Jawad Ahmed

Jawad Ahmad

Jawad Ahmad was born into an educated middle class family. Both his parents were professors of political science. His father, Prof. Tauqeer Ahmad taught in Government College and mother, Mrs. Anees Tauqeer, in Lahore College For Women. Very early on in his life he became very conscious about the inequality and wondered why some people have everything and some have trouble just barely making it. He saw poverty, deprivation and exploitation all around him and helplessness and anguish on people’s faces. It was then that he started thinking about the system and had a desire to change it.

College Days

He joined UET (University of Engineering and Technology) in Lahore after doing FSc. from Government College Lahore. That is when he started thinking about practical means to end inequality. Like all other children, he was inspired by famous showbiz and sports celebrities on TV. So, he thought that first step will be to become famous because that will make it easy for him to promote his message. He loved to sing and people had always told him that he sang well.  So he decided to try and become a professional singer. He became president of music society and besides organising shows, also started singing in them.

Musical career

 

While still in UET, he was offered to become lead singer for Jupiters, a famous pop music band in those days. He accepted the offer. After he graduated from UET with a degree in mechanical engineering, he asked his father for two years to try and succeed in this field. His first album, Bol Tujhe Kia Chaheiye” came out in 2000 and his first song was “Allah Mere Dil Ke Ander” in which portrayed the inequality between rich and poor. His name became well known not just in Pakistan but also internationally.

Social and Philanthropist work

 

As he was always trying to think of the ways to eliminate poverty and inequality, he decided to set up Taaleem For All Trust in 2003. Goal was to educate disadvantaged children all over Pakistan. Trust started by setting up 10 schools in Chunian on one room one teacher basis and to let people know that he was willing to stand up with them for their issues. The number of schools increased to 14. Then due to opening of formal schools in the area, attendance in the Trust’s schools started decreasing so after consultation with area people and parents, the program was closed. By then almost 1000 children had been educated. Another important reason to close the program was that Jawad Ahmad realised that in order to continue this project, he will have to raise funds and since it is mostly rich people who have funds, he will have to ask them. That idea was very repulsive to him. Ideologically also he found it demeaning to beg money from the rich to spend on the poor. It creates dependancy and causes loss of self respect. He knew that the poverty and deprivation will only end when people instead of becoming beggars will stand up for their rights. He started looking for other means to do that.

International Youth and
Workers Movement

Because of this realisation and his passion to make this world a better place for all human beings and promote the concept of equality of right over resources and equality of access to opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, gender, ethnicity and nationality, he founded “International Youth and Workers Movement” in 2011 with the help of some friends. Main goal for this was to raise the socio-political awareness among youth and working class of Pakistan and inform, educate, empower and organise them. This provided him with a platform to promote these ideas. He has addressed working class and youth through trade unions, spoken in educational campuses, on youth festivals and other public events. He has traveled to many areas in Pakistan for this purpose speaking tirelessly about the difference between rich and poor, about the oppression and exploitation of workers, their low wages, lack of social security, complete absence of work place safety and lack of education and healthcare to their families. He spoke on TV about this at every opportunity he got. Gradually many people started to join him in this struggle.He led many campaigns under the banner of IYWM

Campaigns

    1. He led campaigns for Baldia Factory fire victims to get them reasonable compensation for the loss of their loved ones.
    2.  International Youth and Workers Movement also organised a conference against privatisation where representatives of almost 32 trade unions participated.
    3. He has spoken about gender issues and importance of women’s participation in public life. Some of his songs, like “Hum Hain Nauwjawan” and “Suno Bacho, Uthao Basta” specifically address this issue.
    4. He led the campaign “Restore Student Unions” in Pakistan. This is an ongoing campaign. He has spoken about this in various public gatherings, recorded his video messages on this and has done TV programs to advocate and promote this cause. He is also working to bring this issue to the court.
    5. Since he is a celebrity in Pakistan, he gets invited to many talk shows and other TV programs. He has used that platform to highlight the plight of the poor.
    6. Even it Up Campaign, Jawad Ahmad is an Ambassador for “Even It Up Campaign” of OXFAM in Pakistan. According to OXFAM, inequality is growing around the world.
    7. Our economy must stop excessively rewarding those at the top and start working for all people. Jawad Ahmad wrote, composed and sang a song as well as created its video: “Bhola kia Kare” to create awareness about this problem.

Political Career

International Youth and Workers Movement was the first step towards politics. After working with youth and working class for almost 6 years, he thought this was the right time to establish a political party. Thus application for Barabri Party Pakistan was submitted to Election Commission Pakistan in April 2017 and it was approved in June 2017 with the vision, Mission and Objectives.

Awards and Recognitions

He has received many awards for his many achievements a few of which are mentioned below.

2003: PTV Award for Best Singer.

2004: Tamgha-e-Imtaiz by The President on behalf of Government of Pakistan for his services in the field on music.

2006: Sitara-e-Esar by The President on behalf of Government of Pakistan for his services in social work and philanthropy.
2006: Polio Award for being an Ambassador for Polio Eradication by Ministry of Health, Pakistan and UNICEF.

2007: Indus Music Award for best Bhangrha songs.

2016: Human Rights Award by The President on behalf of Government of Pakistan.