LAHORE: The logo unveiling ceremony of AdAsia 2019 attended by a large gathering was an impressive event at Hotel Faletti’s here on Sunday.

Coming to Pakistan after 30 years, AdAsia is the largest and most prestigious advertising congress in Asia, organised bi-annually by the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA).

Launched in 1958, AdAsia 2019 is the 31st advertising congress that is being hosted by Pakistan in Lahore from Dec 2-5 this year. It is the second AdAsia to be held in Pakistan after the 1989 event, the 16th AdAsia.

The logo designed by well known Pakistani communication practitioner Shahzad Nawaz was unveiled by the AdAsia organising committee and Pakistan Advertising Association (PAA).

“It is an honour for Pakistan to host AdAsia 2019 after 30 years,” said Sarmad Ali, Chairman of the organising committee AdAsia 2019 Lahore. “We have had a tremendous event 30 years ago which is still talked about in the advertising circles and we hope to bring the same magic back but in a bigger and better way.”

He said since Lahore was the cultural capital of Pakistan, advertising had a lot to do with culture. He said the moving spirit behind the event was Javed Jabbar, one of the founding members of AdAsia.

PAA President PAA Mandviwalla said: “AdAsia Lahore will focus on technology and communication in the new world. It will serve as a platform for global leaders to share the practices that lead industries in their regions so that we can benefit from it and help them in areas of our strengths. The congress will be a great learning experience for not just the creative industry but for all.” He said AdAsia would be biggest event and there were great expectations from AdAsia 2019.

Shahzad Nawaz, the communication practitioner, showed on the screen the logo and threw light on its creative identity. He said the great tradition of calligraphy art was also included in the logo.

The theme for the Congress is ‘Celebrasian: Celebration of Advertising and Creativity in Asia’, and the communication has been designed keeping the theme and design elements from Pakistan in mind.

The Congress is expected to feature more than 1000 participants from advertising and creative communications from around the world, Asia and more particularly from South Asia.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2019