Mazhar Barlas

TV Anchor
Columnist
Poet, Political Analyst, Media consultant
Chairman Media Art Group
President MAPAA
President Samaj (NGO)
Sec Gen. SOCH, UK
Director Medis & Publication (IBHI & ICIHI)
Member Seminar Committee, National Press Club, Islamabad.
Chairman Media Committee, BARDASHT
Published a book titled: "Shaheed-e-Mashriq" about Benazir Bhutto Shaheed in 2009 on her birthday.
Member Film Censor Board, Government of Pakistan
Old Ravian

Javed Choudhry

Born on January 1, 1968, Javed Choudhry is undoubtedly one of the most prominent journalists of Pakistan. Many domestic and international surveys have established that his column titled Zero Point is the most read column in Pakistan. A proof of his popularity is that ?Zero Point-I,? the first collection-book of his columns has been reprinted in 72 editions since 2000 while the second book, "Zero Point-II, published in 2005, has already gone through 37 editions. Both these books and also Zero Point-III and IV are the current best sellers in Pakistan, which is another acid test of Mr. Choudhry's popularity among the masses.

All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) declared him the Best Columnist in 1997 and 1998. The Government of Pakistan awarded him with an ?Excellency Award? in 1998 for his outstanding performance in national journalism. He has, over the years, emerged as one of the most popular opinion makers in Pakistan and has been contributing his intellects to the vernacular press. With his distinctive writing style, he has raised many issues of social, political and economic importance and succeeded in leaving a mark on the thinking of his readers.

He holds a master degree in Mass Communication from Islamia University, Bahawalpur (1991) and the university awarded him a gold medal for his excellent academic performance.

A career journalist, Javed Choudhry has held many positions in the national press. In 1997, he joined Daily Jang, as a columnist. In 2006, Javed Choudhry joined Daily Express and is one of the leading members of the daily newspaper's team of Columnists. He is also the anchor of a popular TV current affairs programme "Kal Tak". According to latest opinion poll surveys, the TV programme Kal Tak ranks among the top three current affairs programmes in Pakistan. He has also attended prestigious institutions like Columbia University and John Hopkins University for courses on Media Management, Creative Writing, and Opinion Building. Mr. Chaudhary is also a personal trainer and delivers lectures on talent discovery and modern media related fields. He is on the panel of many national universities to hone the leadership skills among the youth. Many apex national institutions, including National Police Academy and Civil Services Academy, regularly invite him for his lectures and analyses on matters of national and international importance. He likes to read, travel and socialize. Mr. Chaudhary is married with four children. He lives in Islamabad.

Anis Shiekh

Anis Shiekh heads the business desk at dunya Television, also the host for the daily business program NafaNuqsan. Mr. Shiekh is a seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in Media Industry, having contributed for National and International News Media in the capacity of Columnist, Reporter, Editor and Anchor. For the last five years he is working as a Television journalist. He is a technical analyst for Equities and Commodities and has written many articles based on his research. Previously he has worked as a software developer and designed financial applications for Companies working with Kuwait and NewYork Stock Exchanges. He is MS (Computer Science),BSc., MCSD, MCSE, CCNA and DCS.

Asma Chaudhry

Asma Chaudhry has been associated with the field of journalism for 10 years. She started her career as Sub Editor in Jang Group of News papers, Asma soon got associated with the state television and worked there as a producer. She was the recipient of PTV award for program Vision Pakistan in 2003. 

Later she worked with the top rated channels of Pakistan as a producer and then anchored Program �Parliament Cafeteria� from parliament with prominent political personalities of Pakistan. As special diplomatic correspondent she covered the AGRA summit, SAARC summit, us presidential elections 2008 and also visited for special assignments in USA, UK, India, Germany, Srilanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh. 

Ms Chaudhry has also participated in IVL program by state department USA on Documentary Productions and Film Making.

Aasiya Riaz

Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director of PILDAT coordinates various research projects within PILDAT and manages PILDAT’s projects and activities as PILDAT's co-director. 

