in a robbery incident deprived of the newscaster of Pakistan Television (PTV), Ishrat Saqib jewellery and cash worth of 5,50000 million.
According to the details, Ishrat Saqib on Sunday night when incident happened was outside with her family.
Unidentified thieves stormed into the house by breaking the door and also took the Gold Medal of Ishrat Saqib`s son.
Police so far failed to find any clue of the incident.

International Fashion Awards 2006: Aleena Khan wins best model award

2006-03-21T08:21:00.000+05:00

Pakistani fashion model Aleena won the International Model award at the International Fashion Awards (IFA) 2006 on Saturday.Aleena participated in the IFA as Ms Pakistan and won the International Model award followed by Ms England and Ms Bulgaria as the first and second runner up, respectively. Fashion model Mehreen Syed, who won last year’s International Model award, was called on the stage to crown Aleena.In other categories Ms Ukraine won the Best Smile award, Ms Madova won the Best Personality award and Ms Scotland won the Best Hair and Best Photogenic awards. In the category of Designer Awards, Nabeel and Aqeel won the Best Upcoming Designer award, Best Casual Wear was won by Asia Saail, Best Bridal Wear by Lajawanti, Best Pakistani Formal Wear by Sheek and a Dubai based fashion designer Walid Attaullah won the Celebrity Designer award. Depliex’s Mussarat Misbah, Vice Chairman of Kamber Entertainment Rehan Syed, Lebanese Dancer Khamito, Walid Attaullah and Rami Mansoor, owner of a FM channel in the Middle East were the jury for the awards ceremony. The show started with casual dresses from fashion designer Amer Bilal whose brand name is ABCD and the models wore western and eastern clothes in the segment. ABCD’ segment was followed by formal dresses from Asia Sayal and the KARVAN.Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool was the chief guest of the IFA and said that Pakistan had a rich textile industry. Pakistan’s textile products could be introduced aboard by fashion exhibition.

Some Media news from Pakistan and across:

2006-03-18T18:16:00.000+05:00

Yet another Channel to Pakistan:

A new Pakistani television channel by the name of Fortune TV has started testing at Thaicom 3 at 78.5°E 8, 519, 720. [Shin 9 test card].

aZ-->Another Pakistani channel on Thaicom. I don't know why they like this satellite that much. Nice logo. Hope to get good entertainment as well.

Al Jazeera may accelerate innovation among Pakistani broadcasters:

In Pakistan, for instance, media analysts say Al Jazeera's reputation will assure it a wide audience.
"Al Jazeera [Arabic] already has credibility, even if it's not in a language that's understood in Pakistan," says Agha Nasir, an executive director of Geo TV, an Urdu-language private broadcaster in Pakistan. "I'm quite sure it will be watched."
And just as the original channel has been heralded by some as a force for democracy and reform in the Middle East, Mr. Nasir says that competition from Al Jazeera may accelerate innovation among Pakistani broadcasters.
"We try to be the first with breaking news," Nasir says. "But Al Jazeera will affect us because it's coming from an Islamic country, not like BBC or CNN."

Doordarshan to launch Urdu channel this year:

A New Year's gift awaits the over 120-million-strong Urdu-speaking people in India and alot in Pakistan and other countries with Prasar Bharati announcing to launch an exclusive Urdu channel in 2006. Announcing this at a press conference, Information and Broadcasting Minister S Jaipal Reddy said the launch of the channel would take at least six months for recruiting personnel and developing software for it. An amount of Rs 65.7 crore had been set aside to prepare the software for the channel, which would beam at lest seven hours of programme every day, to begin with, he said. He said Prasar Bharati had accepted a request to this effect made by the Central Government. Allaying doubts about the commercial viablity of the proposed channel in view of the competition from the existing private Urdu channels, Mr Reddy said Prasar Bharati is a public broadcaster and it has to cater to the needs of all sections of society. ''Urdu boasts of a rich literature, and over a hundred million people speak and understand it. It is imperative to start such a channel,'' he added. While the channel was not being started keeping commercial viability in view, attempts would be made to earn revenue.

