Muhammad Farooq (journalist)

Muhammad Farooq (Urdu:محمد فاروق) is a journalist, Qari, Naat Khawan and newscaster from Pakistan. He was the founding editor of first Pakistani evening newspaper, Daily Evening Special from Quetta. He also worked as Joint Executive Editor Daily Mashriq Quetta. Nowadays he is working in Daily Pakistan Lahore as a News Editor. He also had worked for Pakistan Television Corporation(PTV) and Radio Pakistan. Muhammad Farooq has also participated in many national and some international Mahafil-e-Qirat and Mahafil-e-Na`at. He has been awarded numerous national awards, including the Pride of Performance Award (2000) from Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Pakistan Television also nominated him for PTV Award.

Journalistic career

Muhammad Farooq started his career in journalism as a sub editor from the Daily Mashriq Lahore. He has also served as the Bureau Chief Lahore for Daily Mashriq Quetta. In 1997, Farooq moved to Quetta and was appointed as the chief news editor of the Daily Mashriq Quetta. On 10 August 2001, he launched first Pakistani evening newspaper Daily Evening Special from Quetta as founding editor.

In 2004, Muhammad Farooq became as the Joint Executive Editor of Daily Mashriq Quetta. He also served as editor in the Universal News Agency (UNA), in Quetta head office. During his journalistic career he also worked for Daily Din Lahore, Daily Akhbar-e-Lahore, Monthly Education Times Lahore, At present he is working as the news editor for Daily Pakistan Lahore, one of the leading newspapers of Pakistan.

He has also struggled for the freedom of the press and for the rights of working journalists. He was an active member of the Quetta Press Club and Baluchistan Union of Journalists, now also a council member of Lahore Press Club and Punjab Union of Journalists.

Newscasting

In 1997, Farooq joined Radio Pakistan (Quetta) as a newsreader. On 26 September 1997, Muhammad Farooq delivered first time this words "This is Radio Pakistan, now you listen news by Muhammad Farooq. ”

In 2000, Muhammad Farooq was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by Pakistani state radio in recognition of his work. Farooq also worked many years for Pakistan Television as a newscaster.

Analyst and compere

He has been an analyst and compere of Pakistan Television. He appeared in many talk shows regarding political and social issues, aspecially current affairs programs including News Morning Show and Qadam ba Qadam from PTV Quetta centre.

Writing

As a script writer for Pakistan Television, Farooq wrote for many different Pakistani television programs including current affairs. He focuses on the different problems of people of Balochistan. Farooq has also written scripts about Khushhal Pakistan Program, rural development and cities of Baluchistan. He has written many articles, columns, and translations for different magazines and newspapers.

As a Qari

Muhammad Farooq did his early Nazra education from Karachi by Qari Kal-e-Khan, and he learned Tajweed by Qari Hilal Ahmad Dehlavi, Imam and Khateeb of Tooba Mosque (Masjid e Tooba) Defense Housing Society Karachi.

Farooq is the winner of Pakistani national Qur'an recitation contests, and also the winner of many Qur'an reciting competitions at All Pakistan Inter Schools, colleges and universities.

Muhammad Farooq has recited in front of many internationally famous and respected figures including Egyptian Qari Shaikh Sayed Abdul Aal Mutawlli, Qari Shaikh Anwar Shahaat Mahmood Anwar, Qari Shaikh Mahmood Shahaat Anwar, Qari Hussain Shah and Qari Abdur Rasheed Al Azhari. Muhammad Farooq has also participated in many national and some international Mahafil-e-Qirat. He has also hosted many Mahafil-e-Qiraat in different cities of Pakistan including Karachi, Quetta, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, and Lahore.

Career in Naat Khawani

He started Naat Khuwani, when he was a student of Pakistan Navy School SRE 1 Shafa Karachi.

Farooq has also many times won the All Pakistan Naat recitation competition. After many years Muhammad Farooq restarted his career on Pakistan Television Quetta centre as a Naat Khawan, newscaster, script writer, analyst and compere.

He got national fame when he recited his most popular naat "Mujh ko kis din hogi tayaba ke safar ki agahi" in Urdu (مجھ کو کس دن ہوگی طیبہ کے سفر کی آگہی),Telecast on Pakistan Television. He has also performed live on different Pakistani TV and Radio Channels. He also recorded Naats for Radio Pakistan and FM 101 radio from Quetta. He also performed live these radio channels. In 2006, Pakistan Television nominated him as the best Naat Khawan for PTV Award from PTV Quetta centre. Muhammad Farooq has also participated in many national and some international Mahafil-e-Naat. He appears regularly on Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan.

Awards

Journalism

• Pride of Performance Award (2000) from Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) Best Urdu Newscaster Award (National).
• Fatima Jinnah Award (2003). Presented by The Government of Pakistan's Ex Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Minorities Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq
• Special Award Presented by UNICEF & Balochistan Scouts Association.
• Award from National Civil Defence of Pakistan
• Best Journalist award (2004) Presented by Ex MPA Balochistan Miss Rahila Durani and Muhammad Shafiq Khan. (Awarded by Ghosiya Blood Donors Association)

Qur'an recitation

• First Position All Pakistan Quraan Recitation Competition (1990)
• Best Qari National Award (1992)
• Award from Daily Jang Lahore
• Wahdat-e-Pakistan Award
• Award from Daily Mashriq Lahore
• Award for Excellent Performance (2008), by Minhaj-ul-Quran International and Lahore Press Club. Presented by Nazim-e-Ala Minhaj-ul-Quran International Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi.

Naat Khawani

• First Position All Pakistan Naat Khawani Competition (1991)
• Best Naat Khawan National Award (1993)
• Wahdat-i-Pakistan Award (1993)
• PTV Awards Best Naat Khawan (2006) Nomination

• "PBC Awards". Daily Intekhab Hub. Quetta. 15 November 2000. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2014. 
• "Radio Pakistan Awards". Daily Baakhabar. Quetta. 12 November 2000. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2014. 
• "Best Urdu Newscaster Award". Daily Dunya. Quetta. 13 November 2000. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2014. 
• "Awards ceremony". Fortnightly "Awaz-e-Balochistan" Quetta: 3. 16–30 November 2004. 
• "Qiraat Award by Lahore Press Club and Minhaj-ul-Quran International". Daily Express. Lahore. 29 January 2008. p. 2. Retrieved 8 May 2014. 

Works

There are many different serials and programs written by Muhammad Farooq for Pakistan Television.

Scripts

• Khushhal Pakistan serials (2002)
• Pak Japan Friend Ship (2002)
• Rural Youth (2002)
• Karkardagi serial (2003)
• Dastan-e-Azm serial (2003)
• Umar Khan Achakzai (2003)
• Qadam Ba Qadam serial (2004)
• Behtar Zindagi Behtar Mahole (2005)

Naat Khawani

Naats on PTV

• Na pucho kitne sooraj jagmagae khana-e-dil main ( نہ پوچھو کتنے سورج جگمگائے خانہءدل میں )
• Mujh ko kis din hogi tayaba ke safar ki aagahi ( مجھ کو کس دن ہوگی طیبہ کے سفر کی آگہی )
• Wohi zikr-e- share habib hai wohi rahguzar khiayl hai ( وہی ذکر شہر حبیب ہے وہی راہگذار خیال ہے )

Naats on Radio Pakistan

• Meri sari umar ka hasil jo bhi kuch hai jitna bhi kuch
• Main hoon benawa main shikasta dil mujhe arzoo-e-wisal hai
• Patte khushboo dhanak ( پتے خوشبودھنک )

Live performance

• Allah hu Allah hu Allah hu Allah