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Raw talent
By Maria E. Kallukaren, Staff Reporter
An international team of 16 - many of them students - hosts Raw, an online
magazine. They tell Maria E. Kallukaren that it is a platform for Pakistani
youth to express themselves.

An international team of 16 - many of them students - hosts

Raw, an online magazine. They tell Maria E. Kallukaren that it

is a platform for Pakistani youth to express themselves

I t is the champion of the underdog ... in many ways, bringing to

fore unrecognised and under-rated talent. Its focus is the Pakistani

anywhere in the world.

Raw, a six month-old online magazine, is by its own definition about

"music, movies, fashion, religion, culture and you".

Running it is a 16-member, largely student team of Pakistanis

spread across the world - from the UAE to Pakistan, Singapore, the
UK, the US and Canada.

"The motivation behind Raw was to connect, relate and cater to

today's modern Pakistani generation," says 23-year old Nabeel
Aejaz, creative director and the brain behind the magazine. "To

provide them with quality content, new ideas, a platform to express

and discuss freely by using latest web technologies and sciences."
Raw is Aejaz's third website after karachiunderground.com and
returntoislam.com. "We are not profit based," says the graphic
designer who works for a Dubai-based company. The team

receives practically no funding from outside. "All funding on the

website is done by me - my salary."

Aejaz adds: "I can proudly say that Raw is actually one of

Pakistan's most expensive websites right now in terms of its cost

and management, as everything on the website is of the highest
quality and the most expensive applications. So to maintain and
develop it is quite a challenge and more difficult as it is growing
bigger and bigger every issue."
Meet the team

"We are one of the most intact and closely working teams," says
Nabeel Aejaz, creative director of the magazine.

"The work process is pretty simple, each contributor has an area of

expertise where he or she contributes every fortnight; the final
approval comes from the editor and then it is published."

Future plans include a print edition, come the new year. "We have
already registered and have trademark rights on Raw for
magazines in Pakistan."

Ayesha Fatima Rasul: Contributor

"I'm a writer and a reviewer. I see Raw as an opening of many

facets of my life, and as a means to grow, develop and improve as

a writer, colleague and person."

Rameez Asif: Bands/artists relations

"I do interviews of musicians who are not being supported by the

media, but are better than the ones on TV."
Sadaf Zahra: Contributor

"I am one of the Islamic content contributors for Raw. This

magazine is a great opportunity to voice out Islam to an audience of

broad vision, thoughts and interests. It amazed me to be part of

Raw, because I have always perceived religion and entertainment

on different poles; but the people at Raw have all welcomed Islam
as an important aspect of the magazine. Alhamdulillah!"
AhmAd Hayat: Public Relations

"My job includes interacting with the public, media and interviewing
people. I think I do a lot more than that. I guess it's time to get an

increase in pay! The media world is my bread and butter; I started

as the PR for karachiunderground.com then returntoislam.com and

now Raw. It is not just an entertainment mag, it has got everything."

Imran Maqsood: Contributor

"I am the technology and religion/spirituality contributor. "This

magazine means passion, knowledge and inspiration. Passion to

inform, to perform. To create an awareness of issues related to us

youngsters. Freedom to express ourselves and help others."
Insiya Syed: Quality Supervisor

"You know whom to blame if there's a typo. I take Raw personally

and I know the people who run it have big dreams."

Zaeema Eckbaull Rauf: Contributor

"We do colloquies on different topics related to religion, music,

health, movies etc. For me, Raw is a platform for those who want to
achieve their purposes. It has enough guts to circumspect the
condition of Muslim society.

Mehwish Waheed: Contributor

"I'm the forum administrator. I keep adding articles, my own poems

and interesting stuff on Raw forums. Raw is kind of a second family

to me.

Irim Ahmad: Fashion editor

"The most important thing I have learnt at Raw is teamwork, coming

together is the beginning, keeping together is progress; working
together is success."

Rafia Nauman: Promotions

"I've been with Raw from the start. I love the cause, the criteria,

what we are doing, managing almost all aspects of our daily lives,
be it fashion, music, glamour, religion ... ."
Ambreen Ahmad: Contributor

"Basically I concentrate on motivational and self-development

material. Raw is much more than just an E-zine or a website. It is a

self-renewing organisation with a clear vision and mission. It is a

platform for the youth to come together and prepare for the future."
Aliya Hameed: Editor-in Chief

"This is the first magazine I have ever had the privilege of being an
editor of. For me, Raw is a platform through which we can

communicate with the public and try to make a difference. It's also
the place I turn to when I just want to have fun! Being a team

member at Raw is just like being a part of a big, lovable family."