Canada Pakistan Trade Expo & Mega Star Show Review by PakStar [Must Read It]

ONE DAY – TWO BIG SHOWS – JULY 12, 2009

Review By: PakStar Magazine

www.Pakstar.ca

CANADA PAKISTAN TRADE EXPO 2009 -UNIVERSAL
PROMOTIONS

With the full support of local Pakistani media (radio stations/newspapers) and the Pakistani consulate, this event was designed for the Canadian businesses to come and interact with Pakistani manufactures/exporter of food items such as rice, pickles, cookies, leather garments, fabrics, marble stone products, knives, pharmaceutical products, motorcycle apparel, etc.

This event was marketed heavily only on Pakistani media instead of promoting it within Canadian media. Emphasizing mainly on the music performers, keeping entry tickets for $10.00/single day entry or $15.00 for entire weekend – it became more of a regular MELA then an actually business expo. This event was not catered to the Canadian businesses.

PakStar managed to get reviews from several vendors who came from Pakistan. They were excited and looking forward to this event, but were in for a big surprise.

Vendor (A – Fabric: “we were extremely excited and looking forward to this event. On Thursday when it  tarted, no one was here except the organizers and vendors. We paid $6000.00 to the organizer in addition to our expenses such as airfare and accommodation. What we got was, general people who gave offers to buy our samples for $5.00 – $10.00 each; I wish I could do say something but I can’t. We are defiantly not coming back again. We have traveled to many different countries for expo but never ever experienced anything like this.”

Vendor (B – Motorcycle Apparel): “We are bit happy as we made 3 deals for our products. It’s not good but it’s ok. The organizers are marketing the performers more and more and if we had to see Abrar and Shahzad Roy – we could’ve paid them in Pakistan and watch them – we came here to meet and interact with the local
businesses and not to see the concert.”

Vendor (C – Leather Garments): “This event is a joke. Since the start of this expo till today, we have only seen general public or people who don’t have a business or want to start a business in near future. We have spent a lot of money to be here at this event. I’ve sold all my samples for $25.00/each and taking back few bucks with me.”

Vendor (D – FALAK RICE, PICKLES): A local distributor of Pakistani products (cookies/spices/rice) was selling their inventory quickly in this expo by reducing the prices. When we asked why? They had similar answer – they spent money on 3 different booths and now they wanted to recover the money back.”

Vendor E – Pharmaceutical products: This is our first time coming out of Pakistan and show casing our products which are up to the international standards. We had expectations but it’s not as we anticipated. We have not been approached by anyone as yet and I don’t think this is right event for our products. We were shown different picture and reality is in front of you. Public is here to enjoy the music show, no one is here to trade or to build business relation.”

Vendor F – PIA: Surprisingly Pakistan’s International Airline had there own stall as well, giving out airline’s flyers, posters, fact booklets. We normally don’t see PIA in the events; they were pressurized by the  government of Pakistan to sponsor and support this event and in exchange they were given a booth in this expo.

Music Show review:

Shahzad Roy performed on Saturday. Toronto police was visible on the entry doors to manage the crowd. Once inside the hall, it was a chaos. Many vendors had to quickly pack there stuff and leave. They didn’t want their products to get stolen with the crowd. The hall became much suffocated instantly due to large number of people inside. The hall was packed to capacity (1500) and many people were denied entry and were forced to leave the premises.

The stage was very basic, nothing fancy and the sound system was not up to standards. Even the local performers complained about the setup. Complaints after complaints, but the main singers some how managed to perform.

On Sunday, Abrar ul haq, Rabi Pirzada & Tariq Tafu performed. Large number of people started to gather out side the hall by 5pm. Vendors were told to pack up there products by 7:00pm so the organizers could remove some stalls and make space for the concert crowd. Again the police were called to the main doors to
manage the crowd entry.

Many people had to line up for 40 minutes to an hour at times. People who had already bought the tickets were waiting out side to enter the hall. Friends of organizers were getting in and out of the hall without any problems but the general public had to wait.

