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Pakistani artists who made it big beyond borders in 2022

(L-R) The collage of images show singers Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, actor Sajal Aly, singer Arooj Aftab, actor Fawad Khan, Humayun Saeed and Mehwish Hayat. (AFP/Social media)
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Updated 23 December 2022
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Pakistani artists who made it big beyond borders in 2022

  • Acting powerhouses Humayun Saeed, Fawad Khan and Mehwish Hayat starred in globally acclaimed TV series
  • Shae Gill’s ‘Pasoori’ with Ali Sethi won her fans across South Asia, most notably in the neighboring state of India
Updated 23 December 2022
BURAQ SHABBIR

KARACHI: Pakistani actors and musicians know how to produce art that manages to impress audiences worldwide. In this regard, 2022 proved to be a special year for the likes of acting powerhouses Humayun Saeed, Fawad Khan, Sajal Aly and Mehwish Hayat while singers Arooj Aftab, Shae Gill and Ali Sethi also received nods from around the world for their stellar musical numbers.

Here are some Pakistani celebrities whose work was widely admired beyond borders in the outgoing year.

Sajal Aly




Sajal Aly attends the "What's Love Got To Do With It?" Premiere during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on September 10, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (AFP)

Aly made her debut this year at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2022 after her film “What’s Love got to do with it” had its world premiere there. Speaking to Arab News, Aly said she was “humbled” for getting the opportunity to “represent Pakistan on the world stage.”

The film was penned by Jemima Goldsmith and directed by Shekhar Kapur.

“I feel honored to share the screen with such great actors,” she said. “Jemima [Goldsmith] is one of the coolest producers I’ve worked with. She’s a sweetheart! I feel extremely lucky and grateful at the same time.”

Aly also attended the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last month. Her co-stars from the film were also present at the event.

In November this year, Aly won big at the Filmfare Middle East Achievers Night when she bagged the “Most Popular Face of Pakistani Cinema” award.

Humayun Saeed




Humayun Saeed poses for the shutterbugs at the premiere of Season 5 of "The Crown"  in London, UK, on November 8, 2022. (Photo courtesy: @saeedhumayun/instagram)


Humayun Saeed has won praise from around the world since international viewers got to see his stellar acting talent in Netflix’s “The Crown” series on November 9, 2022. The series follows the lives of the British Royal Family and its newest season is set in the 1990s and focuses on Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s failing marriage.

Saeed played the role of Dr. Hasnat Ahmed Khan, a British-Pakistani lung and heart surgeon, who got romantically involved with the princess between 1995 and 1997.

Saeed attended the premiere of the newest season of the series in London on November 8, 2022, with his co-stars and the show’s crew.

“Feel privileged and honored to be a part of The Crown’s team,” the Pakistani actor said in an Instagram post.

Saeed also picked up the “Trendsetter of Pakistani Cinema” award at the Filmfare Middle East Achievers Night last month.

Arooj Aftab




Arooj Aftab raises the winning trophy for Best Global Music Performance for her track "Mohabbat" at the 64th Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, US, on April 4, 2022. (Photo courtesy: @aroojaftab/instagram)

Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab earned an impressive second nomination for Best Global Music Performance for the Grammy Awards 2023 after winning the title for her critically acclaimed track “Mohabbat” from her third album Vulture Prince in 2022.

Born in Saudi Arabia, Aftab is the first Pakistani artist to win a Grammy Award and be a three-time Grammy nominee.

“I think I’m [going to] faint. Wow, thank you so much. I feel like this category in itself has been so insane like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Femi Kuti, Angélique Kidjo... should this be called the yacht party category,” Aftab said onstage after receiving the award at the 64th Grammy Awards earlier this year.

“Mohabbat” – or “Love” in English – has been a game-changer for Aftab for which she also got a nomination for the Best New Artist award at the 64th Grammy Awards. The eight-minute-long song made it to former US President Barack Obama’s 2021 summer playlist that he shared on Twitter.

Mehwish Hayat




Mehwish Hayat as Kamala Khan's great-grandmother Aisha in a still from episode 5 of the Disney series, "Ms Marvel." (Photo courtesy: @msmarvelofficial/Instagram)

One of Pakistan’s most bankable film actors, Mehwish Hayat, made her Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut with the Disney series “Ms. Marvel” this year. Hayat, who depicted the fictional character of Aisha, won a legion of fans worldwide after her appearance in the show’s fifth episode.

In the six-episode series, she stars as the great-grandmother of the titular character, Kamala Khan, the first Pakistani to essay a Marvel superhero in the MCU.
“I still cannot believe that I was a part of ‘Ms. Marvel’ and the love people all around the world have given to Aisha,” Hayat told Arab News.

