Fouzia Saeed

Dr. Fouzia Saeed, a social scientist with a PhD from the University of Minnesota, is the author of "Taboo! The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area," based on 8 years of field research among prostitutes in Pakistan. 

Dr. Saeed is well known in the activist circles of Pakistan's social movement, having worked for decades on women’s issues especially those linked to violence against women, prostitution, women in the entertainment business, women’s mobility and sexual harassment. Her work on violence against women spans over 20 years and includes founding the first women’s crisis center in Pakistan in 1991. Her earlier work with the Folk and Traditional Heritage Institute (Lok Virsa) led to the book, Women in Folk Theater. 

During her career she has headed the UN Gender Program in Pakistan, served as Pakistan Country Director for Action Aid and currently is an international consultant in the field of Gender and Development. As a consultant, over the years, she has worked in Pakistan, USA, Bahamas, Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Afghanistan, Fiji and several other Pacific Island countries. 

Her current activist work includes being the Director of Mehergarh, an institute committed to transform the youth of this country, an active member of AASHA, an alliance against sexual harassment at the workplace and an active member of a campaign against bonded labor. In addition, the urgency to work on anti talibanization has moved her to be a part of a nationwide movement against this vicious process. Her main identity remains as a human rights and women’s activist in Pakistan.

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Mikaal Zulfiqar

Zulfikar was born in London, England. He was born to a Pakistani father and a White English mother. He is the third of seven children. He considers himself more Pakistani than English.

Mikaal Zulfiqar is a Pakistani model and actor who started in the beginning of 2000s as a model and came in his first hit music video "Sano Tere Naal Pyar Ho Gaya" by Abrar Ul Haq. He has done many photo shoots and walked on ramp for different designers. He was even nominated for Lux Style Awards but did not win. In 2008, he came in an Indian movie called "Shoot on Sight". The movie was not released in Pakistan since he was shown a terrorist in the movie.

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Imtinan Shahid

Imtinan Shahid Editor Daily Khabrain and Daily Naya Akhbar, Managing Editor Daily The Post and Daily Khabroon holds Master Degree in Mass Communication and has 10 years experience in this field. He served as a Columnist, Writer and Reporter for Daily Pakistan and presently working as Editor of Daily Khabrain and Daily Naya Akhbar. He was Vice President of the APNS for the year 2008-09. he served as member of the Executive Committee for the year 2010-2011.

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Komal Malik

As a child Komal ( who originates from Lahore and currently resides there) was fond of singing and always participated in her school talent contests and won many prizes as a young singer. During her formative years and indeed in College she always had a passion for her music and this was proven when she went on further to win even more recognition as a performer, winning more recognition and prizes at local level.

Aspiring to reach the top she set out to convince her parents to give her the blessing she so needed to succeed . The overall mindset was that she has no professional background and indeed the family’s initial mind set did make her think twice. However after persuading her family she has never looked back. With their blessing Komal set out to conquer her dreams.
Fully supported by her elder sister Kiran who was instrumental in persuading her parents the two sisters set out to create an ~artist~ one that could perform well but also attract large crowds to events that she was performing in .

Komal says that she is where she is today by the grace of the Almighty above and her after that her mentor and elder sister Kiran. Her parents also play an active part in her career and shower her with their blessings. Others that Kiran holds in High esteem are people like her singing mentor and “ustad” Karamat Hussain Sahib , who is her teacher and through this wonderful gentlemans dedication, hard work Komal came to learn the art of Classcal music.

Komal has performed at many concerts and events with well known performers from all over the world and was successful in releasing her debut single and video in 2010. RABBA WAY was received openly by the public and was played well on the TV channels and radio station. The American audience along with the UK also reacted positively to the release. This encouraged Komal to relase her second single and video , “Jagay Tere Sapney” which was also played on all Pakistani music channels besides the International Channels. The second track was the making of KOMAL – it showed she had landed. The response was huge and this lead to many offers from overseas for Komal to perform. Initiall she resited as she was wishing to concentrate on the Pakistani crowds as she firmly belives she is where she is today because of the local fans and appreciaters. After many offers she finally chose an overseas media partner and is currently in the process off arranging her first overseas tour. A little resistant at first but she now realises that as a professional singer she should aim to satisfy all her audiences both local and foreign.
With the birth of JAGEY TEREY SAPNAY – ( loosely translated as awaking your dreams) she was approached and interviewed by several media outlets, namely BBC Asian Network in the UK, Fever Fm Leeds – Bradford, Awaz FM, Din TV Pakistan, DM TV UK, . Many other channels both in radio and TV have brodacst the tracks and on her fan page these have been published.
Komal enjoys performing live and unlike many big name “international stars” she does not mime to a CD. Her music is played live with a live band. This in itself is an achievement. When you listen to Komal you hear KOMAL not a digitally enhanced CD which is mimed to.