Sound was not that great. This time they had the volume turned up high and at one point Abrar’s microphone stopped working and we could hear Abrar track playing in the background. He was singing over his own CD. People managed to enjoy despite the conditions inside the hall.

This was not a business expo – this was a regular fair in which companies were flown in from Pakistan to showcase their product samples. The organizers made their money and gained popularity; vendors weren’t happy at all. People had to wait out side in lines for more then 40 minutes to get inside (Saturday/Sunday),
despite buying advance tickets.

In a nutshell:

The Good
-Decent music and entertainment
-An attempt to bridge the gap between Canadian and Pakistani businesses

The Bad
- Marketed only within the Pakistani community
- Not a proper trade show, nor a good entertainment
- Event was not catered to the right market (Businesses)
- Not utilizing the full hall
- No re-entry policy. If someone wanted to come out for fresh air or to eat, they couldn’t – they should have given wrist bands or stamped hands for re-entry
- Poor concert sound system

The Ugly
- Pakistani businesses losing trust on Canadian trade expo promoters/organizers.
- Lack of discipline. Organizer friends were getting in and out of the building without any problems and general public had to wait in lines to get in.
- Over selling the tickets.
- No professional security guards.
- Whole event was not managed properly.

MEGA STAR SHOW 2009 – JALWA PROMOTIONS

Most surprisingly the pick of the shows turned out to be the wonder-full-land performance by non-other then FAAKHIR.

Originally, the organizer of this show had announced that Ali Zafar, Sadia Imam, Shakeel Siddiqui and a team of comedians will perform at this years show. This is the only Pakistani event which takes place at the Canada’s Wonderland and people buy their tickets at discounted rate in advance.

This year it collided with the Expo, Abrar concert. On July 8, the organizer announced a new entry ‘SHAHID AFRIDI’ to this show and the very next day they announced ‘AFRIDI’ could not come. Then on July 10th, they announced FAAKHIR is coming to the show along with original lineup.

Why did they keep adding new artists at the last minute?

Maybe the organizer was panicking and making quick decisions, as there were two events taking place on July 12 (Sunday). By early morning of July 10, PakStar had learnt that Ali Zafar will not be coming to Toronto as he wasn’t able to get his visa.

The organizers of this show did not announced at any time on Friday (July 10) while being on radio stations that Ali Zafar will not be coming. On July 11th, day before the actual concert, Ali Zafar announced the following on his website:

“It is unfortunate to let our fans in Toronto know that Ali Zafar shall not be able to appear for the show due to the delay in visa arrivals. We must inform that Ali Zafar and his management was not responsible for the visas as they were to be provided by the organizers. July 11, 2009 – www.AliZafar.net”

This official announcement disappoints many people.

Early morning on July 12, Faakhir arrived in Toronto and was in the city for only 15 hours. PakStar crew met up with Faakhir before the concert. We found Faakhir extremely frustrated, stressed and it looked obvious that he hadn’t slept at all.

Around 8:30pm we arrived at the venue, Shahkeel Siddiqui was on stage then. Approximately 500 people were sitting in front of stage and the concert area was fairly empty. Sadia Imam introduced Faakhir on the stage soon after.

Faakhir started by informing everyone that “My friend Ali Zafar did not get the visa in time and the organizer of this show contacted me on Friday. Since I was in UK for another concert and was free on Sunday so I decided to take the ‘late night red eye’ from London’s Heathrow airport. I agreed to come, not because of the show but because this is a Pakistani show and we will not let Pakistan’s name get a bad reputation, we keep on covering each other’s back at occasions like this.’

After this brief statement he started the concert, performing live. About 55 minutes later, Faakhir was rushed to the airport to catch his 11:00pm flight back to London, UK.

Most importantly Faakhir sang completely live on minus one track (something which other singers should also follow) and his power packed performance was enjoyed by everyone. He belted out 12 hits, one after another which got the audience dancing on their feet’s. Many people from the rides returned to the concert area because of Faakhir’s thumping music/songs. Faakhir’s excellent performance and audience’s overwhelming response once again refreshed the fact why Faakhir is so popular in North America, especially on east coast and in Toronto.

