Full of azm, contestant from Lahore grabs top slot

Nabeel Shaukat from Lahore was adjudged the winner of the Azme Alishan National Song Competition Season 2 for his song “Hai Ye Pakistan” during a special two-hour show aired on major TV channels.
This year’s Azme Alishan National Song Competition provided a platform for young Pakistanis to express themselves and their love for the country through their music.
It also aimed at highlighting social and charitable causes initiated by committed Pakistanis. Shaukat’s azm (resolve) was to promote the cause of education and he displayed this resolve by actively participating with Manzil – an NGO that has set up educational institutions in deprived areas for disadvantaged children – to support the cause.
Members of the country’s internationally acclaimed rock band Fuzon – lead vocalist Rameez Mukhtar, lead guitarist and music producer Shallum Xavier and music composer and producer Emu – acted as judges.
Speaking after winning at the grand finale, a very excited Shaukat expressed his happiness and reaffirmed his azm to work for a better Pakistan.
The first runner up – Shahid Ali Khan from Sialkot who sang “Meri Pak Zameen” – felt strongly about the plight of street children and worked with an organisation, Azad Foundation, which works for their rehabilitation.
The performance of the second runner up Furqan Ahmed (Bobby) from Lahore was full of energy. He sang “We are Pakistani”. The strong vocals and lively music were a treat from this youngster who did not let the challenge of being visually impaired stop him from pursuing his love for music or his aim to help others. He demonstrated this by working with Tabeer Schooling System as a volunteer.
The winners were chosen after a three-month long competition that attracted hundreds of entries. The judging panel chose 30 contestants, who then went forward to contest the finals. The contest was televised and all episodes can still be accessed on the Azme Alishan site. The winner will now go on to have his own music video of the winning song produced and released in due course.
Fuzon commented that “Hai Ye Pakistan” was chosen as the winning song because of its powerful lyrics and the passion and voice that overwhelmed the judges and the audience. The founder and patron of Azme Alishan, Taher A Khan, said that this positive message about the country lies at the very heart of the initiative and the song competition itself:
“Azme Alishan is about empowering Pakistanis and showing the world our passion, pride and spirit,” he said.
“The song competition is a great example of this, as it aims to empower the Pakistani youth to express themselves through music, and help build a better and stronger Pakistan based on the values of unity, compassion, tolerance, honesty, hope, sincerity and equality,” he added.
Former federal finance minister and renowned banker, Shaukat Tarin congratulated Azme Alishan on organising the remarkable competition and said, “This competition has further strengthened belief in our youth. Our youngsters have shown that they are not only talented but are working with an azm for a better Pakistan.”
Nokia International Country General Manager Khalid Alvi congratulated everyone and said, “The performance of the contestants was beyond my expectations and it would have been extremely difficult for me to choose a single winner.”
The National Song Competition is just one of Azme Alishan’s activities this year. It already has many great musical anthems to its name. Some of its leading supporters include Strings and Atif Aslam, who donated their song “Ab Khud Kuch Karna Parey Ga” as an inspirational anthem – and Sufi musician Arieb Azhar, whose song “Mere Des Mein Hain Imkaan Bohat” expressed the spirit of the campaign and the potential of the nation.
Fuzon are the latest stars to lend their support to the country’s fastest growing social movement by donating their new hit song “Hay Junoon” to the campaign.