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Syed Muhammad Junaid

Syed Muhammad Junaid is currently working for Synergy Group as Resident Director for the North Region and heading Synchronize Media, a buying house under the Group.

An IBA graduate with majors in Marketing, Junaid brings 10 years of experience of media exposure from Telecom, FMCG and Banking related clients. Junaid has been conducting training & development exercises for media & advertising professionals for several years.

Currently, Junaid lives in and travels from Lahore.

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Saba Hamid

Saba Hamid (previously Saba Parvez) is an award winning, renowned and beloved Pakistani Television actress. Arguably the best actress Pakistan Television has ever produced. She has that uncanny ability to melt into the characters she portrays. One can never associate her with a any one of her characters but one always remembers every character she has ever played.

Saba was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. She is married to Waseem Abbas, has three sisters and one brother. She is the daughter of noted columnist and writer Hamid Akhtar (a famous columnist for Express newspaper) and mother to coveted model, actress and musician Meesha Shafi.

Saba started her career as an actor in 1980 on TV, then worked in theatre from mid 80s to mid 90. She travelled to America, Canada, Europe and India (Rafi Peer Theatre) over the next few years for theatre performances, also attending a theatre conference in Manila in 2005. Her movie/television serial recordings have also taken her to India, Dubai, Japan and USA.

Saba works for Pakistan Television and other private TV channels. She often appears in dramas, long plays, TV shows, sitcoms and talk shows.

http://www.sabahamid.com/

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Aftab Ahmad Vohra

Aftab Ahmad Vohra belongs to a reputed family of Chiniotee Sheikhs. He is the Chairman of M/s.VOHRA GROUP OF COMPANIES which deals in the Import of INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS mainly Rubber, PVC, Paint & Adhesive Industries as well as in the export of Hand Carved Wooden Handicrafts & Industrial Chemicals. The group is one of the leading distributors of various world renowned Chemicals giants like LANXESS, LGCHEM, ACIDCHEM, etc.

Mr. Aftab A. Vohra

is a former Vice President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

is the Life Member of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).

is Founder Convener of Pak India Business Promotion Committee of LCCI.

is a member of FBR’s “Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee”.

has remained an Executive Committee Member of India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IPCCI) under the patronage of FPCCI & FICCI.

had been represented Lahore Chamber in many Government’s Advisory Committees / Advisory Committees like Pakistan Railway Advisory Committee, Airport advisory Committee etc.

had served as Convener / Chairman of various Committees at FPCCI and LCCI.

had served LCCI as Executive Committee Member for two times earlier i.e. 1997-2000 & 2004-2007.

had served FPCCI as Member Managing Committee in 2000-2002.

is a member of the Lahore Gymkhana Club and the Defence Club.

had served as Joint Secretary of Chiniot Sheikh Association, Lahore

had served as Joint Secretary of Chiniot Cooperative Housing Society Ltd.

has traveled extensively to Germany, Sweden, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand. China, S. Arabia, Kenya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE and India.

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Ammara Farooq Malik

Mrs. Ammara Farooq Malik graduated from Kinnaird College, Lahore in 1997. She got married as a law student, after which she completed not only her law degree and a Masters in Politics from the University of the Punjab but also an LL.M. from the University of London in the midst of having two children, juggling her professional life, her continuing education, her passion for writing, her passion for making a home and above all, her daughter’s severe blood disorder and eventual bone marrow transplants.

In November 2008, she founded the Seeds of Education,Policy & Legal Awareness Association. In January 2010, she became the President and C.E.O. of the SEPLAA Foundation which has its social media think tank: the Seeds of Education, Policy & Legal Awareness Association (SEPLAA), becoming a growing positive institution for bringing Pakistanis together on a global platform to discuss health, environment, empowerment, socio legal reform in Pakistan and for promoting the positive image of Pakistan internationally with chapters in the U.K., U.S, Canada, India and U.A.E.

