Abrar-ul-Haq | |
|---|---|
ابرار الحق | |
 Abrar-ul-Haq in 2018 | |
| Born | (1969-07-21)21 July 1969 (age 55) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable work |
|
| Office | Founder/Chairman Sahara for Life Trust |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Sughra and Shafi Kahloon |
| Awards | |
| Honours |
|
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels |
|
Musical artist | |
| Website | saharaforlife |
Abrar-ul-Haq (Punjabi:ابرار الحق) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and a politician.[1][2][3]
His debut 1995 albumBillo De Ghar sold over 40.3 million albums worldwide, which made him a household name and granted him the title of "King ofPakistani pop".[4]
Abrar-ul-Haq is the founder and chairman of Sahara for Life Trust, a private organization that has been providing health services to the people of Narowal and surrounding areas since 1998. He wasPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's candidate for the seat ofNational Assembly from constituencyNA-78 (Narowal-II) in the2018 Pakistani general election.[5]
Abrar-ul-Haq was born inFaisalabad,Punjab to a civil servant father, and is the youngest among eight siblings.[6] He belongs toPunjabiJat family of the Kahlon clan and his elder brother Major (r) Israr-ul-Haq Kahlon is an active politician in Narowal.
He was initially educated at the Junior Model School,Gujrat[6] later graduating from theSir Syed College,Rawalpindi before getting hisMaster's degree insocial sciences from theQuaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.[3]
Abrar-ul-Haq served as a teacher inAitchison College,Lahore for a brief period of time but quit the faculty when he opted for a music career.[3]
His first album as singer wasBillo De Ghar, which was released in 1995.[7]
Abrar-ul-Haq's songs have been a subject of controversy in Pakistan. After the release of the hit songBillo De Ghar in 1995, Urdu newspapers began quoting Islamic scholars of Lahore who were of the opinion that the song was describing a man falling in love with a prostitute and wanting to marry her. Upon the formation ofNawaz Sharif'sPML-N majority government after the1997 election, the song was banned from state-owned TV and radio channels.[8]
In the early 2000s, his songNach Punjaban was met with opposition from those who thought the casual use of the wordPunjaban was a demeaning way to address Punjabi women, eventually resulting in Abrar-ul-Haq re-recording a version of the song using the wordMajajan instead.[9]
In 2007, theSupreme Court of Pakistan summoned the singer for an explanation of the songParveen from the albumNara Sada Ishq Aye, alleging that it used the name Parveen in a derogatory manner that would hurt the sentiments of society.[10]
In 2019, his songChamkeeli was the subject of a claim in a civil court in Lahore, with the courts requesting that the song be banned and removed from YouTube, alleging that it was humiliating and insulting to both men and women.[11]
Abrar-ul-Haq is theFounder andChairman of Sahara for Life Trust (SLT), a post he has held since its inception in 1998. SLT is a private organization promoting health and education in remote areas.[2][12][3] SAHARA stands for: "Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas". SLT is recognized and registered as a leading charitable organization in Pakistan, the U.K, and the U.S. It is also certified by the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) and the U.N. (under the charter of DESA). SLT has been involved in numerous relief and rehabilitation efforts over the years. In 2003, SLT established its first large-scale general hospital inNarowal, Pakistan. The Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex is a PMDC-certified general hospital that provides a wide range of healthcare services to the people of Narowal and its surrounding areas. The location of this hospital also reduced the travel time for patients in critical condition who were unable to travel to major cities in a timely manner, thus saving lives.