“More important for me though was being part of a mainstream project that finally represented Pakistan and Pakistani culture as we truly are,” she added.
“It means a lot to my niece to finally have a superhero who looks like her and she can relate to,” Hayat added. “Oh yes, I am the first Pakistani actress to have a Funko-Pop action figure which is so cool.”

Ms. Marvel had a special screening in cinemas across Pakistan, with a combination of two episodes that released every two weeks.

Fawad Khan




Fawad Khan as Kamala Khan's great grandfather Hasan in a still from episode 5 of the Disney Series "Ms Marvel." (Photo courtesy: @msmarvelofficial/instagram)

Fawad Khan fans, both in Pakistan and India, were overjoyed with the actor’s appearance in episode five of Ms. Marvel earlier this year. He played the central character Kamala Khan’s great-grandfather, Hasan, and appears in the flashback montage in the Disney series.

Khan has had a huge fan following beyond Pakistan, especially in India, since he made his Bollywood debut with the Sonam Kapoor-starrer “Khoobsurat” in 2014. With his recently released reboot of the 1979 cult classic at home, “The Legend of Maula Jatt,” Khan has penetrated screens all over the world.
The film was released in cinemas across the globe on October 13, 2022, and has crossed the record-breaking figure of Rs200 crores ($8.8 million) worldwide.

Shae Gill




Shae Gill performs ‘Pasoori’ at the first Coke Studio Live Concert at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE, on October 14, 2022. (Photo courtesy: Coke Studio)

Shae Gill’s Coke Studio Season 14 hit “Pasoori” became the most streamed Pakistani song of 2022 on Spotify. The song tops the Google 2022 search trend, ranking at number one in the Hum-To-Search category. It has reached up to 470 million views on YouTube to date.

“When ‘Pasoori’ was in the works, I knew I was a part of something exceptional, but watching the end product had me staring in disbelief,” Gill posted on her Instagram after the song was released in February 2022.

Gill performed “Pasoori” at the first Coke Studio Live Concert on October 14, 2022, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai where it received a massive response and attracted a lot of engagement from attendees. Earlier in 2022, Gill also performed the song at the FIFA Trophy Tour in June.

Ali Sethi




Ali Sethi attends TIME100 Next Gala at SECOND Floor in New York City, US, on October 25, 2022. (AFP)

Making waves with “Pasoori” all over the world, Ali Sethi made it to TIME’s 2022 TIME100 Next, which recognizes 100 rising stars from around the world.
“Proud to be included in the 2022 TIME100 Next list — that too with a write-up from guru Amitav Ghosh,” Sethi posted on his Instagram on September 28, 2022.

“Though written in Punjabi by a Pakistani artist, Ali Sethi’s song ‘Pasoori’ has become a global sensation with close to 400 million views on YouTube (by September 28, 2022),” award-winning writer Ghosh said.

“Even more remarkable, the song has found a huge following in neighboring India despite the escalating tensions between the two countries,” he added.
Sethi took Dubai by storm performing ‘Pasoori’ at the first Coke Studio Live Concert on October 14, 2022. The internationally acclaimed artist is all set for a North American Music Tour in 2023.

Topics: Year end New year 2023

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Pakistani naval ships visit Kuwait and Iraq, conduct joint exercises in Arabian Gulf

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistani naval ships visit Kuwait and Iraq, conduct joint exercises in Arabian Gulf

  • Pakistan regularly holds joint exercises with allies to increase synergy and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit activities
  • The visit of Pakistan Navy flotilla to Kuwait and Iraq will further enhance the existing diplomatic and naval relations, the military says
Updated 22 December 2024
Fatimah Amjad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani naval ships have visited Kuwaiti and Iraqi ports to conduct joint exercises with both navies in the Arabian Gulf, the Pakistani military said on Sunday, adding the visits would enhance existing relations.

Pakistan Navy Ships (PNS) Rasadgar and Azmat visited the Kuwaiti port of Al-Shuwaikh, while Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship Dasht visited the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.

On arrival at both ports, Pakistani diplomatic and host naval officials warmly welcomed the Pakistan Navy ships and the mission commander, along with commanding officers of the ships, held meetings with the naval leadership of both countries.

“Later, naval exercises were also conducted together with Kuwaiti and Iraqi navy ships,” the ISPR said in a statement. “The exercises were aimed at improving mutual cooperation between the navies and developing the capacity for joint operations.”

During the meetings, naval officials discussed matters of mutual interest, cooperation in maritime security and communication, according to the statement.

“The visit of Pakistan Navy flotilla to Kuwait and Iraq will further enhance the existing diplomatic and naval relations with friendly countries,” it read.