As a mother,  charged by her daughter Amal’s ordeal and the lack of bone marrow transplant facilities in Lahore, Mrs. Malik collaborated with the San Matteo Hospital in Pavia, Italy to bring the same facilities that saved her daughter, to the leukemia and Thalassemia patients in Lahore. She gives free guidance to patients of blood disorders and those who require bone marrow transplants.

She is also a strong advocate of the SEPLAA health awareness campaign ‘Save a life, save a generation’ in which she coined the slogan promoting the importance of pre marital blood screening in couples to help avoid Thalassemia, HIV and Hepatitis, and speaks on various media channels and educational forums to discuss the same.

Mrs. Malik has over thirteen years of professional experience as a law professor, social entrepreneur, entrepreneur, leadership and communication skills trainer, freelance journalist for The Express Tribune and has free lanced opinion and legal articles to several newspapers. She is also a High Court Advocate who has practiced as a corporate lawyer, is on the Advisory Board of ‘The Jurists’, an Indian Socio Legal academic organization, and is presently the Managing Partner in Wyne Malik Consultants, a development consultancy.

She is also the Editor-in Chief of ‘Impact SEPLAA’ and is on the Advisory Board of the SEPLAA Young Leaders’ Club.

Mrs. Malik is also presently directing the development of the International online training workshop on ‘Peacebuilding and Conflict Management’ in collaboration with the New York University to empower youth in Pakistan.

Mrs. Ammara Malik regularly gives seminars and speeches in conferences on ‘leadership’ and ‘women empowerment’.

Munaza Hussain

Munaza Hussain MNA from Pakistan Tehreek Insaf , who studied at Queen Mary School and Kinniard College, was inspired to enter politics by her father, Sheikh Hamid Mehmood. She joined the PTI in 1996 and, from there, there was no looking back. She served as Imran’s chief polling agent at NA-95 in 1997 and considers her party “a party of transition”.

Currently, she is busy running PTI’s campaign in Lahore.  She recently replaced Dr Fauzia Kasuri in the intra-party elections.

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Dr Kauser Abdulla Malik

Dr Kauser Abdulla Malik is an educationist/academician of repute - currently Professor of Biotechnology at Forman Christian [FC] College Lahore. He is member of some outstanding intellectual bodies - Planning Commission of Pakistan, National Commission on Biotechnology, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, National Institute for Biotechnology [also its Founding Director] and Genetic Engineering and Nuclear Institute for Agriculture & Biology.

Besides other national and international distinctions, Government of Pakistan has bestowed him with Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his meritorious contribution in research and education.

Dr Malik has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Aston, UK. He joined the LEAD Board in June 2010.

(Last updated: September 30, 2010)

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Dr Farah Adeeb

Dr Farah Adeeb is an expatriate from Lahore. She studied her PhD at the University of Auckland before taking on a position with the Environment Protection Authority in South Australia. She is now a senior air quality manager with the equivalent organisation in Western Australia. She is also the branch president for Clean Air Society for Australia and New Zealand.

Farah is also a freelance writer and these poems are therefore reflective of the thoughts and feelings of many within the immigrant population within Australia.

Arooj Aftab

Arooj Aftab innovates off classical Pakistani, Sufi & pre-partition South Asian music, creating original compositions honoring ancestral roots,for a sound that is fresh, graceful, and musically complex. Paying homage to classical sufi legends such as Abida Parveen and Reshma; neo-soul and jazz icons such as Sade and Ella Fitzgerald; and contemporary world musicians such as Marisa Monte and Fat Freddy’s Drop, Arooj presents an original, interactive sound embraced by young and old, South Asian and beyond.

Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Arooj moved to the U.S. in 2005 to study Music Production and Engineering at Berklee College of Music. Having completed her education and now based in New York, Arooj is working as a fulltime performing artist, music composer and sound editor.

Through exposure to diverse musical genres and incredibly talented artists in Boston and in New York City, Arooj is inspired to continuously develop her art and deepen her understanding of the possibilities of music. Layering subtle, intricate, dynamic vocals over acoustic instrumentation, Arooj skillfully re-imagines indigenous soul with signature ‘cool.’

