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Famous Pop Singer
Faakhir Mehmood's Jashan-e-Azadi Concert in Canberra
(A Report by Rao Ahsan Tehsin,
Son of Rao Tehsin Ali Khan)
The joint
efforts of Pakistan Cultural Association and Pakistan Australia Friendship
Association bore fruit as more than 300 people were left spell-bounded by an
unforgettable performance from one of Pakistan's contemporary artists - Faakhir
Mehmood. ‘Jashan-e-Azadi with Faakhir’ was celebrated passionately at the Rydges
Hotel in Canberra in a jam-packed hall on Saturday,1st August 2009. Such fervour
and passion amongst a Canberran audience had not been seen since the visit of
Arif Lohar, a musical genius himself, well over a decade ago. Needless to say,
Jashan-e-Azadi with Faakhir, a brainchild of Mr. Khawar Saleem of PCA was an
enormous success.
The chief guest, High Commissioner of Pakistan, His Excellency Jalil Abbas
Jilani, commended the organizers' efforts in his opening remarks. Other
dignitaries present on the occasion included Deputy High Commissioner Tasawar
Khan, Defence Advisor Brig. Babar Virk, Senator Gary Humphries and Mr. Nick
Manikis. As a good-will gesture between the two host organisations, the newly
elected President of PAFA, Mr. Ali Khurram, was also present on the occasion
with his new executive team. A vast number of guests traveled from Sydney and
Melbourne to Canberra for this special occasion.
Faakhir Mehmood, arrived on the stage following a fashion show, to a thunderous
applause singing the patriotic track 'Ae Jawan'. He sang some of his most
memorable hits, including "Dil hara", "Dil ruba" and an item in Pushto. "Dil na
lage" was specially dedicated to the expatriate Pakistani community living in
Australia. He topped off the golden night with a gold number originally sang by
the Late Noor Jehan - "Sub tu sohniye". The audience enthusiastically danced to
every tune and later had the opportunity to have photographs taken with the
star.
After musical maestro Arif Lohar and the enthralling folk-singer Shazia Khushk,
Faakhir is the third such artist to perform before an audience in Canberra. One
can only hope that such festivities occur on a more frequent basis for
Pakistanis living Down Under.
