Ashir Azeem

{{Short description|Pakistani-Canadian media personality}} {{Multiple issues| {{POV|date=May 2024}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2024}} }} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Ashir Azeem | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = عاشر عظیم | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1962}} | birth_place = [[Quetta]], [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]], [[Pakistan]] | death_date =  | death_place = | education = [[Institute of Business Administration, Karachi]] | other_names = | occupation = {{flatlist| * [[Actor]] * [[Film director|Film Director]] * [[Film producer|Film Producer]] * [[Screen writer|Film Writer]] * [[Truck driver|Truck Driver]] }} | spouse = Bushra Ashir Azeem | children = 2 | website = [https://maalik.com.pk/, Maalik] | employer = [[Federal Board of Revenue]] | years_active = 1993–1994; 2015–present | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Ashir Azeem Gill''' ({{Langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|عاشر عظیم}}}}) is a [[Pakistani Canadians|Pakistani-Canadian]] film and television director, actor, writer and former civil services officer who rose to fame through television series ''[[Dhuwan]]'' in 1994. He now hosts a political reform based web-series on his YouTube channel.

==Early life and career== Ashir Azeem was born in [[Quetta]] in 1962 where he attended early schooling. He attended the [[Pakistan Air Force]] College of Aeronautical Engineering from 1981 to 1984.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-17|title=The story behind my film, Maalik – From the horse's mouth|url=http://tribune.com.pk/article/34559/the-story-behind-my-film-maalik-from-the-horses-mouth|access-date=2021-10-11|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}</ref> Later, he received a degree in [[Bachelor of Business Administration|BBA]] from [[Institute of Business Administration, Karachi]] in 1984–1986. In 1988, Ashir joined [[Central Superior Services of Pakistan]] through "16th Common". While working there, he wrote a story about the [[Pakistan Armed Forces]]. Later, one of his colleagues advised him to create a television serial on his story.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Syeda Zehra |title=INGENUITY, THY NAME IS – Ashir Azeem |url=http://www.magtheweekly.com/27feb-04mar2016/interview.asp |website=Mag The Weekly |accessdate=30 March 2016 |date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414182943/http://www.magtheweekly.com/27feb-04mar2016/interview.asp |archivedate=14 April 2016 }}</ref> The serial titled ''[[Dhuwan]]'' based on his story was aired on [[Pakistan Television Corporation]] (now [[PTV Home]]) in 1994. He appeared in the serial as the lead actor and gained public recognition. ''[[Dhuwan]]'' became popular all over the country and received positive response. Ashir then moved to [[Canada]] in 2016. In 2015, he announced his debut film ''[[Maalik (2016 film)|Maalik]]'' which he wrote in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Ally Adnan|title=Pakistani drama is stifling creativity|url=http://www.thefridaytimes.com/tft/pakistani-drama-is-stifling-creativity/|website=[[The Friday Times]]|accessdate=30 March 2016|date=13 February 2015}}</ref> The film was directed, written and co-produced by Ashir. It was released on 8 April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title='Maalik' to hit theatres on April 8|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1049871/maalik-to-hit-theatres-on-april-8/|website=[[The Express Tribune]]|accessdate=30 March 2016|date=18 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Hasan Ansari|title=Clearing the smoke on 'Maalik'|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/982182/clearing-the-smoke-on-maalik/|website=[[The Express Tribune]]|accessdate=30 March 2016|date=30 October 2015}}</ref> Ashir also acted in [[Hassan Rana]]'s film ''[[Yalghaar]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Ayan Mirza|title=Breaking! Ashir Azeem of 'Dhuwan' returns in Yalgaar|url=http://galaxylollywood.com/2014/08/09/breaking-ashir-azeem-of-dhuwan-returns-in-yalgaar/|website=Galaxy Lollywood|accessdate=30 March 2016|date=9 August 2014}}</ref>