Heavy weights at Aljazeera:

The English language Al-Jazeera international news channel will be launched in March with 250 journalists from 30 countries, managing director Nigel Parsons confirmed. Veteran BBC television host Sir David Frost and Josh Rushing a former US marine who was a Pentagon spokesman during the first moths of the US-led invasion of Iraq, have signed with the new channel. It launched a children’s channel last year as part of a major expansion. It also has a sports channel and another dedicated to covering live events with out presenter or commentary.

Pakistan bans Afghan TV channels:

2006-03-18T17:29:00.000+05:00

Pakistani authorities have banned the airing of two private Afghan television channels, saying they were spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda.
The mainly Pasto-language Tolo and Ariana television channels, widely watched along the border with Afghanistan, were banned after they blamed Pakistan for last week’s suicide attack on a former Afghan president, an official said yesterday.
“They are spreading malicious propaganda against Pakistan,” Ashfaq Jamani, head of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in southwestern Balochistan province, said.
“They have been trying to incite sentiments after this attack.” Former Afghan president Sibghatullah Mojadidi, who was slightly wounded in the attack, blamed it on Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI. Pakistan said the charge was baseless.
Tensions between the neighbours have been high since last month when Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Islamabad and handed over information showing, according to Afghan officials, that Taleban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar was in Pakistan.
Pakistan said the information was outdated and unusable and President Pervez Musharraf said Karzai was “totally oblivious” to efforts by elements in his government to malign Pakistan.
Both nations are allies in the US led war on terrorism.
Recent media reports said Afghan intelligence agents believe bin Laden is in Pakistani territory.
In an interview on CNN's Late Edition programme, President General Pervez Musharraf alleged that there are elements in the Afghan government that intentionally try to make his country look bad.
“I am totally disappointed with their intelligence, and I feel there is a very, very deliberate attempt to malign Pakistan, by some agents," said Pervez Musharraf. Pakistani authorities said dozens of militants were killed in clashes near the Afghan border.
As both Afghanistan and Pakistan work to strengthen their relationships with the United States, bin Laden's whereabouts and the efforts to find him can sometimes be a sensitive subject.

Zee for India and Pakistan in triangular cricket:

2006-03-18T17:14:00.000+05:00

l India, Pakistan and a third country could be playing an annual triangular One-Day Series in the US, Abu Dhabi or Holland if the two South Asian countries' boards agree to a proposal from Zee Television.After entering into a contract with five different cricket associations in three countries, Zee has written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to allow their national teams to play an annual tournament for five years to "further the brand equity of the BCCI". According to a well-placed BCCI source, Zee Business Head Himanshu Modi sent a letter to BCCI president Sharad Pawar and PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan Tuesday. "Modi has written to the BCCI and PCB chiefs, requesting them to allow the Indian and Pakistani teams to take part in a one-day international tournament in the US, Abu Dhabi or Holland once in a year," the source told IANS. "He has said that if the teams are allowed to compete, it would further the brand equity of BCCI," the source informed. The source disclosed that Zee had attached copies of its agreements to host matches with South Carolina Cricket Association (SCCA), North Texas Cricket Association (NTCA), Abu Dhabi Cricket Club (ADCC), Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) and the VRA Ground near Amsterdam in Holland.The Zee proposal comes a month after the BCCI and PCB announced in Pakistan that the two teams would play an annual series of five one-day internationals either in the US, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Canada. This annual series would be in addition to the India-Pakistan biennial Test and one-day series to be held alternately in the two countries, the boards had announced jointly.It is not clear whether Zee's proposal seeks to be part of the policy decision taken by the BCCI and PCB during India's January-February tour of Pakistan. India and Pakistan have played three full-fledged series, comprising Tests and one-day internationals, in less than two years, starting with the historic series in Pakistan in early 2004. In addition to the proposed bilateral series, India and Pakistan will play two one-day internationals in Abu Dhabi April 18 and 19 to raise funds for the survivors of an earthquake that rocked the two countries in October last year.

*****aZ....an eye on Pakistan******