The next morning we heard rumors that Faakhir was threatened and hence had a security guard with him. Faakhir spoke with PakStar from Dubai airport later: “No one threatened me however voices were raised owing to stress due to time constraints and rush. These organizers kept security guard with me for the 15
hours I was in Toronto, and I am sorry I couldn’t give you guys (PakStar) much time due to limited time.”

Why the organizer didn’t announce it on Friday or Saturday that their main artist/performer Ali Zafar will not be coming?

The organizers should work with each other and the Pakistan’s Consulate office should appreciate and support every Pakistani event taking place in the city. They should also mediate any conflicts between the organizers.

Our Toronto’s Pakistani community is fairly big and when you have two big events on the same day, frustration levels rises, people suffer and get divided. Also, the general public should be informed ahead of time if there are any last minutes cancellations or changes in the performer’s line up. Both shows had
issues and our community suffered.

Concert Review: All That Kolachi Jazz by Khaver Siddiqi

They say that jazz is an acquired taste. If that is so, then Karachi has quite an appetite for it. On a brisk Saturday evening the jazz/fusion group, the Kolachi Quartet, performed a gig at the PACC.

Pakistan?s prominent percussionist Gumby handled the drums, classical guitarist Abbas Premjee helmed the guitar, Khalid Khan of Aaroh provided the bass lines and finally rounding things off, Emu (Fuzon) chimed in with his synthesiser and keyboards.

The who?s who of the entertainment industry loitered around the entrance of the inner theatre where the concert was set to take place as TV stars, musicians, photographers and models mingled with the band members.

The Kolachi Quartet had performed before, but that was a special performance away from the prying eyes of the public. This time round they opened their doors to them, although there weren?t enough members of the general public around. As the lights dimmed, the musicians took to the stage looking relaxed and grinning at each other. Abbas greeted the audience and announced the opening track, Oops, and like a well-oiled machine each musician fell into place.

At first nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But when put in their individual perspective, each musician brought his own flair, passion and sound, and when they came together their music gelled perfectly. Oops was jumpy and upbeat, filled with a jazzy and fusion sound while giving a sneak peak into what the show was all about. That Sinking Feeling followed and with it the band moved to a slower tune.

Although jazz is ambient music, the band made sure they were the centre of attention. ?We haven?t given this one a name yet, but we call it the Kirwani Jam,? said Premjee as an untitled piece beginning with an erratic but stable beat followed. It wasn?t long before the audience got into the grove.

The band then welcomed Zara on stage. The singer was previously heard on the Khuda Key Liye soundtrack and although she did justice to it, her live act was less impressive. Suniye Ji was a soft ballad with her vocals sinking into the ambience created by the band. At times she seemed a bit lost, but through most of it she was on track. After another track with her, the band took a break as Abbas Premjee took the stage to perform a few solo compositions. From crescendos to soft whispers, he showed off his training in the guitar ? and the audience loved it.

The band regrouped and was joined by Irfan from Multan who sings in his native tongue. Although he stumbled a bit at first, he found his own temperament and settled in with the band. After the concert, the band spoke about the premise of the concert with much glee. It was clear that not only did they enjoy playing as a group, they did so as individual musicians as well.

?This was probably more for us as musicians than as a band performing for an audience,? said Gumby. Emu agreed, ?It?s just something that had to be done. As a musician, I?ve always been into jazz but never had the opportunity to play it live or as a part of a band.? Khalid added, ?This was our first public concert and it was amazing.?

When asked if they would ever release an album, Gumby said, ?Every piece that was played in the concert, except for one, was an improvisation. We?ve practiced a basic structure but apart from that it?s not something that can be captured on a disc, it has to be done live in front of an audience.?

?This is total improvisation, the essence of jazz music,? Emu reiterated. Guitarist Premjee echoed the same sentiments, ?Jazz music is spontaneous, you can?t have that on a disc. It?s meant to be played live hence we?d like to do more shows.? Bassist Khalid said, ?We can probably look into a record but at the moment we?re planning on doing more shows.?

