Soulful Urdu-English prayer song brings together 40 musicians from around world

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Updated 02 June 2020
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Soulful Urdu-English prayer song brings together 40 musicians from around world

  • Pakistani musician Kashan Admani initiated the project, reaching out to artists from seven countries
  • Urdu lyrics have been penned down by renowned poet Sabir Zafar

ISLAMABAD: The bilingual Urdu-English prayer song opens with Grammy award winning violinist Charlie Bisharat sitting at his home playing his instrument soulfully. Gradually, he is joined by his world famous peers on guitar, piano, percussion and drums. Slowly, the tempo builds and the screen fills up with dozens of faces from around the world singing ‘We are one.’
In an extraordinary project undertaken by Pakistani musician and composer Kashan Admani, 40 musicians from across seven countries have collaborated on a prayer song, timed to give hope as the world reels from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. It is also dedicated to victims of recent tragedies around the world including a Pakistan International Airlines crash which killed 97 people on May 22.
“I had originally composed the song in Urdu and renowned Pakistani poet Sabir Zafar had written the lyrics,” Admani told Arab News via telephone on Saturday. “Then I thought... for this message to be global it needs to have English Lyrics.” He then tapped film director and artist Babar Sheikh to pen the English chorus.
The resulting production titled “We Are One/ Aae Khuda,” has been sung and performed by some of the world’s most renowned musicians and is at over 20,000 views on YouTube since its release on Friday.
“The idea was to talk about global unity in fighting the pandemic and praying to God for help. That’s the reason why it’s called and it’s message is, ‘We Are One, Aae Khuda.’”
Admani who is part of the band Mizmaar and has worked in the music industry for the past two decades, has produced and played songs for artists like Haroon, Strings and Junoon, and said the idea for a unique mash-up of global talent emerged to counter the current negativity in the world.
“The lockdown has affected us all in many ways and I saw a lot of negativity and hopelessness around,” he said.
“Music gives people emotional support and as an artist, composer and producer, I thought the best way to give hope to people would be to make a universal song with artists from all over the world.”

Pakistani artists including Farhad Humayun, Najam Sheraz, Natasha Baig and Dino Ali were joined by US Grammy award-winning violinist Bisharat, Grammy nominee Simon Philips, multi award-winning guitar player Roman Miroshnichenko  from Russia, British singer/songwriter Lili Casely, Brazil's Luiza Prochet, and India's Dr. Palash Sen.
Thanks to technology, Admani continued, the logistics of getting all these musicians together and coordinated for the track was actually quite simple.
“Everyone recorded in their home studios, maintaining social distancing protocols and filmed their parts while recording. This was the only way it was possible.”
Admani then put it all together in his own home studio. The recordings from the artists are filmed and featured in the video.
“Collaborations like these are always phenomenal. It's a sense of unity and it’s also a sense of honor to get to do this together and for the purpose of making people feel less alone,” Natasha Baig, a Pakistani musician told Arab News.
Admani mirrors this hopefulness, and said it describes the essence of the song.
“I have been away from my family for months now due to the pandemic,” he said. 
“The only thing that gives me hope is music.”


Indian Hindu fans pray for victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy clash

Updated 20 min 18 sec ago
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Indian Hindu fans pray for victory over Pakistan in Champions Trophy clash

  • Fans offer ‘yajna’ and ‘aarti’ Hindu prayers in Indian cities of Kolkata and Prayagraj on Saturday 
  • India and Pakistan enjoy one of fiercest rivalries in sports due to bitter history, political tensions 

Islamabad: Indian Hindu fans were seen offering special prayers as their national cricket team locks horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai today, Sunday. 

India and Pakistan enjoy one of the fiercest rivalries in sports. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since 1947 ever since they gained independence from the British, fueling passion and emotion in millions on both sides of the border every time the two teams meet on the cricket field. 

India’s Hindu fans were seen offering special prayers in the eastern Kolkata and northern Prayagraj cities on Saturday for their cricket team’s success against Pakistan. 

“India and Pakistan are going to play against each other, and we have prayed to mother Triveni (confluence of three rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati) and mother Ganga (river Ganga) that tomorrow’s match turns out to be in favor of India,” Hindu devotee Pradeep Pandey told Reuters in Prayagraj on Saturday.

In Prayagraj, on the sidelines of Maha Kumbh Mela (The Great Pitcher Festival), fans and devotees performed ‘Aarti’ (flame ritually waved to deities) at the shore of the Ganges, praying for the Indian cricket team’s win. 

In Kolkata, fans and devotees were seen performing ‘yajna’ (offering to the God in front of a sacred fire) in the name of Goddess Kali.

India, who refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy citing government advice, will be playing all their matches in Dubai. They kicked off their Group A campaign with a comfortable six-wicket victory against Bangladesh earlier this week. Pakistan’s title defense, meanwhile, looks in disarray after their comprehensive defeat to New Zealand.

India have won seven of the eight completed ODIs in the last decade against their rivals they play only in multi-team events because of a strained political relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy tournament. The green shirts, under the leadership of former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, beat India in 2017 in the final by 180 runs to win the tournament. 


