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Aftab Iqbal

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Aftab Iqbal
Born (1958-09-19) 19 September 1958 (age 66)
Okara, Punjab, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Alma materGovernment College University
Occupations
  • Anchor
  • Television host
  • Journalist
  • Director
Years active1986 – present
ParentZafar Iqbal (father)
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2017-present
Subscribers1.8 million[1]
Total views784.9 million[1]
100,000 subscribers2018
1,000,000 subscribers2021
Last updated: 5 May 2024
Websitewww.aftabiqbal.com

Aftab Iqbal (born 19 September 1958) is a Pakistani television host, journalist and businessman who founded an international Pakistani news channel, 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 (2018–2019) on 92 News, Khabarzar on Aap News (2019–2020), Khabaryar on Neo News (2020–2021), Khabardaar Season 2 on Express News (2021–2022) and Khabarhar on Samaa TV News (2022–2023). Since 2024, He is doing Khabarhar Season 2 on Web Digital Platforms.[2][3]

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 joined Neo News. He left Neo News in January 2021 and went back on Express News and hosted the show Khabardar on Express News, which he in turn left to start Khabarhaar on Samaa TV in 2022.[4] In 2024, after the 1 year of break, he revived Khabarhar as "Khabarhar Season 2" which quickly grabbed the attention of the viewers. He digitally connected with his team in Lahore studio to record the show while himself, co-host Dr. Arooba, Researcher Shakeel Chaudhary and other part of his team remaining in UAE. He also introduced digital shows Open Mic Cafe, Amaniyat, Dialogue With History and Chacha Boota on his own YouTube channel Aftab Iqbal. [5]

Early life and education

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Aftab Iqbal was born on 9 September 1958 in a Punjabi Arain family of Okara.

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

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He 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. He wrote a column titled "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, famous writer 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]

Filmography

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Reality shows

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Year Show Role Notes
2009–2010 Hasb-e-Haal[8] Host/presenter
2010–2015 Khabarnaak[8][7] Host/presenter
2015–2018 Khabardaar[8] Host/presenter
2018–2020 Khabarzar Host/presenter
2020–2021 Khabaryar Host/presenter [9]
2021–2022 Khabardaar Host/presenter
2022–2023 Khabarhar Host/presenter
2024-present Khabarhar Host/presenter

Web shows

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Year Show Role Notes
2021–present Mailbox with Aftab Iqbal Permanent guest
2020–present Open Mic Cafe Permanent guest
2021–2022 Saray Rung Punjab Day Permanent guest

References

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  1. ^ a b "About Aftab Iqbal". YouTube.
  2. ^ Staff, Images (15 April 2019). "This TV host thinks marriage is a cure for mental illness". Images. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Aftab Iqbal - Pakistan Times". www.pakistantimes.com. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Khabarhar with Aftab Iqbal - Episode 1 - SAMAA TV - 6 Jan 2022". Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ "Aftab Iqbal joins NEO Network". NEO TV. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^ Zafar Iqbal speaks out on Poetry Archived 27 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Dawn (newspaper), Published 2 April 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2022
  7. ^ a b c d Qaisar Rashid (8 April 2014). "A few words on Khabarnaak". Daily Times (newspaper). Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b c After Iqbal's pontification Archived 25 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 7 May 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2022
  9. ^ "Khabaryaar on Neo News". [AftabIqbal]. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
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