Yousuf Salahuddin

He is a maternal grandson of the poet and literary scholar Allama Iqbal and nephew of Javed Iqbal.[4] His paternal grandfather, Mian Amiruddin, was the first Muslim Lord Mayor of Lahore. Salahuddin is a distant relative of the Taseer family, from which the ex-Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer hailed.

He is also related to third Governor General of Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad who from the finance ministry became the Governor-General of Pakistan in the early 1950s.[5]

Salahuddin is the owner and resident of Haveli Barood Khana, a traditional 18th century Mughal-style haveli located in Lahore's walled city. He has hosted parties, dinners and get-togethers at his residence and elsewhere. High-profile personalities from throughout the country are invited as guests.[6] He is a figure in the city's arts and culture circles who is credited for reviving Basant festivals and organising various musical, artistic and poetic gatherings; the popular entertainment and music show Virsa: Heritage Revived broadcast on PTV is hosted by Salahuddin and has invited performances from a number of music artists.[7] [8][9] Pakistan Television Corporation producers and directors have used the above-mentioned Mughal-style haveli's large-sized enclosed outdoors ('haveli sehan' in Urdu language) to hold the music concerts for a live audience for their TV program Virsa: Heritage Revived.[10]

According to a major Pakistani English-language newspaper, Yousuf Salahuddin has been playing a critical role in reviving and promoting the cultural heritage of Pakistan.[9]