Abrar-ul-Haq () is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and former politician.
His debut 1995 album Billo De Ghar sold over 16million copies worldwide, which made him a household name and granted him the title of "King of Pakistani pop and bhangra".
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.
Early life and education Abrar-ul-Haq was born in Faisalabad, Punjab to a civil servant father, and is the youngest among eight siblings. He belongs to a Punjabi Jat family of the Kahlon clan. 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 later graduating from the Sir Syed College, Rawalpindi before getting his Master's degree in social sciences from the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
Academic career Abrar-ul-Haq briefly served as a geography teacher at Aitchison College, Lahore in 1996, but quit the faculty when he opted for a career in music.
Music career
His first music album as a singer was Billo De Ghar, which was released in 1995.
Controversies Many of 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.
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.
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.
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.
Philanthropy Sahara for Life Trust 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.About Sahara for Life Trust . saharaforlife.org 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.
Niaz Support social enterprise 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
Political career Youth Parliament of Pakistan In 2006, he founded the Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP), a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious program.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (2011–2023) In December 2011 Abrar-ul-Haq joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.Business Recorder, published 20 December 2011, retrieved 3 January 2020
In 2012, he was appointed as President of the Youth Wing of PTI.Pakistan Today, published 7 June 2012, retrieved 3 January 2020 In 2013, he was appointed as PTI's Secretary of Foreign Affairs.Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf#Intra-party elections Pakistan_Tehreek-e-Insaf (wikipedia)
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 and lost to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.
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 to PML-N's Ahsan Iqbal.GEOtv (election results), published July 2018, retrieved 5 January 2020
On 15 November 2019, he was appointed Pakistan Red Crescent Society's 16th chairman and assumed office on 27 December 2019.Dawn, published 26 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020Daily Times, published 28 December 2019, retrieved 3 January 2020
In 2023, he left the PTI emotionally, and quit politics following the controversy surrounding the May 9 riots.
Personal life Abrar has been married to his wife Hareem since 2005, together they have a son named Taha, who is a graphic designer.
Abrar's brother Israr is a retired army major.
Discography
Albums Year Title Label1995Billo De GharMoviebox Record Label1998MajajaniSound Master1999Bay Ja Cycle Te2000Mein Gaddi Aap Chalawan Ga2002Nach PunjabanMoviebox Record LabelAssan Jana Mall-o MallDJ Gold 2004 Nachan Main Audhay NaalTP Gold 2007 Nara Sada Ishq AyeFire Records 2013 Sab Rang Aap (Pbuh) SeMoviebox Record Label 2016 Billo Returns Aithay RakhARY Musik
Studio releases Year Title Label2006Collaborations with Gurdas Maan & Sukshinder ShindaMoviebox Record Label2008Sar Jalayn Gay Roshani Hogee2009Awain Na Kar Zulm Ke Ik Din Muk Jana2010Sar Utha Ke2011Ki Karan Day O with Shahzaman and Jawad KahlonSohniye-Heeriye with Bhinda Aujla (film: Love Mein Ghum)Reema Khan FilmIshqe Da Rang, music by Prince GhumanSpeed Records and Inda Raikoti2013Hogya Ni Piyar with Suman, music by KhizaMoviebox Record LabelPani Da Bulbula (film: Zinda Bhaag)Mazhar Zaidi ProductionIshq Di BootiCoke Studio Pakistan (season 6)2014Allah Hu with Saieen ZahoorIthy Rakh with Sukshinder Shinda (Album:Collaborations 3)Moviebox Record LabelPani Da BulbulaCoke Studio Pakistan (season 7)2016Qaseeda Burda ShareefPeace RecordsBekarar with Farhan NTFVIP Records2017Facebook Utte, music by DJ SanjMoviebox Record Label2018Hum Dekhenge (promo song ft. several artists)Coke Studio Pakistan (season 11)Mere Rashke Qamar, music by Asif KhanMoviebox Record LabelBallay Ballay with Aima BaigCoke Studio Pakistan (season 11)2019Diamond Ring ft. Arbaz KhanBeyond RecordsRahiya SohneyaAkhrot FilmBhabhi with Shipra Goyal and Jaidev Kumar (film: Ishq My Religion)Gurdeep Dhillon FilmsBilloCoke Studio Pakistan (season 12)ChamkeeliIndependent Record Label2020Paar with BohemiaKali Denali MusicUdaasi Ki Raatain – Tribute to KashmirIndependent Record Label2021Sun Lay TuBol QalandarHo Idhr Bi Nazar E Karam Ya Rasul AllahBegum Shak Karti Hai2022Punjab Culture SongImported Hakoomat SongPardesi ZindabadUBL Roshan DigitalHai Haq Hamara Azaadi - PTI AnthemIndependent Record Label2023Jail Bharo Tehreek - PTI AnthemLab Pey Ati HaiUnki ChoukhatUnka Mangta2024Rano From ChandigarhIshq RangBhar Do JholiGal Sari Sarkar Di Aye2025Pak India War TaranaDes Mere2026Mere Pyare Aaqa Gen Z RanoBeyond Records
Television
YearProgramRoleChannel2004Music Show: Star HostHimself/hostATV2015Ramzan Transmission: Mohabbat Hai RamzanHimself/hostA-Plus TV2016–17Talk Show: Darja-e-ShararatHimself/hostSamaa TV
TEDx Talks
DateTopicVenueLocation2019Developing Free Healthcare TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 23 January 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020TEDx Talks – TMUCIslamabad, PakistanYouth in a Nation Building Process TEDx Talks (Youtube channel), Published 5 February 2019, Retrieved 6 January 2020TEDx Talks – Bahria University
Honours and recognition Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) received from the President of Pakistan on 23 March 2005, for public service / music / philanthropy. Sitara-e-Eisaar received from the President of Pakistan on 30 June 2006, for outstanding humanitarian relief work during the 8 October 2005 devastating earthquake in Pakistan."Awards conferred for earthquake relief work" Dawn, published 1 July 2006, retrieved 17 May 2019 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – Appointed Humanitarian Ambassador of the OIC on 11 January 2011.Press Reader: Arab News, published 12 January 2011, retrieved 11 February 2020
Awards YearAwardCategoryAward ceremonyResult 2000 PTV Awards Folk singer PTV World 2002 Lux Style Award Best Singer 2002 Best Singer 1st Lux Style Awards 2003 Lux Style Award Best Singer 2003 2nd Lux Style Awards 2004 PTV Awards Six years consecutive award holder for best pop singer PTV Home 2018 Lux Style Award Best Dress Male Best Dress (Male) 17th Lux Style Awards
References
External links Abrar-Ul-Haq at Punjabi Studio