LAHORE: Poet, music connoisseur, patron of singers and former Punjab chief secretary Javed Qureshi died here on Sunday.

Mr Qureshi belonged to the 1962 pro-commoners batch of bureaucrats and served as secretary in different departments. He became famous for going out of the way to serve people as Sahiwal deputy commissioner and the first commissioner of Faisalabad.

He had a genuine feel for music and affection for singers and musicians whom he would continue to promote and help even after his retirement.

Mr Qureshi’s poetry was sung by many a star singer. His ghazal "Aashianay Ki Baat Kartay Ho," was sung by Farida Khanum and Noor Jehan while Mehdi Hasan sang another famous ghazal by him "Shumar Lamhoan Ka Sadiyoon Main Ker Raha Hoon Main." He worked with the All Pakistan Music Conference for years for promotion of classical music.

His funeral prayers will be offered on Tuesday (April 29), at 9am at his residence 193-A1 Township, Lahore.