Pakistan Navy regularly collaborates and holds joint military exercises with allies to increase synergy, promote regional peace and stability and deter piracy, drug trafficking and other illicit maritime activities.

This month, Pakistan Navy conducted joint naval exercises and drills with Royal Oman ship ‘Alseeb.’ The bilateral naval exercise, “Samar Al-Tayeb,” is conducted regularly between the navies of the two nations.

In July, Pakistan Navy also assumed command of a multinational task force responsible for ensuring maritime security in the southeastern waters of the Middle East, operating in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.

Topics: Pakistan Navy Iraq Kuwait

Pakistan’s army vows to hunt down militants a day after attack kills 16 soldiers

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan’s army vows to hunt down militants a day after attack kills 16 soldiers

  • Pakistan has struggled to contain militancy in its northwest since a fragile truce with Pakistani Taliban broke down in 2022
  • Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
Updated 22 December 2024
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, on Sunday vowed to hunt down militants waging attacks against security forces and their facilitators, the Pakistani military said, a day after the killing of 16 soldiers in an ambush in the country’s northwest.

Gen. Munir said this during his visit to the South Waziristan district in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which has been battling a surge in militancy.

The visit came a day after the killing of 16 soldiers and eight militants during a gunfight in South Waziristan after a group of militants ambushed an army outpost in Makeen area.

Interacting with officers and troops, the army chief commended their resilience and steadfastness in the face of militancy, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

“The army chief highlighted that the courage, resilience, and unyielding determination of Pakistan’s armed forces are the cornerstone of the nation’s sovereignty,” the ISPR said in a statement

“COAS reaffirmed Pakistan Army’s commitment to pursuing Fitna Al Khwarij [militants] which shall continue to be hunted down till its elimination along with the facilitator, abettors and financier who will be made to pay the price for their nefarious activities against the state.”

The brazen raid on the outpost near the border with Afghanistan was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, who said it was staged “in retaliation for the martyrdom of our senior commanders.”

The development came days after the Pakistani military said it had killed 11 militants in separate operations in KP’s Tank, North Waziristan and Mohmand districts.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militancy in KP since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the government in Islamabad broke down.

Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.

On Saturday, the Pakistani military also urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to ensure robust border management after a group of militants tried to infiltrate from Afghanistan, leading to a skirmish that left four militants and a soldier dead a day earlier.

Topics: Pakistan Army COAS General Asim Munir South Waziristan

Pakistan national airline aims to expand its fleet to improve flight operations

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistan national airline aims to expand its fleet to improve flight operations

  • PIA has 23% of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet has failed to compete globally
  • The airline has faced a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots
Updated 22 December 2024
NAIMAT KHAN

KARACHI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is aiming to expand its fleet to improve flight operations, the national flag carrier said on Sunday, following the addition of another Airbus 320.

PIA has 23 percent of Pakistan’s domestic aviation market, but its 34-plane fleet has failed to compete with carriers internationally.

The Pakistani airline has been facing a lack of direct flights, despite having agreements with 87 countries and key landing slots.

“The 11th Airbus 320 AP-BOM has been inducted into the operational fleet with new engines. The aircraft was rolled out from the hangar with new paint and cabin decoration,” PIA said in a statement.

“PIA’s operational fleet will also include long-grounded Boeing 777 and ATR aircraft in the next few days.”

The fleet revival will greatly improve the expansion of PIA’s network and product quality, according to the statement. From this week, PIA has also introduced an in-flight Internet system in domestic flights, which is gaining popularity among passengers.

The airline said strict adherence to flight schedules, providing safe and high-quality products to passengers was its top priority.

“PIA’s flight schedule has achieved 90 percent regularity,” PIA Chief Executive Officer Khurram Mushtaq said. “Measures for operational fleet expansion and product improvement are part of our commitment.”

Earlier this month, PIA said it would resume flights to Europe in January, starting with Paris, after the EU aviation regulator lifted a ban on the national flag carrier.

PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU was suspended in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani authorities and its Civil Aviation Authority to ensure compliance with international aviation standards.

The ban cost the loss-making airline 40 billion rupees ($144 million) annually in revenue. Pakistan’s attempts to privatize PIA fell flat this year, when it received only a single offer, well below its asking price.

Topics: PIA

Pakistani province launches helicopter service to evacuate people, dispatch aid to clashes-hit district

Updated 22 December 2024
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Pakistani province launches helicopter service to evacuate people, dispatch aid to clashes-hit district

  • Clashes between Sunni, Shia tribes have killed over 100 people in Kurram since last month
  • On Friday, authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for the warring tribes to surrender weapons
Updated 22 December 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has launched a helicopter service to evacuate people and transport aid to Kurram district that has been hit by sectarian clashes in recent weeks, officials said on Sunday.