In 2023, he was appointed the global goodwill ambassador of Niaz Support. This is a social enterprise in Pakistan that provides customized wheelchairs to people with disabilities. It also involves them in the manufacturing process, creating employment opportunities for them[13]
In 2006, he founded the Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP), a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious program.[14]
In December 2011 Abrar-ul-Haq joinedPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[15]
In 2012, he was appointed as President of the Youth Wing of PTI.[16] In 2013, he was appointed as PTI's Secretary of Foreign Affairs.[17]
He ran for a seat on theNational Assembly as PTI's Candidate for Constituency NA-117 (Narowal-III) in the2013 Pakistani general elections receiving 51,359 votes and lost toPML-N'sAhsan Iqbal.[18]
He was again nominated as PTI's Candidate for National Assembly ConstituencyNA-78 (Narowal-II) for the2018 Pakistani general elections but received 88,250 votes and lost toPML-N'sAhsan Iqbal.[19][5]
On 15 November 2019, he was appointedPakistan Red Crescent Society's 16th chairman and assumed office on 27 December 2019.[20][21]
In 2023, he left the PTI and quit politics following the controversy surrounding theMay 9 riots.[22]
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Billo De Ghar[3] | |
| 1998 | Majajani[3] | Sound Master |
| 1999 | Bay Ja Cycle Te[1][3] | |
| 2000 | Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga | |
| 2002 | Assan Jana Mall-o Mall[3] | DJ Gold |
| 2004 | Nachan Main Audhay Naal[3] | TP Gold |
| 2007 | Nara Sada Ishq Aye | Fire Records |
| 2013 | Sab Rang Aap (Pbuh) Se | Moviebox Record Label |
| 2016 | Billo Returns Aithay Rakh[23] | ARY Musik |
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Collaborations withGurdas Maan &Sukshinder Shinda[24] | Moviebox Record Label |
| 2008 | Sar Jalayn Gay Roshani Hogee | |
| 2009 | Awain Na Kar Zulm Ke Ik Din Muk Jana | |
| 2010 | Sar Utha Ke | |
| 2011 | Ki Karan Day O with Shahzaman and Jawad Kahlon | |
| Sohniye-Heeriye with Bhinda Aujla (film:Love Mein Ghum) | Reema Khan Film | |
| Ishqe Da Rang, music by Prince Ghuman | Speed Records and Inda Raikoti | |
| 2013 | Hogya Ni Piyar with Suman, music by Khiza | Moviebox Record Label |
| Pani Da Bulbula[25] (film:Zinda Bhaag) | Mazhar Zaidi Production | |
| Ishq Di Booti[26] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6) | |
| 2014 | Allah Hu withSaieen Zahoor | |
| Ithy Rakh[27] withSukshinder Shinda (Album:Collaborations 3) | Moviebox Record Label | |
| Pani Da Bulbula | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 7) | |
| 2016 | Qaseeda Burda Shareef | Peace Records |
| Bekarar with Farhan NTF[28] | VIP Records | |
| 2017 | Facebook Utte, music by DJ Sanj | Moviebox Record Label |
| 2018 | Hum Dekhenge (promo song ft. several artists)[29] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11) |
| Mere Rashke Qamar, music by Asif Khan | Moviebox Record Label | |
| Ballay Ballay withAima Baig | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11) | |
| 2019 | Diamond Ring[27] ft. Arbaz Khan | Beyond Records |
| Rahiya Sohneya | Akhrot Film | |
| Bhabhi[27] withShipra Goyal andJaidev Kumar (film: Ishq My Religion) | Gurdeep Dhillon Films | |
| Billo[30] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 12) | |
| Chamkeeli[9][11] | Independent Record Label | |
| 2020 | Paar withBohemia | Kali Denali Music |
| Udaasi Ki Raatain – Tribute to Kashmir | Independent Record Label | |
| 2021 | Sun Lay Tu | |
| Bol Qalandar | ||
| Ho Idhr Bi Nazar E Karam Ya Rasul Allah | ||
| Begum Shak Karti Hai | ||
| 2022 | Punjab Culture Song | |
| Imported Hakoomat Song | ||
| Pardesi Zindabad | UBL Roshan Digital | |
| Hai Haq Hamara Azaadi -PTI Anthem | Independent Record Label |
| Year | Program | Role | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Music Show:Star Host | Himself/host | ATV |
| 2015 | Ramzan Transmission:Mohabbat Hai Ramzan | Himself/host | A-Plus TV |
| 2016–17 | Talk Show:Darja-e-Shararat | Himself/host | Samaa TV |
| Date | Topic | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Developing Free Healthcare[31] | TEDx Talks –TMUC | Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Youth in a Nation Building Process[32] | TEDx Talks –Bahria University |
| Year | Award | Category | Award ceremony | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | PTV Awards | Folk singer | PTV World | Won |
| 2002 | Lux Style Award Best Singer 2002 | Best Singer | 1st Lux Style Awards | Won |
| 2003 | Lux Style Award Best Singer 2003 | 2nd Lux Style Awards | Won | |
| 2004 | PTV Awards | Six years consecutive award holder for best pop singer | PTV Home | Won |
| 2018 | Lux Style Award Best Dress Male | Best Dress (Male) | 17thLux Style Awards | Won |
King of Pakistani Pop Arad Al Hukh
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
