Aftab Iqbal
Aftab Iqbal | ||||||||||
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Born | ||||||||||
Nationality | Pakistani | |||||||||
Alma mater | Government College University | |||||||||
Occupations |
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Years active | 1986 – present | |||||||||
Parent | Zafar Iqbal (father) | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2017 – present | |||||||||
Subscribers | 1.6 million[1] | |||||||||
Total views | 652.6 million[1] | |||||||||
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Last updated: 21 February 2022 | ||||||||||
Website | www |
Aftab Iqbal is a Pakistani television host, journalist and businessman who founded Aap Media Group. He is a former host of TV programs Hasb-e-Haal on Dunya News (2009-2010), Khabarnaak on Geo News (2010-2015), Khabardaar on Express News (2015-2018), Himaqatain (2018-2020) on 92 News and Khabarzar on Aap News (2018–2020), and Khabarzar on Neo News (2020-2021).[2][3]
He is now hosting Khabarhaar on Samaa News. His presence on digital media is through his YouTube channel Aftab Iqbal started on January 7, 2017. In October 2018, he launched his TV Channel Aap News, where he fulfilled administrative affairs. In January 2020, he left his own channel and has joined Neo News. He left Neo News in January 2021 and went back on Express News and hosts a show Khabardar on Express News, which he in turn left to start Khabarhaar on Samaa TV in 2022.[4] He also introduced digital shows Open Mic Cafe, Amaniyat and Dialogue With History on his own YouTube channel Aftab Iqbal. [5]
Early life
Aftab Iqbal was born on 9 September 1961.[3]
He is the son of well-known poet Zafar Iqbal who also has been writing columns for Pakistani newspapers for over 35 years.[6][3]
He received his master's degree from Government College University (Lahore) in 1985 and then went on to get a diploma in History of Mass Communications from San Jose State University in California in 1986.[3]
Career
He then worked as a reporter from 1986 to 1987 and held some positions in the private sector companies of Pakistan. Then he briefly worked as a 'Media Advisor' to Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan) from 1994 to 1995. After that, he used to write a column by the name "Aaftabian" in Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper from 1995 to 2010.[3]
Many people in Pakistan give him credit for playing a key role in boosting the viewership and TV ratings at three Pakistani TV channels.
He also used to write this program's script and, as a host of the show, used to try to keep it focused on the political comedy and satire and not let it wander aimlessly.[7] The crew and cast of Khabarnaak used to do parodies or mimicries of Pakistan's known politicians like Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Rehman Malik, Shahbaz Sharif, Anwar Maqsood, Pakistani TV personality Tariq Aziz and pop music artist Ali Azmat among many others.[7] Aftab Iqbal used to include a short educational segment in this program, called Zabaan-o-Bayaan in which he used to point out language pronunciation errors made by the common public.[7]
He currently appears in a show named Open Mic Cafe hosted by Dr. Arooba on his Youtube channel. He also appears in a show named Loose Cannon hosted by himself on his Youtube channel named "Karakoram TV". He has also launched a new youtube channel by the name of Aftabiyan and is uploading a show Mailbox with Aftab Iqbal currently on Aftabiyan with a promise to upload a sitcom and a film.
Filmography
Reality shows
Year | Show | Role | Channel | Notes | First Show Air Date | Last Show Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009–2010 | Hasb-e-Haal[8] | Himself (host) | Dunya News | Iqbal left the show in April 2010 | 9 Jan 2009 | Continuing |
2010–2015 | Khabarnaak[8][7] | Himself (host) | Geo News | Iqbal left the show in September 2015 | 11 Sep 2010 | 11 Apr 2021 |
2015–2018 | Khabardaar[8] | Himself (host) | Express News | 10 Sep 2015 | 1 Apr 2018 | |
2018–20 | Khabarzar | Himself (host) | Aap News | Aftab Iqbal owned Aap News. Some episode were filmed for the Elections but show actually started in Nov 2018 | 1 Apr 2018 | 15 Dec 2019 |
2020–21 | Khabaryar | Himself (host) | Neo News | [9] | 23 Jan 2020 | 16 Jan 2021 (134 episodes) |
2021–2022 | Khabardaar | Himself (host) | Express News | The show returned to Express in 2021 | 21 Jan 2021 | 31 December 2021 |
2022-Present | Khabarhar | Himself | Samaa News | 6 Jan 2022 | Continuing |
Web shows
Year | Show | Role | Platform | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018–present | Mailbox with Aftab Iqbal | Permanent guest | YouTube | Guest, as part of Khabardaar team |
2019–present | Open Mic Cafe | Permanent guest | YouTube | |
2021–present | Saray Rung Punjab Day | Himself (host) | YouTube |
References
- ^ a b "About Aftab Iqbal". YouTube.
- ^ This TV host thinks marriage is a cure for mental illness Images (Dawn group of newspaper), Published 15 April 2019, Retrieved 25 September 2022
- ^ a b c d e Profile of Aftab Iqbal PakistanTimes.com website, Retrieved 25 September 2022
- ^ "First episode of Aftab's show on Samaa News".
- ^ "Aftab Iqbal joins NEO Network". NEO TV. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ Zafar Iqbal speaks out on Poetry Dawn (newspaper), Published 2 April 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2022
- ^ a b c d Qaisar Rashid (8 April 2014). "A few words on Khabarnaak". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ a b c After Iqbal's pontification Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 7 May 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2022
- ^ "Khabaryaar on Neo News". [AftabIqbal]. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
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External links
- Aftab Iqbal at IMDb
- 1961 births
- Living people
- People from Okara, Pakistan
- Pakistani television hosts
- Pakistani television people
- Pakistani television writers
- Pakistani male journalists
- Pakistani columnists
- Male television writers
- Pakistani mass media businesspeople
- Pakistani mass media owners
- Government College University, Lahore alumni
- San Jose State University alumni