The band faced one criticism. Jazz music as a genre is extremely niche in Pakistan at the moment. There are very few people who play it, and even fewer who appreciate it. ?That?s right,? said Gumby, ?it is niche but at the same time we?re doing it and it?s not like nobody came to the show.?

Whereas the majority of the band agreed upon its niche genre, Abbas Premjee had a different view, ?I don?t think its niche at all and if it is, it?s less than ghazals and everything else that we have.? Premjee insisted that more shows would lead to jazz becoming a broader genre than it is.

Individually, the Kolachi Quartet members have a busy schedule up ahead. Premjee spoke about his solo album Elements and that it would be released shortly. Khalid Khan spoke about Aaroh, ?We?re working on some new songs that will lead into a new album.? Emu and his band continue to broaden their audiences, ?We?re (Fuzon) going to India again soon, so that should be exciting.? Finally, Gumby has his hands full working on Abbas Premjee?s album, providing drums for other people (Kaavish?s upcoming record) and ultimately more Kolachi Quartet shows.

Source: DAWN

Salman Ahmed Performs in Kashmir By RamEEz and Ayesha

Music is one of the most incredible weapon through which a powerful message can be delivered with ease and without harming anyone. John Lennon, Bob Dylan, U2, The Clash, Michael Jackson and many others have used music as a medium to talk about World Peace. This has become a practice these days. United Nation has appointed many artists, especially, from music industries of the world, to promote “Peace”.

The word “Peace” is bound to get you attention from media in today’s world. Many artists have used it to gain heights of popularity. It has rather became an advertising tool now. Artists are using “Peace” as their slogan, to get famous around the world and also in order to earn money and sell their albums.

Pakistan is no different; it has many such artists who are using the famous “peace for all” slogan and are getting appreciated around the world. Be it Jal singing “Dil Dil Hinustan” in India and saying, It was for “Peace” and “Friendship” or the famous Salman Ahmed, the ex-guitarist of the famous band Junoon, using “Peace” to get attention when his Musical career is on threshold of coming to an end after the breakup of the band.

On 25th May 2008, Salman Ahmed, using Junoon’s name, performed in Srinagar “Kashmir”. On 22nd May the United Jihad Council (UJC) requested the Federal Government to STOP Salman Ahmed from performing in Srinagar as it had nothing to do with ”PEACE” in Kashmir. In fact the concert was a part of celebrations marking the Indian President Pratibha Patil of the Kashmir Studies Institute at Kashmir University. It has been sponsored by the Indian chapter of the South Asia Foundation in collaboration with the university.

Salman Ahmed gave a statement and urged United Jihad Council to join him for a Musical Jihad. Is this Jihad? To sing and perform for the enemy of the people who are stuck in the disputed region for decades and then tell them that it was peace.

However, the event sparked major controversy when leading Kashmiri militant, Syed Salahuddin, the head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, urged the Pakistani government not to allow Junoon to travel to Srinagar. According to the BBC, “He argued that the performance would have a negative impact on the ‘disputed status’ of Kashmir and would send a wrong signal to the international community that ‘Kashmir is an integral part of India.’

A lot was discussed on Junoon’s official website as well. Many die hard fans of Salman call it a performance to be remembered. But there were people as well who opposed the very “idea and cause” of such performance and were later banned by the administration just for the fact that the people didn’t liked Salman using Junoon’s name to gain attention and then performing for the Indian Government.

According to Junaid:

There was nothing wrong with Junoon performing in an occupied and ravaged nation if that would have been done while respecting the sacrifices of Kashmiris…..maybe entertain the hundreds and thousands of orphans we have or raise money for those orphanages…. something in that direction…

But Junoon chose to perform in front of the same people who are all eligible to be tried before International Human Rights Tribunals and all of whom are guilty for orchestrating the collective imprisonment of an entire nation It is fine being a yuppie and going around the world on peace missions and clicking pictures with celebrities and rock stars. That is his profession, his passion and his livelihood. But coming to Kashmir, a nation that draws so much emotional strength and support from Pakistan, things is different.