===Civil Service=== In addition to his media work, Ashir Azeem was a Pakistani civil servant. He served in the civil service [[Federal Board of Revenue]] by being assiduous and honest. He worked tirelessly to improve Pakistan's economy and took steps by staying in [[Pakistan Customs]] and coordinating with CBR and other departments. During his service at [[Pakistan Customs]], in order for Pakistan's industry to proliferate rapidly, he developed a software based on a system that cleared containers in 4 hours where previously it used to be cleared in 12 days. The project developed by Ashir and his colleagues was on par with developed countries like Australia and the United States. Due to this software, [[Pakistan Customs]] Department was moving towards transparency. But corrupted individuals after seeing a loss of their interests suspended Ashir from office by making baseless and false allegations. Here, he set a great example of the country's love and did not hold any press conference, did not resort to any propaganda. He quietly fought for his rights in the court for three years. Three years later, the court acquitted him and ordered to be reinstated in the post and dismissed all the allegations as false. However, he resigned from his post<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aslam |first=Mashhud |date=2020-09-02 |title=Customs officers resigning as there is no carrier growth in the service |url=https://customnews.pk/2020/09/02/customs-officers-resigning-as-there-is-no-carrier-growth-in-the-service/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=CustomsNews.pk Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> and migrated with his family from Pakistan to Canada. Now he is a truck driver in Canada and expresses his views in the love of Pakistan through his video message on YouTube. Every video contains tips for the development of Pakistan and a hopeful message for the youth.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Web Desk |date=2018-07-16 |title='Dhuwan' fame actor Ashir Azeem is now a 'proud' truck driver in Canada |url=https://arynews.tv/dhuwan-fame-actor-ashir-azeem-is-now-a-proud-truck-driver-in-canada/ |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=ARY NEWS |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life== He is married to Bushra Ashir Azeem, has two children and is a dual [[Pakistani]]-[[Canadians|Canadian]] citizen. He is a Roman Catholic Christian.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Junaid|first=Misha|date=2019-03-28|title=A Petition Filed in Punjab Assembly to Bring Back Ashir Azeem with Dignity|url=https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1157260|access-date=2021-10-11|website=HIP|language=en}}</ref>

On 7 July 2017, through his Twitter account, Azeem revealed that he currently drives a 22-wheeler truck in Canada as his main source of income.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/dhuwan-fame-actor-ashir-azeem-is-now-a-proud-truck-driver-in-canada/|title='Dhuwan' drama fame actor Ashir Azeem is now a 'proud truck driver' in Canada|date=16 July 2018|publisher=}}</ref> He also has a [[YouTube]] channel in which he discusses his views about governance, political, and societal issues of Pakistan.<ref name="auto"/>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Film !! Role !! Year !! Notes |- | 1. || ''[[Maalik (2016 film)|Maalik]]'' || Major Asad || 2016 || director, producer, writer |- | 2. || ''[[Yalghaar]]'' || Maj. Gen. Ahmed || 2017 || Cameo role as an infantry general |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! No. !! Serial !! Role !! Year !! Notes |- | 1. || ''[[Dhuwan]]'' || Azhar || 1994 || writer |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|6151553}} * https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYEbvKwxoWzJbmmyQYx6U3A

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azeem, Ashir}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian Roman Catholics]] [[Category:Institute of Business Administration, Karachi alumni]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]] [[Category:Customs officials]] [[Category:Pakistan Customs]] [[Category:20th-century Pakistani civil servants]] [[Category:Pakistani aerospace engineers]] [[Category:Pakistani civil servants]] [[Category:Pakistani emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Pakistani film directors]] [[Category:Pakistani male film actors]] [[Category:Pakistani male television actors]] [[Category:Pakistani Roman Catholics]] [[Category:People from Quetta]] [[Category:Punjabi Christians]] [[Category:Pakistani screenwriters]] [[Category:Pakistani dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:Canadian truck drivers]]