Zubaida Khanum passes away

Pakistani film industry's renowned playback singer, Zubaida Khanum, died in Lahore owing to cardiac arrest. She was 78.
"She had been dealing with old age related problems but Saturday night's heart attack proved fatal," her son Faisal Bokhari said. Khanum passed away yesterday and was today laid to rest at Raiwind graveyard in Lahore.
Born in 1935 in Amritsar, her family migrated to Lahore after partition. Khanum started her singing career in 1950s and instantly got famous thanks to her melodious voice. She ruled the Urdu/Punjabi playback singing scene throughout the decade.
Her voice was filmed on leading actresses of 50s - Musarrat Nazir and Sabiha Khanum. Her debut film was 'Shehri Babu' (1953).

Some of her memorable songs include 'Kaise kahoun mein alvida', 'Balam tum haar gaye jeeta mera pyar' (Baghi), 'Masti mein jhoom jhoom re', 'Ho dil jala na dil wale' (Koel), 'Aaye mausam rangeelay suhane' and 'Ghoonghat utha loun yah ghoonghat chupa loun' (Saath Lakh).
Khanum made actress Meena Shorey's debut on the Pakistani film screen in 'Sarfarosh' (1956) memorable with her evergreen songs like 'Mera nishana dekhe zamana' and 'Teri ulfat mein sanam dil ne buhut dard sahe'.

The singer's smash hits included 'Kiya hua dil pe sitam' from 'Raat ke Rahi' (1960) composed by A Hamid. She sang more than 200 songs in 147 movies.

Khanum married renowned cameraman Riyaz Bokhari in early 60s and quit playback singing.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a great admirer of Khanum.