She has over 8 years’ experience of working in the field of research, management, analysis and coordination. She has been working in the areas of democratic and legislative strengthening; research on political and public policy issues; civil-military relations; dialogues between the Muslim World and the West and Electoral Process, etc. Trained in the field of media and political communication at the London School of Economics, UK, Aasiya has worked with the mainstream press and electronic media in Pakistan as well. 

She was also a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy where she worked on US Think Tanks and the subject of Civil-Military Relations. Aasiya also graduated from the Stanford University, USA Course on Democracy, Development and Rule of Law in August 2007.

Andleeb Abbas

Andleeb Abbas has been involved in the field of training and consultancy for the last 12 years. She specializes in the areas of Strategic Management and marketing strategy and has trained nearly all top local and multinational organizations. She is presently running her own training institute in Lahore, by the name of Institute of Marketing & Sales (Profile of the institute is available at www.imsknowledge.com) She is also the CEO of the world’s largest training and consulting brand by the name of FranklinCovey Pakistan. 

She is a training and marketing consultant to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and DFID. She is also a visiting faculty member at LUMS, LSE and Imperial College. She has published 30 papers and over 500 articles and currently writes for DAWN and NEWS Sunday magazine. In 2002 she was the only Pakistani to be declared as one of the top 30 Strategic Thinkers in the world by the World Bank Washington DC social development department, and consequently was invited to assist the World Bank in preparing their next 10 year strategic plan.

Tasneem Peerzada

Tasneem Peerzada has had a varied and diverse professional career –it spans the entire spectrum from beginning as a primary and secondary school teacher, to a journalist, a playwright, a lyricist, a press and public relations coordinator, and last, but not least, a poet. After her professional origins in the educational establishment, Tasneem moved onto a more potent public forum by joining “The Daily Jang” as a journalist. At this leading Urdu language newspaper she worked in both the capacities of an editor and a featured columnist, incorporating all forms of current social and political issues in her writing. 

She covered Television, Film, Theatre, and political personalities under human interest, reported on social and political dilemmas for awareness, and also covered fashion for the front pages of the media and entertainment sections. Tasneem later wove all these fundamental elements into a singular vocational focus when she joined the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop as a company director.  Here she wrote scripts for TV shows, awareness productions (whether on anti-narcotics or children’s education), theatre skits, as well as lyrics and songs for product anthems, corporate launches, and Television jingles. She also became an ardent media and press coordinator for the Peer Group and its sister companies as well as a dire

Fereeha Idrees

Born in Lahore, Fereeha Idrees did her Masters in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Westminster, London. She’s been affiliated with the media industry since the last ten years. She started her career in 2000 and since then has gained tremendous experience as a writer, editor, documentary maker, journalist, producer and anchor. In January 2011, Fereeha took over SAMAA's primetime program 'News Beat'. 

Fereeha's other interests include reading literature. She is also working with the Muslim Council of Britain, Evening Standard, Eastern Eye, Daily Mirror and blogs for The Guardian's Comment. Her documentary 'Unsung Heroes' was nominated for the Banff Awards.

Maira Khan

Maira Khan, A well known actress/model/anchor who has all that is require - looks, attitude and ofcourse talent. Maira have already won the hearts of many fans around the world. Maira started off with her career 7 years ago as a model. Then different directors casted her in TV dramas. Till now, Maira have done more than 50 drama serials and sitcoms. Such as, "Yaad Piya Ki Aaye, Sooli, Chingariyan, Khumar, Kanpur Se Katas Tak, Kya Chaha Kya Paya, Dil-e-Nadaan, Justuju Jiski Thi ,Imtehan,No.1,Good News and Qabool Hai.

Maira is also known is one of the good stage performer.

As many of you have seen her performances on "ARY NACHLE and different award shows".

A warm-hearted Piscean, Maira Khan, was born on 15th March in Lahore to her parents and have one younger sister and a brother. Completing her Matriculation from a private school and Intermediate from a Government College in Lahore. She has also done Bachelors of Commerce as a private candidate.