 


Pakistani policewoman’s kindness toward American visitor shoots her to online fame

Updated 23 February 2025
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Pakistani policewoman’s kindness toward American visitor shoots her to online fame

  • Shabana Jilani provided security to Onijah Robinson, an American who arrived in Pakistan seeking her online love
  • While Robinson’s story made headlines, Jilani’s friendly interactions with her brought the officer online fame

KARACHI: Shabana Jilani, a police officer in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, emerged as an unlikely Internet star this month amid a media flurry surrounding American woman Onijah Robinson’s months-long stay in Pakistan.
Jilani’s composure and professional yet empathetic interactions with Robinson, who was abandoned by a Pakistani man she befriended online, were captured in viral TikTok videos, highlighting not only her dedication to duty but also the human side of Pakistani law enforcement.
The 33-year-old New Yorker arrived in Pakistan in October last year, hoping to marry her 19-year-old paramour, though their relationship took a dramatic turn when her intended partner abandoned her following family objections.
Left stranded, Robinson spent nearly 30 hours outside the man’s home before being taken to a shelter and later admitted to the psychiatric ward of a local medical facility.
As law enforcers were on their way to take her to the hospital, Jilani received a call from a superior officer asking her to provide security for Robinson. What followed was the making of an unexpected bond between the police officer and Robinson, marked by brief conversations and heartfelt moments that captured the Internet’s attention.
“My first meeting with Madam Onjiah took place at Jinnah Hospital, when she was being admitted,” Jilani told Arab News at her police station in Karachi. “I had a conversation with her there and it was a good experience. We spoke in a good manner.”
She said she was fulfilling her professional responsibility during her interaction with the American woman, though videos of their exchange revealed how they developed a human connection. While Jilani ensured Robinson’s safety, it was her caring attitude — helping the American loosely drape a shawl over her shoulders — that was admired by netizens.
Jilani said that while ensuring the visiting woman’s safety was her job, it was also her moral responsibility to be empathetic toward her.
“We spoke to her with love, respect and kindness, and in return, we received the same,” the police officer said.
Jilani’s husband, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ali Asghar Dahiri, lost his life in an encounter with militants in Karachi’s Landhi area in 2008, but she has continued to serve in the police force despite this personal tragedy and has dedicated about two decades of her life to policing in Karachi.
“When we joined the police department, we were given training that taught us how to face tough situations so that we could handle every challenge and difficulty,” she said.
But her interactions with ordinary people, including Robinson, reveal a softer side of the field-hardened policewoman.
And the online reaction to her videos has been overwhelming.
“I am grateful to everyone for this,” she said. “We fulfilled our professional duty while also showing respect and kindness.”
Jilani expressed her satisfaction with the videos, which have conveyed a positive message about Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.
“They [social media users abroad] have also seen that Pakistan, its female police officers, and all our law enforcement agencies are doing a great job,” she said.
“So, a positive message has been conveyed to the world, one that highlights good behavior, strong ethics, respect and love.”
But above all, Jilani says, her interactions with Robinson were among the most memorable for her, recalling how she accompanied the American visitor to the airport for her departure on Feb. 7 after spending more than three months in Pakistan.
“She said to me, ‘I miss you so much, Shabana,’” Jilani recalled. “Good memories, good times, and beautiful moments. Just as she remembers them, so do I.”


Pakistan to review ‘disproportionate’ tax burden on salaried class in upcoming budget— finance minister

Updated 23 February 2025
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Pakistan to review ‘disproportionate’ tax burden on salaried class in upcoming budget— finance minister

  • Pakistan last year increased tax revenue by $80.50 for all persons earning over Rs50,000 per month
  • Muhammad Aurangzeb urges real estate, wholesale and retail sectors to “step up” with more taxes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday that the government would review the “disproportionate burden” suffered by the country’s salaried class due to high taxes, calling on other sectors to “step up” to remedy the situation. 

Pakistan last year passed its Rs13 trillion ($46.66 billion) national budget to strengthen the case for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout deal. The budget increased the tax liability by Rs22,500 [$80.50] for all persons earning more than Rs50,000 [$178.89] a month. In 2023 also the government imposed a higher income tax on salaried persons it deemed “high earners.”

The move invited anger from Pakistan’s salaried class, including the Salaried Class Alliance of Pakistan, who warned of a brain drain and said they were already burdened by high taxes, surging inflation and strained incomes. 

“The manufacturing industry and the salaried class has suffered a disproportionate burden,” Aurangzeb told reporters “We will undertake all efforts to try to review this in the next budget and take this toward rationalization.”

The finance minister said that other income segments and sectors will have to contribute by paying more taxes. He pointed out that for the first time, Pakistan’s provincial assemblies had passed the agriculture income tax bill. 

“In the same way, our brothers and sisters in the real estate and wholesale and retailers sector will all have to step up, so that the burden on other categories can be adjusted in a proportionate manner,” Aurangzeb said.

