ISLAMABAD: Poet Dr Ali Yasir died due to cardiac arrest on Monday. He was 44.

He was assistant director at Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) and was also a writer, researcher, critic, translator, radio and TV writer and anchorperson.

He did his masters in Urdu from Punjab University, then M.Phil from Allama Iqbal Open University and finally got his PhD on the topic of Urdu Ghazal main Tasawar-i-Fana-o-Baqa.

He was affiliated with media and hosted radio and TV programmes. He wrote many documentary films scripts and songs for PTV.

He also translated English and Punjabi scripts into Urdu, including ‘Chinese love poems’ and ‘Noble Lectures’.

Dr Yasir’s collection of Ghazals Irada was published in 2007, and the second collection titled Ghazal Batay Gi in 2016.

He had compiled the Ehl-i-Qalam Directory in 2008 and 2010. Moreover, he used to moderate poetic symposiums and was publication officer of a number of books published by PAL.

His books under the titles of Kuliyat-Manzoor Arif and Urdu Ghazal main Taswar-i-Fana-o-Baqa are in press for printing.

His body was sent to Gujranwala for burial. The deceased was survived by three sons, two daughters and a wife.

PAL has decided to hold a reference on Feb19, at 3pm, in the conference hall to pay tribute to the deceased.

Meanwhile, PAL chairman Mohammad Salman and staff have expressed grief and sorrow over the demise of Dr Yasir.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2020