Daily Times

Title: Aahang — May 2018

Editors: Anis ur Rehman, Afshan Nigar

Patron in Chief: Shafqat Jalil

Publishers: PBC, Karachi

It was a few days after the sudden demise of Syed Shehwar Haider on April 06, 2018 that a condolence reference was held in Nurjehan Auditorium, Radio Pakistan, Lahore on April 30, 2018. Khwaja Shafqat Jalil, Director General, Radio Pakistan especially came from Islamabad to pay homage to the deceased Syed Shehwar Haider who was a very popular figure among his colleagues and artists. It was a very large congregation that was gathered to remember the relatively young death of Shah Saheb as we fondly called him so. Iffat Alvi filed a report of this event for Radio Pakistan’s outstanding monthly magazine ‘Aahang’ in its May 1918 issue (Page 61).

At the time of his death, Syed Shehwar Haider was Deputy Controller and Head of Central Production Unit, Lahore. His popularity can be judged from the fact that Deputy Controller Asif Khaitran, Multan, Station Director Muhammad Shakeel, Mirpur, Station Director Hassan Farooqi, Narowal, Station Director Ahmad Nawaz Cheema, Sialkot and Senior Producer Akmal Shahzad Ghuman, Islamabad, Javed Iqbal Head FM94 and Anila Saleem, Deputy Controller, Lahore joined the reference. Shah Saheb’s family members; Brother Syed Asghar Ali, daughters Anam and Dr. Sunbal and son Syed Moeez Haider also attended and the latter shared their feelings about their father.Station Director Lahore Nazakat Shakeela said that she had not only lost an outstanding officer but also a brother. It is definitely a feather in the deceased’s cap that everybody who we meet and talk about him mention of his love and kindness, a rarity in the present-day materialistic world. Muhammad Shakeel could not utter a word as he started crying on the rostrum. In-charge FM101 Syed Mustafa Kamal stated that apart from a wonderful human being, Shah Saheb knew the intricacies of producing good music. All others including Tauqir Shariffi (a ghazal said especially for Syed Shehwar Haider), singer Asif Javed, actor Rashid Mahmud, singer Anwar Rafi, Saima Mumtaz (she stated that Syed Shehwar introduced her) and this reviewer (proposed a studio to be named after him) spoke. Mr. Shafqat Jalil, DG said that he had only met him once and had thought that officers like Syed Shehwar Haider could bring Radio Pakistan back to its glory. In another submission, Muhammad Siddique Piracha remembered the PBC Academy days when he and Shah Saheb used to offer his five daily prayers, a day routine (Page 65). Shahid Amin, Programmes Manager, CPU mentioned that Syed Shehwar Haider joined PBC on June 20, 1987 and welcomed his first posting in Gilgit. He was promoted as senior producer in 1992 and joined CPU on May 30, 1995 (Khalid Asghar former SD Radio Pakistan Lahore trained him to become an excellent music producer). He remained SD Faisalabad (2013) and Sialkot on December 19, 2008 as well (Page 64).

This reviewer must appreciate continuity of the quality of printing and contents of Radio Pakistan’s monthly journal ‘Aahang’. It contains information on various events, programmes, artists and people related to Pakistan in general and people related to Radio Pakistan in particular. Reports on the inauguration ceremony of Islamabad Airport and announcement of federal budget and Prime Minister’s address to POAO Forum form contents of this magazine. Mian Sanaullah emphasizes on the importance of timely payment to the labour community. Syed Aadil Ibrahim writes on the importance of May 01 as Labour Day (page 09). Noor Khalid quotes example of women who work in the fields at par with men. Women labour is a hidden treasure. The writer gives the story of a woman labour in Shangla who worked in mines like her late husband and father in law, with her minor child tightly around her back in a piece of cloth such that she worked easily. Her husband and father in law were never given any helmet, jacket or a torch by the contractor. Both died in 2014 in an accident. Now she was waiting for her children to grow up, get education and become independent. Similar examples have been quoted from Sibbi, Muridke, and Hyderabad and alike. It is a well-researched article emphasizing on the importance of adaptation of modern technology and change in attitude of the society towards working women (Page 13). Ghazala Faseeh talks about new opportunities for women who desire to work and become independent financially. She spoke to the ladies who had joined driving school to learn driving (Page 15).

Religion is an important subject in Aahang’s May 2018 issue. Fasting is a personal issue of a Muslim with God who has promised to reward the people who fast. Hafiz Hashmat Ali Shah discusses the importance of Seheri (to eat before dawn) and Iftari. To eat at sunset is called Iftar and it is preferable to open your fast with dates as it was the routine of our Prophet Salalah O Ellehe Wassalm. Zahid Ashraf talks about fasting as a health guard (Page 19). Dr. Habib ur Rehman Asim talks about the sanctity of our Holy Book Al-Quran. The word Quran means words that are read again and again. Despite that Muslims are not largest community in the world; Quran is read the maximum among all the religions. A Na’at by Qayyum Nazar is quoted with the first couplet ‘Arz-o-Samaa Main Jo Dilkashi Hei/Noor-e-Muhammad (Salalah O Ellehe Wassalm) Sei Phaili Hei’ (All the beauty in the earth and sky is due to the light of our prophet). Hafiz Hifz ur Rehman presents a profile of Pride of Performance Qari (those who recite Quran in tune) Noor Muhammad (Page 23).

Asia is rich in its culture; many civilizations and heritage, creativity, presence of business opportunities, information technology, communication, sports, tourism and exchange of cultural troupes etc., stated Shafqat Jalil, DG Radio and head of Pakistani delegation to BOAO Leaders Summit in China. This is why there are ample opportunities available in this region for mutual cooperation. The project “One belt one road” is a revolutionary project to achieve this goal, he added (Page 25). On the micro level since the day Shafqat Jalil joined Radio Pakistan as DG, artists have started getting payments which were largely held for a year or so due to the lack of budget. A new music channel FM94 has also been inaugurated. He needs to revive monthly artists’ bookings in classical and semi-classical genres of music. After all major artists started their careers at Radio Pakistan.

Aahang is not supported by any other literary magazine as it contains interview with anchorperson Asma Shirazi by Anila Qureshi and Afshan Nigar and singer Aalamgir (Haq) by Tanvir Iqbal at Central Production Unit, Karachi. The latter disclosed that his was an arranged marriage. He also mentioned that for a movie made on his life, he shall re-record his songs on the latest recording equipment. A short story ‘Khushbu Ki Hijrat’ by A. Hameed is part of Aahang’s May 2018 issue. It is basically based on escape to green woods from the pollution of cities. The central character surmises that all the trickeries are melting the moment cold spring water touched his feet and his eyes became wet too (Page 35).

Water scarcity is projected in Pakistan that by 2015 we might not even have drinking water. Our civic habits need to be improved. We leave our water getting wasted in our household usage. We wash our cars on roadside with municipality water whereas in the West, one gets challan for doing so. India had made many dams on the water entering Pakistan. Our politicians/decision makers still argue on building of water dams especially Kalabagh Dam. Abdul Hameed Baloch contributes an article ‘Pani Zindigi Hei’ (water is life) on this sensitive issue (Page 48).

This reviewer found the contents of Aahang – May 2018 issues very interesting and informative. Radio still is widely listened in nook and corner of Pakistan. The magazine under review provided the information and entertainment in a powerful manner.

Published in Daily Times, June 4^th 2018.