ISLAMABAD: Unicef has pulled the right
‘strings’ and made the perfect choice by
designating pop singers Faisal Kapadia and
Bilal Maqsood as national ambassadors for
HIV-AIDS in Pakistan — a country on the
threshold of an epidemic that threatens to
reverse its current low-prevalence status.
A
signing ceremony confirming the appointment of
Strings in their new role was held here
Saturday in the presence of a select gathering
consisting of Unicef staff and Pakistan
Representative Omar Abdi, the media, and a
bunch of young people who interacted with the
singers in a casual setting. Strings will
primarily focus on reaching out to young
people so as to increase their access to the
critical information they need to protect
themselves from HIV-AIDS.
Flanked by Omar Abdi, Faisal and Bilal
confidently responded to questions focusing on
how the group, which won the Most Popular Band
award from MTV Asia earlier this year, intends
to capitalise its fame and influence to
initiate a dialogue on HIV-AIDS in a society
where such subjects are generally relegated as
taboo.
"Initiating a dialogue on HIV-AIDS will
doubtlessly be an uphill task but since we
already have a relationship and a synergy with
today’s youth, we know we can communicate with
them in a language that they can relate to,"
Faisal commented. Terming it "a great moment,"
Bilal said, "We are extremely excited to be
associated with Unicef. We were always keen to
utilise the power of our fame to serve the
society by working for a cause."
Omar
Abdi was confident that the role model status
of Strings, and their universal appeal would
unfold many exciting opportunities for the
promotion of preventive education on HIV-AIDS
— the silent killer without a cure. In their
national role, the group has made a commitment
to defend child rights in Pakistan, and to use
their prestige to disseminate information and
reach a mass audience, while encouraging young
people’s participation so that they can be
heard in society.
As
parents of young children, Faisal and Bilal
have a natural affinity with children and they
also have a resolutely "squeaky clean" image
among pop stars in that they have pledged to
avoid alcohol and drugs. "Pop stars often take
on the job of promoting fast foods, cell
phones or colas through television
advertisements; Strings must be commended for
accepting a more daunting task of acting as
spokespersons for youth on HIV-AIDS,"
commented a guest.
Coming to specifics, the group is planning a
tour of Balochistan and Karachi, where they
will participate in provincial youth forums to
communicate their message to the target
audience. The ceremony concluded with the
artists obliging their fans with signed copies
of their CDs and posters.