Zubaida Khanum dies aged 78 following heart attack

Pakistani singer Zubaida Khanum has died aged 78 following a heart attack at her home in Lahore.

Zubaida Khanum, who recorded almost 250 songs during her career, was famed for her performances during Lollywood’s “golden era” of the 50s and 60s.

PM Nawaz Sharif described Zubaida Khanum as a “national asset”.

Zubaida Khanum acted in the film Billoo in 1951 but found fame in 1953 with playback singing, pre-recorded for use in films.

She received great recognition from the Pakistani film industry for her playback work in the 1953 film Shehri Babu.

During the early years of her career, she also did brief roles in a handful of films including Morni and Patey Khan alongside the late Noor Jehan.

President Mamnoon Hussain recalled her services for performing arts in the country and said they were “unforgettable”.

Born in 1935 in Amritsar, Zubaida Khanum migrated with her family to Pakistan after the partition.

Zubaida Khanum was the eldest of four children and her talent for singing was spotted at school by her teacher, who put her in touch with Radio Pakistan.

Despite her family being against a career in music, she performed her first song in Punjabi.

At the height of her career, Zubaida Khanum, married renowned cameraman Riyaz Bokhari and left the music industry.

Zubaida Khanum went on to have two daughters and two sons. She spent the last few years of her life using a wheelchair and living with her sons in Lahore.

One of Zubaida Khanum’s sons is the well-known cameraman Faisal Bokhari.