Arooj will soon be releasing her debut album as part of Rebuild Pakistan, an initiative she created to promote a vision of peace and healing for Pakistan, inspiring a global community to rebuild perspective on Pakistan, and urging the people of Pakistan to actively engage in rebuilding their homeland. The album and the initiative harness collective creativity to express solidarity with politically stigmatized, economically marginalized, culturally and spiritually powerful people across the earth.

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Najia Baig

Najia Baig is one of the most popular and well known young actress and host in the world of media in Pakistan. She is a popular personality in Pakistani youth. Najia Baig is a very talented and gorgeous actress. She has done numerous memorable roles on television.

Najia performed in many TV Darmas. Most of her TV Dramas are super hit and her acting is great. Najia’s current projects Haasb-e-Haal and few serials and telfilms have become very popular.

Hasb e Haal, a political comedy program has been introduced some years ago. It is getting popular day by day. It is the first program which is watched by adults, housewives and children. Professional artist can make the things happen for them. Najia in one those who has made difference in their lives. 

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Sonya Rehman

Sonya Rehman is a writer/journalist based in Lahore, Pakistan. She has been writing on subjects ranging from local art, culture, fashion, music, lifestyle, cinema and theater since 2002.

A graduate from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism with an MS in Print Journalism, Sonya was not only awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her graduate degree at Columbia, but was also one of four students (from the Journalism School’s Class of ’10) to receive the Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Fellowship.

Sonya also served as a a music jury member (from Lahore) for the Lux Style Awards (LSA) in 2010 as well as 2011.

With a portfolio of over 200 published articles, some of the local/foreign publications that she has written for are;

TIME, The Wall Street Journal – Scene Asia, Rolling Stone [Middle East & India], BBC [The Strand], Asia Society [the website], The Hindu, The Huffington Post, The Friday Times, DAWN, The News International, Daily Times, and HELLO! Pakistan, among others.

http://sonyarehman.wordpress.com/

Saiyma Haroon

Saiyma Haroon is a Norwegian born Pakistani brought up in Lahore, Pakistan. Her parents moved back to Lahore when she was around 6 years old and then moved back to Norway right after she completed her GCSE from Lahore Grammar school.  She cherished the time she spent in her hometown Pakistan and that was the most memorable time of her life. She completed her IB from Oslo International School and then got married and settled in Oslo. Since then she has been visiting Lahore for holidays.

Haroon is a qualified skin and beauty therapist, and holds a diploma in Business and administration. She is currently working as a financial advisor in a Scandinavian bank in Norway. She had got a few modelling offers during her stay in Lahore a few years back and face modelled for a magazine called “guysngalz” but never pursued it as a career as she was a busy mom! She is a mother of two precious boys: Saif Haroon and Sahil Haroon.

Saiyma Haroon loves to learn new things, meet new people and craves for intellectual growth and opportunities. She has done a lot of volunteer work for an organization in Norway called IHSG along with being a full time banker, mother and wife. She is a passionate person who loves to do everything with passion, strength & ambition and never gives up. Her other interests are yoga, photography, dancing, poetry and music.

Saiyma Haroon, went on to represent Pakistan in the Mrs. Universe 2012 pageant in August 2012 and won “Best Personality Award,” for Pakistan. This was a tremendous win for Pakistan especially for the married women of Pakistan in beauty pageants. Haroon has gone down in history as a strong achiever for Pakistan in the world of beauty pageants. (MrsPakistan.Com)

Saba Qamar

Saba Qamar is of the Pakistan’s emerging fashion models and drama actresses from Lahore, Saba Qamar have got the attractive features. She has also got ideal 5’ 7’’ height and a perfect fashion model figure.

Saba Qamar made her debut in the PTV drama Main Aurat Hoon. She is known for her roles in Dastaan, Pani Jaisa Piyar, Jo Chalay To Jaan Se Guzar Gaye, and Maat. She is also hosting the political satire show Hum Sub Umeed Se Hain.

