Abrar-ul-Haq is a Pakistani pop, bhangra and folk singer
Abrar-ul-Haq was born on July 21st, 1968. He is a Pakistani pop, bhangra and folk legend singer. On his first album “Billo De Ghar” his name appears as simply “Abrar”. His best-known work is the song “Billo De Ghar”. Before becoming a singer, he was a geography teacher at the Aitchison College in Lahore.
Life
Abrar has kept the year of his birth a secret, so as to not reveal his age. Recently, in an interview, Abrar claimed he was born in 1968 at NAROWAL.[citation needed] He has often claimed that ‘he was still young and not that old’ and ‘was born in the 60s’. He got his initial education from Gujrat and Rawalpindi. Took his Bachelor’s degree from Sir Syed College (Rawalpindi) and acquired Master’s degree in social sciences from Quaid-i-Azam University, (Islamabad).
Education
He got his initial education from Gujrat and Rawalpindi. Took his Bachelor’s degree from Sir Syed College (Rawalpindi) and acquired Master’s degree in social sciences from Quaid-i-Azam University, (Islamabad).
Aitchison College
He joined Aitchison College’s permanent faculty in 1996. He had to quit teaching to pursue his career in pop music; although he considers the day he joined Aitchison College the proudest day of his life.
Abrar a singer
He primarily sings in Punjabi which is the main language of bhangra genre, language of most populated province of Pakistan and Abrar’s native language. He sings in Urdu too. His popular single “Sanu Tere Nal” is in English and Punjabi.
Billo de ghar
Abrar’s first single “”Billo De Ghar”” was an instant hit along with his album. That song is still remembered today even though it was one of his oldest songs. According to his website more than 16 million copies of his debut album have been sold.His debut single, Billo De Ghar, erupted great controversy and gathered much debate. Billo is a fairly common female nickname among predominantly Muslim Punjabis of Pakistan. First line of the song, Assan Tay Jaana Billo De Ghar, Kinnay Kinnay Jaana Billo De Ghar, was used as tease by street bullies for Billo named young-adult females. This caused a fierce reaction from the families of female victims, often resulting in physical fights. In order to avoid any more of such situations in his another single, Preeto, Abrar used a non-Muslim female nickname Preeto. This name is almost extinct in Pakistan.
Bhangra singer
Abrar-ul-Haq has immensely come to age as a popular pop bhangra singer. His every album has brought about massive hits that topped the charts.From “Billo Day Ghar” to “Majajni”, “Bay Ja Cycle Tay” to “Punjabi Touch”, every thing was on people’s lips.
Recently, Abrar Ul Haq was asked to play a lead role in a Punjabi movie along with Gurdas Maan. Gurdas had been asking Abrar for a long time but Abrar refused because of personal issues.
Nach Punjaban Nach
Nach Punjaban Nach, second line of Abrar’s single Punjabi Touch also caused a public outrage as it was taken as an address to all Punjabi women of Pakistan (99% of Pakistani Punjabis are Muslims). Abrar was sued in Lahore High Court. He personally went to the court and told the judge that he would change the word Punjaban to Majajan. He re-recorded the song and new batch of copies of his album, Assan Jana Mall-o Mall, has the modified version of the song. However, copies of the album with older version are still available and were never pulled from the market. During a TV interview, he was asked about the meaning of Majajan. He said, ”Majajan is not a word. Real word is Majajni. I changed it to Majajan.”
Parveen
Abrar has created some controversy with his newest album’s song “Parmeen.” He has been criticized for the usage of Parveen, a common female name in Pakistan, in an odd way. The renowned columnist Javaid Chaudhury wrote a column in protest of Abrar’s song when Javaid received a letter from a girl name Parveen on the effects of the song on her life. The girl claimed that she had stopped attending college in Lahore because of harassment from male students. The case was taken to Pakistan’s Supreme Court, which ordered Abrar to change the lyrics. He stated that he would abide by the court’s decision.
SAHARA for Life Trust
He is the founder and chairman of SAHARA for Life Trust (tax exempted charity organization), a charitable organisation promoting health and education in remote areas. The term SAHARA stands for: “Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas”.
Sughra Shafi Medical Complex
A state of the art 200 bedded hospital, providing quality healthcare facilities in Narowal district, which is one of the poorest districts in Pakistan.
Rescue, Relief & Rehabilitation for Victims
Human dignity Campaign
Letter of appreciation from President of Pakistan for composing, writing and singing the theme song “Jaggo Zara” (“Wake Up”) on the topic of Child Labor and Women Rights for The “Human Dignity Campaign”. This song was sung in the Human Rights Convention 2000 in Islamabad and widely acclaimed.
Traffic Safety Campaign
A highly publicized awareness campaign was carried out in Multan in June 2000. Famous celebrities of Pakistan featured in the campaign to promote safe driving.
Flood Victims Relief Campaign
A flood victims relief campaign was carried out in August 2001 to help the victims of the Nala Lai flood in Rawalpindi. Funds were generated through caller phones to myself on PTV World. Funds were then distributed among the affectees.
