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Ad Man Extraordinaire

MIR ABDUL QAYYUM

 PIONEER OF ADVERTISING IN PAKISTAN SINCE 1948 

MAQ BIO

MAQ Communications was borne out of a humble desire to pay homage to, and to restore rightful recognition to the late, great humanitarian, Mir Abdul Qayyum as the true pioneer of advertising in Pakistan.  Simply put, Grandpa MAQ is our inspiration, our motivation and above all, our raisôn d'être. 

 

In early 1948, merely six months into the birth of a new country and the subsequent sprouting of various new businesses, Mir Qayyum felt the need to lay the foundation for quality advertising provision.  And so, Crescent Publicity Service became the country's first ad agency- an independent, full-service, all media advertising agency with headquarters in Karachi and an auxilliary branch in Lahore.  In due course, it would become fully accredited, evolve into the award-winning, renowned behemoth, Crescent Communications International (C.C.I) and expand to represent a hundred leading national and international clients including Panaroma, Tasneem Brothers (Kawasaki), Karim Silk Mills, K.E.S.C., MCB, Dada Soap, Nawab Brothers Steel Mills, Eastern Pharmaceuticals, United Trading (Kala Kola), Bonanza, Dadabhoy Silk Mills, Hussein Textiles, Metalex Corporation (Millat Fans), National Cosmetics, Union Bank of Middle East, A&B Beverages (7-Up), H&S Beverages (Canada Dry Orange), Red Cow Milk, Burq Detergent and Hotel Imperial, amongst many others.  C.C.I enjoyed an esteemed position in the industry until the passing of Mir Qayyum in 1993, shortly after which the company was also laid to rest.  

During his impassioned existence, Mir Qayyum was a charismatic yet principled, devoted family man of means and a plethora of accomplishments, with interests spanning the berth from business to philosophy to literature.  Being the true embodiment of a creative spirit and magnanimous soul, he was a gifted author, a glorious poet, an incredibly eloquent orator, a legendary philanthropist and a highly celebrated pillar of the burgeoning Pakistani advertising community.  He personally scripted countless radio ads, and holds the record for writing Pakistan's first radio jingle for Karilin Shirts in early 1960s.  As the pioneer of advertising in the nation and trailblazer of the creative revolution, he was a revered paragon of excellence and elegance; a shining beacon of inspiration for all the dreamers and doers alike- aspiring artists, writers and music composers, vying for an opportunity to be in his employ. Included amongst the notable stars of the nation who worked at Crescent for several years were legendary actor Talat Hussain; singer Alamgir; Pakistan's most senior journalist & editor of Morning News, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed; Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's personal photographer, Daud Subhani; and Sind Assembly speaker Nisar Khoro's wife, late Shehnaz Khoro. 

 

In a word, our beloved grandfather was a luminary with a heart of gold, and we intend to emblazon his prestigious name for what we hope, are eons to come.  

Vive le MAQ! 

Ab Manzil Door Nahin.

- Mir Abdul Qayyum

The Value of Pioneers

 A TIMELINE OF ADVERTISING AND PRODUCTION MILESTONES IN PAKISTAN 

Because our founding father, Mir Abdul Qayyum was also the father of advertising in Pakistan, he was at the forefront of the nation's creative revolution, contributing many "Firsts" to the industry in his tenure (the first print ad, the first radio ad, the first radio jingle, the first international TVC production, etc.)  He was succeeded by his equally talented son, Tariq Mir, who single-handedly served as Crescent's C.E.O, creative director and TVC director/producer of many of Pakistan's most memorable communications to date, and took great strides in further chronicling his father's pioneering trajectory by bestowing even more "Firsts" on both creative and production fronts (allowing C.C.I to become the first ad agency with an in-house production set up in 1979). Additionally, he introduced Photoshop software to Pakistan in 1988, pioneered computer graphics imagery (CGI) and in 1989 brought the art of 3D animations to our television sets , utilizing the nation's first animation system which he personally imported from the United States.  

The animated timeline below depicts some (but not nearly all) of C.C.I's totems of pioneering creativity and advertising tactics which made our clients exceed sales goals far beyond their expectations;  pioneering national and international in-house productions; and lastly, pioneering computer graphics and animations.  (Details are revealed upon hovering.)

1948

Pakistan's 1st Ad Agency

Crescent Publicity Service (CPS) founded by Mir Abdul Qayyum opens its doors in Karachi, with an auxiliary branch in Lahore.

