Pioneer of pop music in Pakistan

Syed Aftab Azeem is a TV-man. He has spent more than thirty-six years playing with cameras, sets and scripts. After beginning his journey from children's programme, he has reached a stage of maturity where serious and challenging programmes have become his responsibility. Currently he is looking after religious programmes. He had joined TV in 1967.
In between these years Azeem has done children programme, music shows, nilam ghar, lok kahaniyan, serials, plays, current affairs, sports and many other entertaining and informative programmes that have brought laurel to the national television network.
Documentary on the construction and expansion of Masjid-ul-Haram, Iqra - recitation of the Holy Quran in the voices of Imam-e-Kaaba and Imam-e-Masjid-e-Nabavi in the morning transmission, documentaries on PIA such as PIA's Pakistan, PIA's North, Pakistan a New Horizon, Air Safari and Manasik-e-Haj are a few to be quoted. The construction and expansion of Masjid-e-Nabavi is a unique documentary in many ways as it takes the viewers to places known for their craftsmanship, introduces artisans of high caliber, pays tributes to Pakistani skilled labourers and engineers.
But what is exciting is the hidden musician in Azeem. To many it would come as a surprise that Azeem is the pioneer of pop music in Pakistan. He provided proper atmosphere for its popularization. He is the one who supported the idea of KTV going pop in 1972. He introduced Alamgir and Shahnaz Begum who were subsequently followed by a large number of youngsters. His presentations Jhankar and Sunday kay Sunday are still in the memories of music connoisseurs.
His passion for music has always been dominant in his outings for documentaries. He has enriched them with mellow compositions of eastern music.
After graduating from Islamia College, Karachi, Azeem opted for 7th War Course, Pakistan Army in 1966, but after a brief stay found out that he was not cut out for army. He stayed there from May to October 1966 and left it to pursue a career in performing art. Television was being introduced by Aslam Azhar, the great guru of many who earned name and fame because of his extensive teaching and training in the art of communication. Azhar wanted to develop a team of talented men and women who could support him in developing PTV as an institution of credible information dissemination center. He found Azeem as one of those who could be prepared to shoulder responsibilities.
Azeem holds Azhar in high esteem and says, "My success is because of Aslam Azhar who taught me and trained me in the art of TV production."
In recognition of Azeem's services to Pakistan Television, President of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf has conferred Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on him on 23rd March 2004.
It was in 1970 that Azeem's father Syed Saeed Azeem, a deputy secretary in Cabinet Division, was awarded Tamgha-e-Quaid-i-Azam for his devotion to his duties, hard work and honesty.