In response to a question, Aurangzeb said Pakistan’s diaspora abroad was happy with the government’s policies. He thanked overseas Pakistanis for contributing with increased remittances every month.

“The way remittances are increasing, this year we expect them to reach around $35 billion as compared to $30.2 billion last year,” Aurangzeb said. 


All eyes on Dubai as Pakistan meet India in Champions Trophy blockbuster today

Updated 50 min 48 sec ago
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All eyes on Dubai as Pakistan meet India in Champions Trophy blockbuster today

  • Pakistan must beat India to keep tournament hopes alive after losing opener to New Zealand 
  • Despite better record against Pakistan recently, India vice-captain warns side against complacency

ISLAMABAD: Millions of cricket fans will be watching from home today, Sunday, as Pakistan take on India in a must-win clash in Dubai in what is expected to be a blockbuster ICC Champions Trophy 2025 cricket match. 

A sell-out crowd in Dubai will witness the iconic clash between the two arch-rivals, who enjoy one of the fiercest sports rivalries of all time when they face off against each other in the eight-nation tournament. 

India and Pakistan only meet in multi-nation events because of political tensions. The match is taking place in Dubai after India refused to travel to tournament hosts Pakistan.

“It’s Super Sunday at the #ChampionsTrophy as Pakistan takes on India,” the International Cricket Council wrote on its Instagram. “Who’s winning this blockbuster match?”

Indian cricket fans, their bodies painted in the colors of the national flags of India, right and Pakistan,left, pose for photograph in Ahmedabad, India, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP/File)

Sunday’s clash is crucial for Pakistan as skipper Mohammad Rizwan’s side suffered a 60-run defeat at New Zealand’s hands in the opening game of the competition in Karachi on Wednesday. 

Pakistan need to beat favorites India to stay in the hunt for a semifinal spot in the tournament. 

An early exit from the tournament would take some gloss off it as Pakistan are hosting their first major ICC tournament in nearly 30 years. 

New Zealand top Group A ahead of India, who beat Bangladesh on Thursday by six wickets, on a better run-rate. Pakistan are fourth and bottom of the group. The top two teams from each of the two groups make the semifinals.

Pakistan white-ball coach Aqib Javed remained optimistic of Pakistan’s chances ahead of the encounter. 

“After losing a game there is another good chance for you to win and win the third one and make it to the semis,” Javed told reporters on Saturday.

“Between India and Pakistan it doesn’t matter, it’s a knockout or whatever. It’s beyond a game and that’s the beauty of India-Pakistan cricket.”

Pakistan suffered a big blow on Wednesday when top batsman Fakhar Zaman suffered a muscle injury. He has been ruled out of the tournament, but Aaqib said they will still field a “good, strong team.”

Left-handed Imam-ul-Haq has come in as a replacement for a team that hammered India in the final of the previous Champions Trophy in 2017.

That was India’s last defeat to Pakistan in an ODI match and Rohit Sharma’s men have since won five of the last six games against their greatest rivals, with one rained off.

They last met in a one-day game at the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad, with hosts India winning by seven wickets.

Despite India heading into the match as favorites, vice-captain Shubman Gill warned his side against complacency on Saturday. 

“Definitely we have been playing some good ODI cricket and Pakistan unfortunately have lost some of the matches that they have played recently but by no means are we going to take them as a lesser side,” Gill told reporters. 

The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00pm Pakistan Standard Time. 

India squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.

Pakistan squad: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi


Pakistan PM to visit Azerbaijan on Monday for talks on defense, trade and energy

Updated 23 February 2025
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Pakistan PM to visit Azerbaijan on Monday for talks on defense, trade and energy

  • Pakistan was among the first nations to recognize Azerbaijan, though their ties have deepened more recently
  • Last year, Pakistan agreed to supply JF-17 fighter jets to Baku, highlighting bilateral defense cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan at the beginning of next week, the foreign office said on Saturday, to discuss enhanced bilateral cooperation in areas like defense, trade and energy.
The visit comes as part of Pakistan’s broader economic diplomacy with landlocked Central Asian states, to which it has offered access to its southern ports in Karachi and Gwadar for international trade.
Pakistan’s economic engagement with Azerbaijan has also gained momentum more recently. Last year in July, the top leaders of both countries discussed investment and trade projects worth $2 billion during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Pakistan.
“At the invitation of President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day state visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan from 24-25 February 2025,” the foreign office said in its statement, pointing out it would be Sharif’s second visit to the Central Asian state since assuming office last year.
“During the visit, the two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, trade, defense, education and climate sectors,” the statement continued.
The foreign office added that several agreements and memoranda of understanding were expected to be signed in multiple areas of cooperation during the visit.
Pakistan was among the first nations to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence in the early 1990s, though their ties have strengthened significantly in recent years. In September last year, Pakistan signed a contract to supply JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan, highlighting their deepening defense cooperation.
Beyond government-level collaboration, people-to-people exchanges between the two nations have also increased, with a growing number of Pakistanis traveling to Azerbaijan for tourism and business.
Sharif will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other key cabinet members.