LAHORE: Veteran photojournalist Majid Mir died of heart attack on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he was working in an advertising firm for over two decades. He was 70.

“He was ill and depressed because of the death of his wife in Lahore a month ago. He was admitted to a hospital where he suffered a massive heart attack,” said his brother Abdul Hafiz Mir, head of camera section of a private television.

Mr Mir would be buried in Riyadh, his brother said.

He has left behind four daughters, a son and countless friends, admirers and pupils in the newspaper industry.

Mr Mir learnt photography at an early age in Nairobi where his father was employed. He joined the (now defunct) Urdu daily Imroze in 1967, and later worked as archives photographer in Punjab University’s library. He switched over to daily Musawat upon its launch in 1970.

He also worked for Dawn, Lahore, and went to the USA in 1978. He ultimately settled in Riyadh.

Mr Mir was considered an independent and bold photographer who believed in perfection.

As a head he was a hard taskmaster while as a teacher he was gracious enough to make his juniors learn how to make a difference. He had a large heart for friends in need.