Syed Muhammad Munir Jilani

Syed Muhammad Munir Jilani born on 1st June, 1964 at Faisalabad. M.A Journalism with Roll of Honour, from Punjab University Lahore, Chief Editor Daily Paigham, Faisalabad, Lahore. He started his career in journalism in 1983 as Editor-in-Charge. Also worked with Mashriq and APP for some time in 1988 and then assumed the charge of Chief Editor Daily Paigham. He was Joint Secretary CPNE for the year 2005-2006. He is serving Executive Committee of the APNS for the last 15 years

Mahe Zehra Husain

Mahe Zehra Husain has recently completed her Masters in Mathematics from Punjab University, Lahore. Before that she did her Bachelors in Double Maths and Physics from the same institution. Aside from battling with numbers she is also editor of a national children's magazine, GUSTO, which is a publication of the Alif Laila Book Bus Society in partnership with UniLever Pakistan. Mahe Zehra is also actively interested in science teaching methodologies and has conducted workshops for science teachers in Lahore Grammar School.

Amjad Islam Amjad

Amjad Islam Amjad - a great name in Pakistan's literary history. Amjad was born in Sialkot but had his higher education from Lahore. He started his practical life as a lecturer in the Islamia College and thereafter worked as a director in Pakistan Television Centre Lahore from 1975-1979. In 1997, he was appointed as the director general of the Urdu Science Board. At present he is the project director of the Children Library Complex.

Amjad is specially known for his drama writing - but equally captivating are his countless poems that reflect his thoughts about the beautifulness of life and its true face. He is author of more than 40 books, beside many critical works, columns and literary analyses. Amjad Islam Amjad is basically a sensitive poet who through the careful use of similes, metaphors and symbols has become one of the representative voices of his age. He is amongst the most popular poets of today and is known as the house-hold poet of Pakistan, since he is known and recognized everywhere one goes. This is mainly because of his captivating poetry and God-gifted qualities that a personality should possess.

Amjad Islam Amjad has written many a drama series for PTV with "Waaris" being the jewel in the crown. He may or may not write another serial so popular but his poetic talents have been abounding by day and night. His other famous TV dramas include Dehleez, Smandar, Raat, Waqt and Apnay Loug. The collection of his poetry includes: Fishar, Barzakh, Us par, Satwan dar, Zara phir say kehna, Seher aasar, Barish ke aawaz, Itnay khwab kahan rakhoon, Mairay bhe hain kuch khwab and Hum us kay hain.

Umer Mujib Shami

Umer Mujib Shami is among the breed of young newspaper entrepreneurs who have recently joined the ranks of A.P.N.S. He holds Masters Degree in Business Administration from Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS). He had a distinguished educational career and also let the LUMS team to victory in World Business Games held in Georgia USA. He got his initial journalistic training in The News International and worked there as Commerce Reporter for one year before joining LUMS. He remained an avid reader and a regular contributor to different newspapers and periodicals on issue of national importance. 

He also worked in Jardine Fleming, a renowned Honk Kong based investment group for some time. He also briefly worked as editor of weekly “Zindagi” an influential political weekly after his graduation. Mr. Umer Mujib Shami assumed the responsibility of publisher and Managing Editor of Daily Pakistan on January 01, 1999. one of the largest national urdu newspaper. The Newspaper at that time was facing financial difficulties and was confronted by declining revenues in the face of ever increasing competition. However in the last seven years, the newspaper is put back on the road to growth and progress under his management. At present the newspaper is being published from five stations simultaneously and is among the most respected and trusted names in the Pakistani Journalism. He served as the Finance Secretary of APNS from April 2007 to March 2009. The Pakistan group of Publication is at present participating in a number of new venture in media and IT sector, under his management.

Nazeer Naji

Nazeer Naji, is a senior news columnist in Pakistan's Urdu press. He frequently writes in the country's largest Daily Jang published from Karachi. Naji has a reputation for his in-depth political analysis and strong criticism of the Pakistani Establishment.

Nazir Naji is also a former chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters. He is also famous for his anti mulaism and anti Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan. He is the only writer who speaks frequently about Pakistan Army historical blunders and Jamaat-e-Islami role in those blunders. He is also the first one who pointed towards Red Mosque (fitna) secession.

He is considered as a true journalist in Pakistan and one of few who are not on military establishment payroll. Many of Nazir Naji's predictions have turned out to be true including India and Us nuclear deal.