Would going to the Gaza Strip and performing in front of a “Select hand picked audience” of Israeli troops, administrators and bureaucrats not be considered a slap on the faces of Palestinians who are being killed like cattle by the same administration?

Kashmiris have reached at this stage by many sacrifices. The loss of life has been enormous. It has been a very emotional subject for all the Kashmiris and Pakistani as well. The civilized world do say that artists are ambassadors but when a whole nation doesn’t accept the illegitimate occupation of India then our artist should also respect it. India, of course, will portray it as sign of truce between India and Kashmir. We very well know their media. This would be seen as “their” first step towards peace in the region.
Junaid further ads:

When you go to a Cemetery or a graveyard you pay homage to the departed souls, the remains of whom are buried there. We have 80,000 martyrs buried in Srinagar….just 2 miles away from where Salman Ahmad was entertaining the same Indian President, upon whose arrival we self enforce a civil curfew. Just 3 miles from where Salman Ahmad was shaking his curls, lays a concentration camp run by the Indian Army where innocent Kashmiri civilians are tortured and killed every day. He cannot plead the defense of ignorance here since genocides are not published in newspapers unless at least decades pass.

It is a fact that Junoon has lost thousands of its supporters in Kashmir for good, me being one of them.
Another fan, manzoor says:

“I was not in Kashmir when this performance was staged I am relying on newspapers and information I got from people I talked on phone What I did not like about the performance was that it was staged for the elite few .If this show was for general public I would have no problem with it .In my opinion all it did was create a photo opportunity for the media to show all is well in Indian Occupied Kashmir which is far from true. “

For people, their homeland and its respect are of utmost importance. Its dignity is everything for them. As it’s famously said “sab say pehlay Pakistan” but such is hardly seen ever in reality. Our artists are what their country has made them to be but it’s sad the way our artists sell their identity just to get fame and money.
Luckily we managed to recover a couple of other comments made by people at the Junoon’s official site.
Gibran a junooni since youth says:

I am a Kashmiri. I have been listening to Junoon since 6th grade. Junoon has been special for Kashmiri’s, I always find inspiration from their songs but now I am a bit confused. I live in Kashmir and I know how much trouble the average Kashmiri had to go through because of the Indian Government. I was there at the concert today, and thank God the president didn’t come. I had waited for this day for a long time. Having heard each cassette over a hundred times I always wanted to see Salman face to face. I liked Junoon all right, but I need some clarifications. How does this concert bring peace in the region?? Does it negate all the custodial killings? All the rapes? Does it bring back all the sons this mother has lost?? What peace is Salman talking about? The maximum that can happen is Kashmiri forgetting the atrocities being committed on them and that my friend is not what Junoon stands for. That is not what Allama Iqbal stood for. All along the concert Salman didn’t say a word about the lakhs that have died. This is not peace dear friend; singing on the banks of Dal Lake on the foot of the mountains doesn’t mean peace. Please don’t give it the name of peace.

It is rather sad that during the whole performance, Salman didn’t even say a word about Kashmir and “Peace”. He performed his solo songs (bad or worse that’s another issue) and went off the stage. This gives a pretty good idea that Salman was paid to perform and his so called intentions towards “World Peace” are just to gain attention of the media and that he has achieved really well. Google the net and you’ll see a lot of articles praising Salman Ahmed for his performance in Kashmir and the articles clearly gives a picture that India is an Angel. Thanks to Salman Ahmed India has once again succeeded in their plans.

We don’t know when our musicians and artists are rightfully going to do something for a cause. Just to earn money they sell their souls and beliefs. Have some shame for a change.

We shall leave you with strong but true words from Junaid:

According to Salman Ahmad Kashmir is nothing but a “Land Dispute”. I don’t know if I should sympathize with him for saying so or feel distressed. He is not only a poor student of history but also a poor cultural ambassador of his country. Kashmiris have been fighting for their right to self determination and that constitutes to much more than a mere land dispute. But as Salman told me once in Michigan that he is a musician and does not know the intricacies of politics, I would suggest that he sticks to that and stops embarrassing his country and his people by humiliating an oppressed and occupied people while on his global-peace high.

Click here to watch this event in pictures