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    Tribute: Aamir Zaki

    Tribute to Aamir Zaki, Guitarist and Singer

    Written by: Aiza Azam
    Posted on: June 03, 2017 |

    Aamir Zaki

    News of Aamir Zaki’s death began filtering through social media a short while before iftari on Friday, the 2nd of June, 2017. For so many who had grown up listening to his work, it was received with a deep sense of sudden loss. Since the legendary British musician David Bowie passed away in 2016, numerous other names in the global entertainment industry have fallen one after the other. Only last month, Chris Cornell, lead vocalist of Soundgarden and Audioslave, breathed his last. At home, we have faced the devastation of Amjad Sabri and Junaid Jamshed’s tragic deaths.

    With Aamir Zaki, the sense of loss is keen once again, and much more personal. Another of the great ones has gone, a name close to heart and home.

    Aamir Zaki playing with a band during his youth - Tribute to Aamir Zaki, Guitarist and Singer

    Aamir Zaki playing with a band during his youth (source: Geo.TV)

    Zaki began his career at a very young age, first coming to prominence when he performed with Vital Signs in the early 1990s. But his musical genius was first discovered much earlier by another legend, Alamgir, in 1978, who was searching for a guitarist to play for him on his tours abroad. Perhaps their most recognized collaboration was Albela Rahi.

    Alamgir and Aamir Zaki performing together- Tribute to Aamir Zaki, Guitarist and Singer

    Alamgir and Aamir Zaki performing together (source: Geo.TV)

    'Rough Cut', the 2007 album by Hadiqa Kiani featuring Aamir Zaki - Tribute to Aamir Zaki, Guitarist and Singer

    'Rough Cut', the 2007 album by Hadiqa Kiani featuring Aamir Zaki

    After parting ways with Vital Signs, Zaki released his debut album, Signature, in 1995. This was the album with the iconic Mera Pyaar Tum Hi Ho, a song of ethereal simplicity and heartbreaking longing. He would later rework it with Hadiqa Kiani for a TV serial of the same name, starring Marina Khan and Shabbir Jan.

    Kiani referred to Zaki as a mentor and a friend. The two would go on to collaborate on various other projects, including Iss Baar Milo, Living This Lie, and Be With You.

    Tribute to Aamir Zaki, Guitarist and Singer

    (source: Geo.TV)

    Aamir Zaki was not known for his vocals. He was known for his jarringly talented guitar skills, reminding you of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, but second to none. And the songs he wrote. Some of them were haunting melodies bursting with emotion that was all the more poignant for its utterly understated expression. Other numbers, like Janaa Tum Se Milnay Ka, were more upbeat but always had a grain of gravity to them, of love tragically lost. Though his career saw fluctuations, performances interspersed with long and frequent disappearances, he nonetheless carved a niche for himself which his followers cannot see being filled after his demise.

    Aamir Zaki has left at the young age of 49, departing to the aching tribute of thousands.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021