Re-recorded National Anthem released

The government on Sunday released the re-recorded National Anthem which reflected updated inclusivity in voices and expression, while ensuring the sanctity of the original words and the musical composition.

The updated version of national anthem was officially unveiled by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the flag-hoisting ceremony held at the Jinnah Convention Center in connection with the 75th Independence Day of Pakistan.

According to a press release, the first national anthem was launched by the country’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan in 1954. Shehbaz is the second prime minister who re-launched its updated version recorded with modern technology and instruments after 68 years.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) synchronised and harmonised the re-recording of the anthem through the best possible musicians, serving in the armed forces brass bands.

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The re-recording included 48 musicians from the army, air force and navy bands, who skilfully played the musical instruments; a choir of 30 vocalists from the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), and over 125 vocalists, representing all provinces, regions and faiths.

It was imperative that the re-recording of the national anthem was rendered correctly, while maintaining its historic sanctity and rich legacy. To this end, state-of-the-art digital technology was used to record multiple tracks and to complete the mixing and fusion to create clear, distinct, powerful vocal and instrumental versions. A colourful, kaleidoscopic video has also been produced by NUM Films.

The choir and vocalists featured in this re-recording included Abdullah Qureshi, Abid Brohi, Abid Wilson, Adil Baloch, Ahmad Gul, Ahmed Jahanzeb, Ahsan Ali, Aizaz Sohail, Akbar Ali, Akbar Ali Khan, Akhtar Chanaal, Ali Hamdani, Ali Hamza, Alycia Dias, Amanullah Nasar, Anamta Saleem Sabri (Sabri Sisters), Aqdas Asif, Arif Khan, Arif Lohar, Arqam Khan, Asfar Hussain, Asim Baloch, Bakhtiar Khattak, Bilal Ali, Bilal Asvad, Bilal Saeed, Bisma Abdullah, Dr. Essa Kakar, Essa Khajjak, Fakhir Mehmood, Fariha Pervez, Fozia Yasmeen (Manwa Sisters), Goher Mumtaz, Haider Ali, Hamayoon Khan, Hamza Tanveer, Haroon Shahid, Humaira Javed, Hussain Baksh, Iman Shahid, Irfan Ali Taj, Irfan Khan, Islam Habib, Jabar Abbas, Jana Nazareth, Jasim Haider, Jia Nauman, Junaid Javed, Karan Khan, Kashif Din, Kashif Zafar, Kehkashan Khan, Khalid Jahangir, Khurram Iqbal, Laila Khan, Lucky Khan, Maham Waqar, Maria Unera, Mehak Ali, Moez Mohamand, Naseer Afridi, Nasir Butt, Natasha Humera Ejaz, Nauman Lasharie, Niaz Balti, Nida Irtiza, Nimra Gilani, Nimra Rafiq, Nirmal Roy, Nirmala Maghani, Noman Asmet, Quaid Ahmed, Rabia Nazar, Rachel Johnson, Rafia Ali, Rahim Khan, Raisa Raisani, Rameez Mukhtar, Razia Abrar, Rizwan Anwar, Saba Noreen (Manwa Sisters), Sadiq Hussain, Sahir Ali Bagga, Sajjad Gohar, Salman Paras, Saman Areej (Sabri Sisters), Sana Tajik, Sanwal Esakhelvi, Sardar Amar, Sehar Gul Khan, Shahab Hussain, Shahmir Quidwai, Shaina Johnson, Shamu Bai, Shaukat Faqeer, Sherry Raza, Shuja Haider, Sibtain Khalid, Sidra Kanwal, Sitara Younas, Sumraan Shafique, Sunny Sam, Tahir Feroz, Taj Mastani, Tehmina Tariq (Gospel Singer), Tina Sani, Umair Jaswal, Urooj Fatima, Usman, Vishnu, Wajahat Aalmi, Wajiha Naqvi, Waliullah Farooqi, Yamsa Noor, Yashwa Ayub, Yasir Khan Milzai, Zara Madani, Zarish Kaleem, Zeb Bangash, Zeek Afridi, Zeeshan Ali, Zille Huma (Manwa Sisters), Zoha Zuberi, Zohaib Zaman, and Zubin Ernest (Gospel Singer).

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The choir, comprising artists from NAPA, included Ahsan Sheikh, Aleeza Fatima, Angeli Sarfraz, Christina Nayamat, Cynthia Rose, Elisha William, Fahad Maqsood, Hassan Mirza, Hiba Asim, Julian Qaiser, Khadeeja Imtiaz, Komal Soomro, Mahnoor Sahar, Khizar Rizvi, Muhammad Minaam, Myron Jasper, Nasfa Nizar, Natasha Sharif, Neha Fahim Khan, Nigel, Obaid Ahmed Siddique, Rimsha Masud Qureshi, Sajar Nafees, Sameer Hamza, Simal Nafees, Syed Rizwan Mehdi, Tabita J Nasim, Usama Anwer, Yashwa John, and Zeeshan Zafar.

The Shehbaz-led government has the credit of ensuring timely completion of the process of re-recording the national anthem and launching instrumental versions and a new video featuring new vocal version on the diamond jubilee of Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated the Information Ministry led by Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Inter-Services Public Relations and all the institutions concerned for holding magnificent ceremonies in connection with the 75th Independence Day celebrations.