LAHORE: Yawar Hayat Khan, renowned producer and director of the Pakistan Television Corporation, was laid to rest in a Gulberg graveyard on Friday.

A large number of showbiz personalities, his friends and students attended funeral prayers at Khalid Masjid, Cavalry Ground. Among others, Munnu Bhai, Ayub Khawar, Arif Rana, Amjad Islam Amjad, Irfan Khusat and Khalid Masood attended the funeral of Yawar Hayat who had died on Thursday at the age of 73.

PTV chairman Ataul Haq Qasmi, officials and artistes laid floral wreaths on the grave of Yawar Hayat.

Yawar, one of the best producers and directors at the PTV, had produced memorable drama serials such as Jhok Sayal, Samandar, Nasheman, Kundi, Dehleez and Sahil-i-Gumshada. He had started his career with the PTV in 1965 after receiving education at Aitchison College and Forman Christian College. He had earned fame with his play Jhok Sayal followed by many teleplays in mid-1970s. He was at his best in 1980s and worked incessantly until 2004 when he left the PTV.

Besides creativity in his productions, Yawar Hayat had also imparted his knowledge and skill to his contemporaries and students.

His friends and students say with his death a creative era of production and direction has come to an end. They say Yawar was an institution and used to work with profound passion and dedication and had left an impact on society.

Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb has expressed her grief over the death of Yawar Hayat. In his death, she said, the country had lost one of the finest creative minds. She said Yawar’s contribution to the field of drama would be remembered for long.

Published in Dawn November 5th, 2016