Kurram, a tribal district of around 600,000 near Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan where federal and provincial authorities have traditionally exerted limited control, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni tribes for decades.

Fresh clashes that erupted last month have killed more than a hundred people, triggering a humanitarian crisis with reports of starvation, lack of medicine and oxygen shortages following the blocking of the main highway connecting Kurram’s main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital of Peshawar.

In response to the problems being faced by residents, the KP administration has been facilitating travel between Parachinar and Peshawar. On Sunday, two flights evacuated 27 individuals as well as carried 16 government staffers and members of a tribal council, which has been striving to achieve peace, to Kurram.

“There is no fare involved in transportation of people or medicines via the helicopter, rather it is a voluntary service by the KP government to meet the emergency situation,” Nisar Muhammad Khan, a KP government official, told Arab News.

The helicopter service was also being used to dispatch medicines to Parachinar. A day ago, 53 individuals, including 14 patients, were shifted to Peshawar from Kurram via helicopter, according to the provincial authorities.

A third flight was scheduled to bring people stranded in the Tal area back to Parachinar, while five more flights were expected to relocate over a hundred people on Sunday, according to the provincial government.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s office said the government had so far dispatched 1,850 kilograms of medical supplies to Kurram, assuring that it would mobilize all resources to ease problems of the people and ensure durable peace in the region.

The development comes days after the KP authorities set a deadline of Feb. 1 for warring Sunni and Shia tribes in the district to surrender all weapons and dismantle their bunkers to stem sectarian clashes in the region.

The decision was made at a meeting of the KP apex committee, which comprises civilian and military officials, to discuss a sustainable solution to the issue. It allowed the launch of a special air service for temporary evacuation from some parts of Kurram to protect people’s lives, according to the apex committee declaration.

“The agreement outlines that both sides will submit a detailed action plan within 15 days for voluntary submission of weapons,” read a declaration issued after the apex committee meeting.

“All weapons are to be deposited with the local administration by February 1. Additionally, it was decided that all bunkers in the area will be dismantled by the same deadline.”

In the meantime, land routes to the area would be opened intermittently on humanitarian grounds and a mechanism was put in place for secure transportation, according to the statement.

“Personnel of police and Frontier Corps will jointly provide security to the convoys,” it read.

Last month’s clashes erupted after rival tribes attacked convoys of passengers on the Parachinar-Peshawar road, which were followed by attacks on each other’s villages.

The apex committee asked both sides to avoid any violent action in the future to keep the land route safe and open at all times, hoping that the parties would fully cooperate with the government for a lasting solution to the issue.

Topics: Pakistan kurram parachinar

Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

Updated 22 December 2024
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Champions Trophy preparations in full swing as Karachi stadium upgradation nears completion

  • PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi says the National Stadium will be ready well before the ICC tournament
  • He says the PCB is improving facilities for Pakistani cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience
Updated 22 December 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 are progressing rapidly, with the upgradation of Karachi’s National Stadium nearing completion, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday during a visit to the venue.

The tournament, scheduled for February 2025, has been at the center of controversy following India's reluctance to play in Pakistan due to strained political ties.

The International Cricket Council resolved the impasse by approving a hybrid model, allowing India’s matches to be held at neutral venues while other teams play in Pakistan. The decision ensured India’s participation while retaining Pakistan as the official host.

“Remarkable progress has been made in a very short time,” Naqvi was quoted in a PCB statement. “The upgradation of the National Stadium will be completed well before the Champions Trophy tournament.”

During the visit, Naqvi reviewed ongoing projects, including the installation of new seats in enclosures, enhanced parking facilities for 2,700 vehicles and finishing work on the stadium building.

He also instructed officials to expedite the installation of LED lights and scoreboards.

“We are improving facilities for cricket fans to ensure they have a better experience,” he added.

The PCB is under pressure to ensure the country is ready to host the major ICC tournament.

Security concerns and political tensions had previously kept high-profile international cricket events away, but recent improvements in safety and infrastructure have bolstered Pakistan’s case as a venue.

Praising the rapid progress at the National Stadium, Naqvi lauded the project team for their dedication.

“I congratulate the entire team for their outstanding and swift work,” he said.

The Champions Trophy is seen as a pivotal moment for Pakistan cricket, with the PCB aiming to deliver a world-class tournament to reaffirm the country’s ability to host international events successfully.

Topics: Champions Trophy 2025 Karachi stadium Pakistan Cricket ICC Arab News Pakistan

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