The first IPPA (International Pakistan Prestige Awards) took place in London on the 17^th of September amid a lot of fanfare and showbiz personalities from Pakistan, and was a huge success. Celebrating Pakistan’s 70^th Independence Day, this was the first IPPA acknowledging the greats from Pakistan’s film, music, TV and fashion industries. London’s crème de la crème from the expatriate community as well as the corporate sector showed up in large numbers to demonstrate their support for Pakistani talent, while members of the showbiz industry of Pakistan flew into London in large numbers to make the event a roaring success. Glitz, glamour and a sense of wonderment was what defined the first IPPA held at Hilton Park Lane. Mukhtar Ahmed Chohan and Ali Malik, the organisers of the event were very grateful to HUM TV, the sponsors, and to the audience for their support in making this first-of-its-kind event in London possible.

The Red Carpet was a star-studded affair with the who’s who of the entertainment industry, socialites and corporate giants coming together in an elegant mix of glitz, glamour and class. 35 celebrities were flown from Karachi to London, courtesy Pakistan International Airlines. Humayun Saeed, Ahsan Khan, Ayesha Khan, Mekaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Omer, Mawra Hocane, Urwa Hocane, Farhan Saeed, Sana Fakhar, Behroze Sabzwari, Wajahat Rauf, Noor Bukhari, Fiza Ali, Bilal Ashraf, Gohar Rasheed, Javed Sheikh, Saife Hasan, Nabeel Qureshi, Fizza Ali Meerza, Humaima Malick, Moomal Sheikh and Ayesha Sana were just some of the names that graced the Red Carpet.

The show opened with Pakistan’s national anthem followed by an amazing fashion presentation by Saira Rizwan and Amty of Tehzeeb, London which set the mood for the night. This was followed by a comedy segment by Yasir Hussain and Adnan Siddiqui which left the audience in fits. The first pair of hosts for the evening comprised the actor/comedian Mani Liaquat and the celebrated anchor person Ayesha Sana who hosted the segment of special awards: Outstanding Achievement by British Pakistani in Fashion, Outstanding Achievement by British Pakistani in Business,Acknowledging contributions to Cosmetic Surgery, and Outstanding Community Service Award.

A mesmerizing performance powered by ‘Waves: Naam Hi Kaafi Hai’, by Mawra Hocane followed. The hosts for the next set of awards were Farhan Saeed and Urwa. The first award was for Best Style Icon of 2016 (male) presented by Ahsan Khan and Rashida Ali and was bagged by Hamza Ali Abbasi, while Best Style Icon of 2016 (female) presented byNooray Bhatti and Mehboob Hussain of Royal Nawab was bagged by Ayesha Omer. Best Model 2016 was presented by Sana Fakhar and Mr Abdul Rasheed, Director Golden Pearl, and was won by Neha Ahmed; Best Designer Couture, presented by Amna Baber and Mr Waseem of Tayyabs was won by Faraz Manan, while Best Designer Lawn, presented by Ali Malik and Ayesha Omer was won by Asim Jofa. The segment ended with a scintillating performance by the uber-talented Noor Bukhari on a medley.

Yasir Hussain returned to host the show with the very glamorous Ayesha Omer. The next set of special awards were for Outstanding Achievement by a Pakistani Actor on a Global Platform (female) – was presented by Moomal Sheikh and Wajahat Rauf, and received by Humaima Malik  — and Outstanding Achievement by a Pakistani Actor on a Global Platform (male) — presented by Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza, and received by Adnan Qureshi; IPPA Star of the year 2016 (male) — presented by Mr Rafi Butt and Ayesha Sana was received by Humayun Saeed; IPPA Star of the year 2016 (female) — presented by Ainy Jaffri Rehman and Bilal Ashraf and received by Mawra Hocaine; and Lifetime Legend Award was presented by Sultana Siddiqui and received by Jawaid Sheikh.

The hosts for the next segment were Meekal Zulfiqar and Ainy Jaffri Rehman. The awards in this segment were for Best Emerging Talent presented by Armeena Khan and Gohar Rasheed and bagged by Momina Mustehsan; Best Singer 2016 — presented by Farhan Saeed and Urwa — and bagged by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan; — Best Morning Show Host — presented by Ehteshamuddin and Humaima and bagged by Sanam Jung– and Best Supporting Actor TV serial 2016 – presented by Nausheen Shah and Asim Jofa and received by Gohar Rasheed for Man Mayal.

The mega star of Pakistani music Farhan Saeed then came on stage and sang a solo number, following it up with few others that had an international troupe dancing in accompaniment. His electrifying performance and interaction with the guests brought the house down.

Ayesha Omer hosted the next set of awards for Best Actor TV Serial (male) – presented by Mawra and Imtiaz Ali Butt — and received by Ahsan Khan for Udaari; Best Actor TV Serial (female), presented by Zohair Ismail of Ismail Industries went to Ayesha Khan for Noor e Zindagi, and Best Jodi of the year TV Serial – presented by Mr and Mrs Behroze Sabzwari – went to Farhan and Urwa for Udaari.

Fiza Ali took the stage and hosted the awards for Best Director Drama Serial 2016, presented by Shah Sharabeel, Ishtiaq Baig and Moomal Sheikh and received by Ehteshamuddin for Udaari; and Best TV Serial 2016, presented by Umaima and Mr Shabbir Hussain, CEO Akber Restaurant and bagged by Momina Duraid for Udaari.

The Rangreza heartthrobs Gohar Rasheed and Bilal Ashraf then entertained the audience with their witty and humorous banter, heralding the next set of awards for Best Supporting Actor Film 2016–presented by Mr Sheharyar Khan of Farani Tailors Solicitors – went out posthumously to Mr Om Puri for his role in Actor in Law, Best Actress Film, presented by Mr Mohammed Shahid, GM Marketing Waves Cool Industries Pvt. and Sadaf Khan, went to Mehwish Hayat for the same film and  Best Actor Film also presented by Mr Mohammed Shahid, and Mr Jawed Sheikh, went to Fahad Mustafa for Actor in Law as well.

The last awards of the night were for Best Cinema of 2016, which was presented by Sunil Shah, CEO B4U and went to Neuplex Cinema, Best Jodi of the year Film presented by Adnan Jameel, CEO Universal Call Ltd, which went to Bilal Ashraf and Armeena Khan for their role in Janan; Best Director Film which went to Nabeel Qureshifor Actor in Law was presented by Ahsan Khan and Noor Bukhari, and Best Film 2016, IPPA presented by Mr Muneer Hussain, CEO Pepes Perri Perri which was received by Fizza Ali Meerza for Actor in Law.

30 awards were given out in total from which 22 were people’s choice awards for the fields of music, fashion, film and television. Voters from Pakistan and across the globe participated in large numbers to vote for their favourite nominees. The awards were based on performances in the year 2016. The remaining eight were special awards from which four honoured British Pakistanis for their remarkable achievements and four honoured outstanding Pakistanis.

This was the first time that an awards event of such a calibre was conducted in the UK, to honour Pakistanis.

The impressive stage design and stunning performances from Pakistan and England’s top artistes were comparable to any high-end international award shows.