Saba Qamar won the PTV award for the best TV actress in both public and jury choice categories in the 16th Annual PTV awards on 23 July 2011

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Ali Zafar

Ali Zafar was born on May 18th, 1980 in Lahore, Pakistan to Mohammad Zafarullah, Professor of Fine Arts and Kanwal Ameen, who worked in the Library Sciences department at Punjab University at the time. Lahore is not only the place of birth for Ali, but also where he studied. He began his schooling at C.A.A. until 5th standard and excelled in his studies. He then moved to Beaconhouse School where he topped in his matriculate examinations in 1996. He then joined Government College University, where he completed his F.A. in Arts as the class of 1998. After that, Ali pursued his childhood love for painting and went to the “National College of Arts", from where he graduated with honors in 2002. Hence, completing his education. Ali Zafar hit the music scene in 2003 with his single "Channo" which sold half a million copies in just the first week and ended up selling over 5 million copies of his first album "Huqa Paani". The album went on to become one of the biggest hits the country had ever produced and made him a superstar over night. Prior to this, Ali was seen acting on television and modeling on the ramp. He also spend his evenings painting live portraits in a lobby of a 5 star hotel to help raise some extra money to produce his music.With his reputation of being a successful model,actor and a painter his move of releasing a dance single left the nation in awe. His tracks pumped up the dance floors at various weddings, balls and parties. This set a trend and the fever spread, increasing his fan following to a global scale. Apart from this his unique style became an inspiration to the youth and put him on a pedestal to becoming a national icon. He was awarded the "Youth Icon" award in 2007, by the biggest award ceremony in Pakistan: the Lux Style Awards. From then on there was no looking back.  During his career, Ali has managed to win almost all major awards starting from the “Best Album” in 2003 to the "Best Male Artist" at MTV Awards in 2009. He has been on the covers of various style and music magazines and has been the brand ambassador for the most premier companies in Pakistan. Who can resist Ali Zafar's youthful persona, million-dollar smile and charming looks, assets that give him a solid edge and make him the stand-alone choice for most multinational brands that use his image to sell their products. They couldn’t help signing him up even if in competition with each other. He would perhaps be the only celebrity to have endorsed Pepsi as well as Coke, Sony Ericsson along with LG mobile phones, and Instaphone, Telenor and Mobilink. He was the first male to endorse the biggest brand in soaps, Lux, with his hit single "Dekha" which starred all the big female actresses in Pakistan. He has also endorsed brands such as Head and Shoulders, Close Up, Tapal Tea, Tarang Tea Whitener, Lays Chips, Lu Bakery and many others. As of now, Ali Zafar is heading Mobilink Jazz, the biggest telecommunication brand in the region. Ali is now set to further enhance his career by becoming an international super star and cross all barriers. Recently his track "Dekha" has been picked up by the international block buster "Wall street part 2". He is in process of working on tracks sung by him in English for the international market and is looking for the best means and avenues to execute his plans.(http://www.alizafar.net/)

Junaid Saleem

Junaid Saleem's career in the field of journalism spans more than 2 decades. Mr Saleem did his Master's in Mass Communication from Punjab University and has worked with the renowned media groups in the country. He also has had the honour to work abroad for an Urdu Daily of the Arab News Group. Currently, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Insaaf. He belongs to Okara.

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Annie Khalid

Annie was born in Lahore on 27 March 1987. She came to UK at the age of 6 months. She grew up in East London and later moved to Essex with her parents.

Annie was brought up in a multicultural town. She became a part of the East London Dance Company during her school years.

Her music career started in late 2005, when Annie, sitting bored at home, started humming a melody. She met a music arranger through a friend, who helped her compose the very simple, yet catchy song “Mahiya.”

Annie was encouraged by family and friends to take it a step further. She got in touch with a record company and preparations for an ordinary video were made.

The video was soon released in Pakistan. With her simple rendition and style of singing, along with catchy lyrics, the song became an instant hit. It started getting ripped from the video to be sold separately.

Mahiya became the most accessed Pakistani pop song on the Internet for in 2005 and 2006.

Annie won “The Most Wanted Song 2006” viewers choice award at TMA Pakistan, “The Most Wanted Female” 2006 and 2008, “Pride Of Performance” from the 14th August Committee Oslo, Norway and many more awards as her career progressed.

Bollywood cinema moguls Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt expressed their desire to use Annie's song Mahiya, for their movie “Awarapan,” which consequently gained her more fame and fan following.

After the success of Mahiya, she started working with various charities, raising awareness for education and health. Also within this short span of time, Annie became a household name and endorsed high profile brands, including Pepsi, Telenor and Tony & Guy, becoming the most popular female artist in Pakistan to date.

She has also walked the ramp as a showstopper at the 2010 L'Oreal Karachi fashion week, for BNS couture.