Drought Victims Relief Campaign
Held a charity fundraiser concert in Dubai. Funds generated from the concert were used to distribute food, clothing, medicines etc., among the drought affectees of Sindh.
Abrar states ” I was very secure in my formative years because of the tremendous love and support my parents gave me. I always idolized my father but my mother was my main anchor in my life. Her tremendous encouragement and faith in me was the driving force behind everything I did. I could talk every thing with her and therefore it was with great pride that I went and presented her my appointment letter. She held me close and said “I knew that you will get this job, I prayed for you””.
About singing he quotes “I was always fond of singing. While studying in Islamabad I organized fund raising concerts. I still remember trying to sell the tickets of my functions. I use to tell the people that there is an excellent singer who will perform at this concert. I am sure that they use to be surprised at seeing me on the stage. However, It never bothered me, as the money I collected from these concerts would go to help the needy students. When I joined as teacher in Aitcheson, I could not get over my love for singing and it was here that I composed my song “Billo Day Ghar”. My popularity as a singer grew, but I always looked for approval from my mother. No success was complete till my mother approved. I was really my mother’s boy.”+
He is the founder and chairman of SAHARA for Life Trust (tax exempted charity organization), a charitable organisation promoting health and education in remote areas. The term SAHARA stands for: “Services Aimed at Health and Awakening in Remote Areas”.
The abbreviation SAHARA has been chosen very cleverly as it is Roman script or transliteration for a word of Urdu (سہارا) which means aid or assistance.
On 4 June during a TV show a controversory arose as Abrar and Jawad Ahamad (A Known Singer in Pakistan)fought on the issue of corruption in NGOs. Jawad Ahmad blammed Abrar about withdrawing of salary by his brother Israr Ul Haq. The TV show was aired without editing in which Abrar explained that it is true that his brother is drawing salary 85,000. Although claim of Abrar is wrong because salary of Israr is exceeding Rs 125,000 plus other benefits including vehicle and maintenance etc.
Musical collaborations
Recently, Abrar has teamed up with Gurdas Mann and Sukshinder Shinda in a Punjabi single called Collaborations. The song was an immediate success. (2006) he is a very popular singer in Pakistan and India. He is not only popular in India and Pakistan but worldwide. He had done concerts in many countries of the world like Denmark, USA, Canada, UK, UAE and etc.
Abrar-ul-Haq has collaborated with Khiza on the album titled “Turning Point” by Khiza. Abrar has also collaborated with ADH which will NOT release on the album ‘Taubah Taubah’ but as a single. Veronica’s album ‘Sanam’ will be releasing soon which will feature Abrar-ul-Haq produced by Rishi Rich. Abrar-ul-Haq’s own album will be releasing towards the end of 2009 which is rumoured to feature Gurdas Mann and Sukshinder Shinda.
Discography
Regular studio albums
* Billo De Ghar (1995)
* Majajni (1997)
* Bay Ja Cycle Tay (1999)
* Assan Jana Mall-o Mall (February 5, 2002)
* Nachan Main Audhay Naal (June 1, 2004)
* Naara Sada Ishq Aey (March, 2007)
Hits compilations / Studio albums
* Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga (2000)
Trivia
* He has developed quite different personal image considering his field of music. He has never appeared in any elaborately fashioned dresses which are normally associated with pop music. He almost always appears in business casual dress except for rare occasions where he wore salwar kameez, the national dress of Pakistan.
* In 2000, PTV World gave him award for best folk singer and following year he won award for best pop singer from the same institute.
* He belongs to Jat clan of Kahloon of Narowal District.
Interview
Q) How did your career start?
A) By chance I made a song “Billo Dey Ghar” & it started.
Q) What about your Music Education?
A) No formal Education in Music.
Q) What comes deeper from your soul, Music or Lyrics?
A) Lyrics, But sometimes Music inspires to write Lyrics.
Q) What did you expected from your album Nachan Main Oday Naal?
A) An average album, although it went better than that.
Q) Are you satisfied with the results of Nachan Main Oday Naal?
A) Alhamdulillah Yes, But previous one was better.
Q) How do you rate yourself as a musician?
A) I am blessed with the prayers of my parents & Allah SWI has given me all those tunes & those lyrics & the colours of heaven for me given by Allah SWI.
Q) How long you have been involved in Media?
A) Nine Years.
Q) Future Plan?
A) To say good & do good.
Q) What about your project SAHARA For Life Trust?
A) Alhamdulillah doing great.
Q) What kind of people you like?
A) Honest, Intelligent & Hardworking.
Q) What kind of people you dislike?
A) Rude & Proud.
Q) How do you deal with the people you don’t like?
A) Nicely.
Q) What are your hobbies?
A) Music, Traveling, Cricket & Meeting Friends.
Q) What do you think about the Organizations like Al-Naeem Productions promoting Pakistani Music?
A) These organizations are doing great job & should keep it up.
Q) In the last, we would like to thanks you for giving us your precious time. Will you please share few words with our viewers?
A) Be honest in your whole life.
