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    The Second Funniest Person in the World Comes Home!

    Written by: Farheen Abdullah
    Posted on: December 07, 2015 |

    Saad Haroon's energetic entry

    Being in second place often does not feel too good, but when that position is at Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World competition, the news can only leave you with smiles. In 2014, this title was brought home by Saad Haroon, the founder of Pakistan’s very first improvisational comedy troupe, BlackFish.

    Fans of improvisational comedy were overjoyed as the writer, actor, and comedian announced his return to his homeland in December this year. With support from Rozee.pk, team Saad Haroon sent waves of excitement and anticipation across social media as they revealed the tour schedules for Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

    Choosing the City of Lights to set the stage for the first show of his current series, titled ‘Don’t Jealous Jaani, My Heart is Pakistani’ on Thursday, 3rd December, Saad Haroon waited backstage as the PACC Auditorium filled up. Be it families, friends or couples, the audience included individuals from all age groups. Also spotted amongst the crowd were a number of celebrities such as model/VJ/actor Wiqar Ali Khan and renowned drummer Gumby.

    The show received a full house

    The show received a full house

    As the clock struck 8 in the evening, the lights of the auditorium were dimmed and the audience was greeted by Salman Zahid Qureshi. Recently named one of the ‘Ahlan Hot 100 Personalities of the UAE’ for his work in comedy, Salman ZQ is one of Dubai’s top stand-up comedians. Serving as the opening act for Saad Haroon, Salman was pumped to be performing in his home-town for the first time, and his lively performance immediately filled the room with energy.

    Having spent a significant part of his life in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, many of Salman’s jokes revolved around comparisons between the two countries and Pakistan. He also highlighted some of the issues that desis (locals) have to face in a foreign country, especially due to their brown skin. His sarcastic tone while discussing the US visa application, and specifically the question, “Are you a terrorist?” had the audience in peals of laughter.

    As the opening act left the crowd wanting more, Salman ZQ bid farewell and handed over the mic to Saad Haroon, who entered the stage dancing. It soon became quite evident that the latter possessed a good deal of sportsman spirit, as the first jokes that he cracked were regarding his second position in the Laugh Factory competition. He narrated a special incident where a person asked him, “How does it feel to be the second funniest person in the world?” The comedian then proceeded to make jokes about his own marriage. Before spectators could ponder over or mock the fact that Saad’s wife is eight years younger to him, the thirty-eight year old quite blatantly did so himself. From the times when he was looked at with concerned eyes by rishta aunties for marrying at the age of thirty-two, to him being a slightly less romantic husband than his wife would like, Saad narrated every story in good humor.

    Saad Haroon, the Second Funniest Person in the World

    The personal jokes and stories made the audience feel completely at home. The show then became interactive as Saad picked random people from the crowd and asked about their professions and love lives. As it turned out, most of the individuals he spoke with had brought their spouses along, giving him further opportunities to crack marriage-related jokes.

    It is safe to say that the first evening of the tour was a major success. The fact that a bonus show has been added to the schedule for Karachiites is proof of that. Saad Haroon’s next stop will be Lahore on the 11th of December, followed by the capital city on the 18th. So, if you have a sense of humor and a love for improvisational comedy, you wouldn’t want to miss this one!


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021