Promoting Pakistani Art & Culture
| Nations rich in history have a lot to offer to the world. PARCO believes in promoting and keeping alive Pakistan’s core values and strong cultural heritage. In this context, PARCO has published and sponsored several books on various subjects, supporting local art and culture. |
| PAPPU YAAR TANG NA KAR |
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PARCO's marketing initiative for PEARL Lubes in the form of Booklet "Papoo Yar Tang Na Kar" was very well received. The booklet containing humourous truck poetry was distributed with the lubricant sales. Second part of the book "Papoo Yar Tang Na Kar, Ghalib Kay Urain Gay Purzay" has been published and provides the reader with the light and refreshing interpretation of Mirza Ghalib's Poetry. |
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| MELODY QUEEN – NOOR JEHAN |
| In the last sixty years great film singers – K.L. Saigol, Punkaj Mullick, Khursheed, Kanan Devi, Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mahmood Mukesh, Hermant Kumar, Geeta Dutt and others – came to light and left this world after enriching film music with their unforgettable songs, but no other singer was written on so profusely and with such admiration as Noor Jehan. In just one year since her demise on 23 December 2000, scores of books have appeared. Incidentally, these books are in Urdu and we find that in most of these publications the focus is more on the amorous side of her life than her achievements as a singer. This book is perhaps the first published on Noor Jehan on English. It contains articles written by prominent Pakistani writers and published in national newspapers and magazines. |
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| Immortal Film Songs Inspired by Raags |
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Music, especially classical music of the sub-continent, is a stunning bend of mental and physical faculties, where the artiste hones his God-gifted talent and hard work for years and years – to be able to share his art with friends and offer it ti the world. Such devotion creates an obligation on society to patronize the art and the artiste and leave it as a legacy for the future. |
| TUFAIL NIAZI |
| Tufail Niazi was a rare master of the folk as well as classical music and a performer par excellence. His sensitivity to the finest details of notes found expression in his melodies and worked like magic on his listeners, leaving a lasting effect on mind. PARCO has, therefore, taken the step of sponsoring a book on Tufail Niazi to make sure that his name as great master of folk music and his repertoire as a treasure of immeasurable worth are preserved. Also included in the book are expert appreciations of Tufail Niazi’s art by eminent writers. |
| MEHDI HASSAN |
| If Urdu is the Taj Mahal of sub-continental languages, then Ghazal is its sublime reflection in water in a moonlit night. When Ghazal was articulated through music, one art merged into another. But when Mehdi Hasan’s innovated variations in a raag’s theme to play out the changing nuances, it appeared that both the music and poetry of love had reached their ultimate fulfillment. His contribution has not only revived the popularity of Ghazal but also created a new genre of Ghazal singing and changed the landscape of sub-continental music. Adding moods to the meanings of Ghazal is Mehdi Hasan’s singular distinction. His work deserves to be celebrated and preserved. PARCO has always endeavored to deliver the best to the people it serves, not only in its mainstream business but also in the social domain. These include such diverse presentations as divine quotations on moral reformation, great poetry on national awakening, mystical poems of venerable saints of Pakistan, introduction to classical music of the subcontinent, immortal film songs inspired by raags, popular graffiti that reflects the unique humor of the masses. The book includes the different moods of Ghazals by Mehdi Hasan, and a detailed review on his art and performances. |
| KAMAL DASGUPTA |
| Kamal Dasgupta (alias Kamal Ahmed) the inimitable composer of popular Geets epitomized these sacred and universal attributes of humanity when he fell in love with Feroza Begum, a much admired singer, converted to Islam and moved and moved to then East Pakistan along with her. It is surprising that today few know the creator of “Tasweer teri dil mera bahla na sake gi” and “Dil ko hai tum se piyar keon” although millions have heard and enjoyed these and his other songs in the last half a century. It was sad when this model of humility and dedication, well sung in the prime of his life, literally died unsung in 1974 in Dhaka. The least one could do to honor the memory of Kamal Dasgupta is to introduce him to his admirers, albeit belatedly, and to secure some of his work for prosperity. PARCO has attempted to render this service by sponsoring to securing his work in a printed form. |
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| VENTURING BEYOND PROFIT |
| PARCO’s journey of success has been documented in a book for today’s readers as well as for posterity. “Venturing Beyond Profit” is a refreshing account of a public sector enterprise which through its 34 years of existence has been successfully combining public good with the financial interest of its sponsors. Written in a flowing style, the book gives an account of how a dream was converted into a reality. The book has been written by Mr. S. A. Abidi. |