2010 proved to be a lucky year for the star. On 25th November 2010 Annie released her UK Debut single “BE MY BABY” along with the remix of the track done by the UK’s Top DJ Judge Jules.

Along with music her charity work was also recognized when she was appointed to be the Goodwill Ambassador for the International Red Cross on September 23rd, 2010, in Norway, where she raised money with the Red Cross for the flood victims in Pakistan by supporting and contributing in various activities. All the proceeds from her UK debut single "Be My Baby" were donated to the flood victims in Pakistan.

This honour gave her the opportunity to represent Pakistan on an international level.

In June 2011, Annie was the first South Asian celebrity to be featured in LOOK, a high-end fashion and celebrity weekly magazine coming out of The UK.

The same month, she launched her café in Lahore, which is located in one of the most popular areas and was an instant hit among the youngsters. AK Lounge continues to grow with the star herself.

She is the first Pakistani Artist to endorse a Label internationally. In August 2011, she signed a contract with Lebara, a telecommunication company, in Norway, for their current campaign. Besides newspapers and billboards, she can be seen on every bus, tube, train and their stations in Norway.

She is at the moment working on collaboration with the famous British – Norwegian boy band “A1″ for a single “Just 3 words” which they will unveil on a performance this October 31st at the O2 Academy in London.

Umar Saif

Dr. Umar Saif received his academic training from LUMS, Cambridge and MIT. He did his BSc (Hons) from LUMS (1998), PhD from University of Cambridge (2001) and Postdoctorate from MIT (2002), all in Computer Science. Dr. Saif worked and taught at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) as a research scientist for four years, where he was part of the group (O2S) that developed system technologies for project Oxygen -- a US$28 million project sponsored by the US Department of Defense (DARPA) and an industrial Alliance of world-class companies including Nokia, HP, Compaq, NTT DoCommo, Phillips, Acer and Delta.

While at MIT, Dr. Saif also managed the multi-million dollar collaboration on future computing technologies between University of Cambridge and MIT sponsored by the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) and a consortium of hightech British companies.

Dr. Saif's research interests broadly span areas of Ubiquitous Computing, Distributed Systems, Mobile Systems, Network Protocols and Architectures and ICT for developing world countries. Dr. Saif has authored several influential publications and is a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. Dr. Saif's research has been featured in popular media, including BBC, New Scientist, MIT Technology Review, Distributed Systems Online, and Dawn News. His research has received grants from Microsoft Research (MSR), Oxygen Consortium at MIT, Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI), US State Department/USAID, HEC and PITB.

Dr. Saif was selected as a Young Global Leader (YGL) by the World Economic Forum in 2010. Dr. Saif received the MIT Technovator Award in 2008, Mark Weiser Award at IEEE Percom'08, Digital Inclusion Award from Microsoft Research in 2006 and the IDG CIO Technology Pioneer Award in 2008. During his doctorate studies, Dr .Saif was a Trinity College Overseas Scholar and Commonwealth Scholar at University of Cambridge.

Dr. Saif has (co-)founded four technology startups: BumpIn.com (contextual chatting), SeeNreport.com (citizen journalism), ChOpaal.pk (SMS social networking) and TicketMy.com (event tickets). Dr. Saif is the founder of one of the first startup incubators in Lahore, Pakistan, called SCI. 

Syed Yawar Ali

Syed Yawar Ali was educated at Aitchison College Lahore and got his Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Management Science from Stevens Institute of Technology. He joined the family business, Packages Limited and then became Managing Director of Milk Pak Ltd. After 3 years of the Joint Venture with Nestlé he was elevated to Chairman of the Board.

Syed Yawar Ali is currently Chairman of Nestlé Pakistan Limited, Chairman, Wazir Ali Industries Limited and Past Chairman of Pakistan Dairy Association. He is serving on many other boards and has also been on the Board of Directors of State Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines, Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan and Lahore Electric Supply Company.

Currently he is Vice-President of the India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is heading a committee to ‘Promote Trade with India.’

Ayesha Omer

Ayesha Omar (born October 12, 1980) is a Pakistani actress, model, singer, former MTV Pakistan VJ and painter. She is best known for portraying the character of Khoobsurat in ARY Digital's sitcom Bulbulay.