1948

1948

Pakistan's 1st Print (Press) Ad

Client: Hashmi Surma

Publication: JANG Newspaper

This timeless logo was created by CPS, based on actress/ model Rozina

1948

1966

Pakistan's 1st TVC

Client: Burq Washing Powder 

Agency: Crescent Publicity Service 

(the former name of C.C.I) 

Packaging also designed by Crescent

1966

1967

Pakistan's 1st PTV Song Sponsorship

Singer: Tasawar Khanum

Song: Agar Tum Mil Jao 

Sponsor: Karim Silk Mills 

Agency: C.C.I

1967

1978

Pakistan's 1st Large Giveaway

Show: Neelam Ghar

Host: Tariq Aziz

Client/Prize: Kawasaki/Motorcycle

Agency: C.C.I

1978

1978

Pakistan's 1st Commercial

Utilization of  PTV characters

Characters: Uncle Sargam

Client: Burq Washing Powder

Director: Abdul Waheed Khan

1978

1980

Pakistan's 1st Agency In-House Sound Recording Studio

Used to develop original music and jingles sung by legendary singers (see MAQ facts below.)

1980

1982

Pakistan's 1st TVC shot at Times Square, near Twin Towers, NYC

Client: Bonanza 

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir of CCI

Agency: C.C.I

1982

1986

Pakistan's 1st PTV Teaser

Product: Sparkle Chhotoo

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir of CCI

Agency: C.C.I

1986

1988

Pakistan's 1st Computer Graphics TVC

Product: Shield Baby Bottle/Nipple

Computer Graphics by Tariq Mir

Agency: C.C.I

1988

1959

Pakistan's 1st Radio Ad

Client: Americano Drycleaners

Scripted by Mir Abdul Qayyum

Channel: Radio Pakistan

1959

1962

Pakistan's 1st Radio Jingle 

Client: Karim Silk Mills- Karilin Shirts

Scripted by Mir Abdul Qayyum

Channel: Radio Pakistan

1962

1968

Pakistan's 1st PTV Show Sponsorship

Show: Bewitched

Sponsor: Karim Silk Mills 

Agency: C.C.I

1968

1969

Pakistan's 1st Billboard with Lights (Neon Sign)

Client: Karim Silk Mills- Karilin Shirt

Location: North Nazimabad, Karachi

Sign depicted timed neon lights forming a men's shirt outline. 

1969

1979

Pakistan's 1st Agency In-House TVC Production 

Client: Canada Dry

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir of CCI

 and Kelly Klein (w/o Calvin Klein)

1979

1979

Pakistan's 1st Agency In-House Projection Hall (Theater)

Fully equipped Film Division with 35mm, 16mm, 8mm Cameras, Projector, VCR, and other equipment 

1979

1982

Pakistan's 1st TVC shot at Miami Beach Area, Florida, USA

Client: Sitara (Sapna Lawn) 

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir of CCI

Agency: C.C.I

1982

1983

Pakistan's 1st TVC featuring a

Hot Air Balloon (Pennsylvania, USA) 

Client: Sitara Jan-e-Serma Lawn

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir of CCI

Agency: C.C.I

1983

1989

Pakistan's 1st 3D Animated TVC

Client: Dawlance

Motion Graphics by Tariq Mir, created using Pakistan's 1st animation system   ( imported from USA.)

Agency: C.C.I

1989

2005

Pakistan's 1st TVC shot by skydiver, displaying product mid-air

Product: BP Spacer Toffee

Producer/Director: Tariq Mir

Skydiver: Mark 

Location: Connecticut, USA

2005

TIMELINE

MAQ FUN FACTS

WORLD FAMOUS FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER, DIRECTOR, MODEL AND STAR OF BRAVO'S DOUBLE EXPOSURE, INDRANI PAL CHAUDHURI WHO WORKS WITH SOME OF THE GREATEST

A-LIST celebrities OF ALL-TIME (INCLUDING BEYONCE, J.LO, DAVID BOWIE, ANNE HATHAWAY, lady gaga, DITA VON TEESE, THE KARDASHIANS TO NAME A FEW),

MODElLED IN A SITARA SAPNA LAWN TVC IN 1995. 

 

(FOOTAGE FROM SITARA LAWN TVC DIRECTED BY TARIQ MIR IS SHOWN BELOW.)

INDRANI SHOOT MIAMI 1995

FUN FACTS

EVOLUTION VIA CREATIVE REVOLUTION

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