Abrar-ul-Haq (Punjabi: ابرار الحق) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and politician.[2][3] His debut 1995 album Billo De Ghar sold over 40.3 million albums worldwide,[4] which made him a household name and granted him the title of "King of Pakistani pop".[5]
Abrar-ul-Haq | |
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ابرار الحق | |
![]() Abrar-ul-Haq in 2018 | |
Born | (1969-07-21) 21 July 1969 (age 53) Ghulam Muhammad Abad, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan |
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Political party | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf |
Children | 3[1] |
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Years active | 1995–present |
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Website | saharaforlife |
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 was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's candidate for the seat of National Assembly from constituency NA-78 (Narowal-II) in the 2018 Pakistani general election.[6] On 15 November 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS). He also served as a teacher in Aitchison College for a brief period of time.[7]
His first album as singer was Billo De Ghar, which was released in 1995.[8]
Abrar-ul-Haq's songs have been a subject of controversy in Pakistan. After the release of the hit song "Billo 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 of Nawaz Sharif's PML-N majority government after the 1997 election, the song was banned from state-owned TV and radio channels.[9]
In the early 2000s, his song "Nach Punjaban" was met with opposition from those who thought the casual use of the word "Punjaban" was a demeaning way to address Punjabi women, eventually resulting in Abrar-ul-Haq re-recording a version of the song using the word "Majajan" instead.[10]
In 2007, the Supreme Court of Pakistan summoned the singer for an explanation of the song "Parveen" from the album Nara Sada Ishq Aye, alleging that it used the name Parveen in a derogatory manner that would hurt the sentiments of society.[11]
In 2019, his song "Chamkeeli" 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.[12]
Year | Album | Label |
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1995 | Billo De Ghar | |
1998 | Majajani[4] | Sound Master |
1999 | Bay Ja Cycle Tay with hit song "Kurrian Lahore Diyyan"[2] | |
2000 | Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga | |
2002 | Assan Jana Mall-o Mall[13] | DJ Gold |
2004 | Nachan Main Audhay Naal[4] | TP Gold |
2007 | Nara Sada Ishq Aye[13] | Fire Records |
2013 | Sab Rang Aap (PBUH) Se | Moviebox Record Label |
2016 | Billo Returns Aithay Rakh[14] | ARY Musik |
Year | Title | Label |
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2006 | Collaborations with Gurdas Maan & Sukshinder Shinda[15] | Moviebox Record Label |
2008 | "Sar Jlayn Gay Roshani Hogee" | |
2009 | "Awain Na Kar Zulm Ke Ik Din Muk Jana" | Moviebox Record Label |
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"[16] (film: Zinda Bhaag) | Mazhar Zaidi Production | |
Ishq di Booti[17] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 6) | |
2014 | Allah Hu with Saieen Zahoor | |
Ithy Rakh[18] with Sukshinder 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[19] | VIP Records | |
2017 | Facebook Utte, music by DJ Sanj | Moviebox Record Label |
2018 | Hum Dekhenge (promo song ft. several artists)[20] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11) |
Mere Rashke Qamar, music by Asif Khan | Moviebox Record Label | |
Ballay Ballay with Aima Baig | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11) | |
2019 | Diamond Ring[18] ft. Arbaz Khan | Beyond Records |
Rahiya Sohneya | Akhrot Film | |
Bhabhi[18] with Shipra Goyal and Jaidev Kumar (film: Ishq My Religion) | Gurdeep Dhillon Films | |
Billo[21] | Coke Studio Pakistan (season 12) | |
Chamkeeli[10][12] | Independent Record Label | |
2020 | Paar with Bohemia | Kali Denali Music |
Udaasi ki Raatain – Tribute to Kashmir | Independent Record Label | |
2021 | Sun Lay Tu | Independent Record Label |
Bol Qalandar | Independent Record Label | |
Ho edhr bi Nazar e karam Ya Rasul Allah | Independent Record Label | |
Begum Shak Karti Hai | Independent Record Label | |
2022 | Punjab Culture Song | Independent Record Label |
Year | Program | Role | Channel |
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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 |
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2019 | Developing Free Healthcare[22] | TEDx Talks – TMUC | Islamabad, Pakistan |
2019 | Youth in a Nation Building Process[23] | TEDx Talks – Bahria University | Islamabad, Pakistan |
Year | Award | Category | Award ceremony | Result |
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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 | Best Singer | 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) | 17th Lux Style Awards | Won |
Abrar-ul-Haq is the Founder and Chairman 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.[3][24] 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 in Narowal, 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 2006, he founded the Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious program that fosters excellence and translates talent in the young people of Pakistan through community service and tangible achievements. Its vision is to empower the young people of Pakistan with the ability to understand their role in society.[28]
In December 2011 Abrar-ul-Haq joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.[29]
In 2012, he was appointed as President of the Youth Wing of PTI.[30] In 2013, he was appointed as PTI's Secretary of Foreign Affairs.[31]
He ran for a seat on the National Assembly as PTI's Candidate for Constituency NA-117 (Narowal-III) in the 2013 Pakistani general elections receiving 51,359 votes but lost to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.[32]
He was again nominated as PTI's Candidate for National Assembly Constituency NA-78 (Narowal-II) for the 2018 Pakistani general elections but received 88,250 votes and lost again to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.[33][6]
On 15 November 2019, he was appointed Pakistan Red Crescent Society's 16th chairman and assumed office on 27 December 2019.[34][35]
King of Pakistani Pop Arad Al Hukh
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