Born on October 12, 1980, Ayesha graduated from the prestigious National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan, where she mastered the art of painting fine art. She acquired fame with two of her hit singles, "Aao" and "Koi To Ho".

Since her early days at school, Ayesha had been keen in theater and charity work. She was a president at her arts school and managed theater productions along with doing costumes and conceptual creative work. She would dedicate her summers at the Rising Sun School for special children. At the age of eight, she started hosting a show with Muneeza Hashmi called Meray Bachpan Kay Din in which she would interview celebrities about their early days.

However, it was her break in the light teen comedy Kollege Jeans that prompted her career in television. The show was directed by another NCA graduate Jawad Bashir and cast her alongside Ali Zafar and other prominent TV personalities. Soon after she was invited to host a show called Rhythm for Prime TV where she interviewed musicians from all over Pakistan including veterans like Arif Lohar and Shazia Manzoor.

She would even act with Nautanki, NCA’s drama group, even before she joined the college whence she gathered that a formal training is required. The National College of Arts (NCA) provided her every other reason to indulge into any prospect of performing arts. During her tenure at the institution she also modelled 18 fashion shows held as well as perform in seven plays with Lahore’s amateur theater groups.

In 2003, a set of paintings that Ayesha created for her final NCA thesis generated excitement and controversy when exhibited. The controversy surrounded her submission of two semi-nude self portraits, also a part of the exhibition. Asked, Ayesha would say that the Pakistani society has forgotten the integral preciousness of life and quoted that “the human body is the purest of all natural forms, it’s chaste, it’s innocent, but you have to see beyond the apparent to perceive the metaphysical.

Ayehsa Omar hosted ‘Hot Chocolate’ on ARY Zauq. She is now hosting a morning show 'Ye Waqt Hai Mera' on CNBC Pakistan and Samaa tv (Source: Wikipedia)

Salim Bokhari

Salim Bokhari is presently working as Editor of TheNation. Salim Bokhari is a seasoned journalist and has seen it all in a career spanning more than four decades. He co-hosted Bolta Pakistan programme on Aaj TV. In his lengthy career, Bokhari was also associated with The Sun and The Muslim (both defunct), The News and The National. He has been a regular feature on several talk shows on television and is well -respected in the profession to which he has given his best years. He received President’s Pride of Performance Award in 2005 and the Best English Reporting Award of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society in 1984-85. He is a widely travelled journalist and has on his credit interviews of international personalitie.

Farida Gul Haroon

Farida Gul Haroon is a self taught artist who attended Art College in Lahore, Pakistan.
But the muse that inspired her creativity was the experiences and the tribulations that she witnessed.
Oppression, misery and suppression make the silent tales of the inner world of women.
It is an indelible stain on humanity void of compassion, dehumanizing both the oppressed and the oppressor, and the evidence of it is so offensive to modern sensibilities and sensitivities that we preserve proof of it as lessons for the coming generations.
She tried to put on to canvas what she felt and by not taking the “side road”. She is more interested in the philosophy of life and the struggle of the feminine role. Farida has a unique perception which some refer to as mysticism. This is the spiritual influence that greatly impacts her work.
She paints in different mediums at different times,although she loves gold leaf addition to her work!!!
Website: www.karmaartgallery.org

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

Shaheen Atiq-ur-Rehman

Shaheen Atiq-ur-Rehman is a social worker and politician. She was born in April 1948 at Sialkot.
She obtained the degree of M.A (Administrative Sciences) in 1971 and that of LL.B. in 1975 from University of the Punjab, Lahore.
She also remained  Member, Punjab Assembly during 1985-88 and also functioned as Minister for Social Welfare & Women’s Development during 1985-87. She has returned to Punjab Assembly for the second term in General Elections 2002 against one of the seats reserved for women.
Shaeen atiq ur Rehman was awarded Communes Medal in 1998, by UNESCO in Paris for getting international recognition for her work in literacy.

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.

Ahmer Bilal Soofi

Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi did his graduation from Government College Lahore and his LLM from the University of Cambridge in 1988. He was enrolled as an Advocate of High Court in 1988 and as an Advocate of Supreme Court in 2000.

 

His areas of expertise include High Courts and Supreme Court litigation and also transactional work. Mr. Soofi has appeared in several cases before the Supreme Court of Pakistan having national importance. He has also advised Government of Pakistan on several important legal issues.

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.