GUJAR KHAN: Syed Aal-i-Imran Naqvi, a popular Pothwari and Urdu poet, Pothwari TV anchor and compere, died of Covid-19 in Islamabad on Thursday.

He was admitted to a hospital in the capital for a kidney transplant when he contracted the virus a couple of weeks ago.

He is survived by a son, a daughter and his widow.

Literary, cultural and educational circles as well as overseas Pakistanis have expressed their grief over the demise of the popular literary and cultural figure who played a great role in the revival of the Pothwari language.

He had hosted many programmes for PTV and Kay2 TV.

Mr Naqvi also promoted folk culture of Pothwar and archeological and historical sites of the Pothwar region. He was given the PTV Regional Best Anchorperson Award (2008) and Sitara-i-Samaj Quaid-i-Azam Gold Medal and other awards.

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf, retired chief secretary AJK Asghar Shahid, Mirza Anwar Baig and office-bearers of overseas Pakistanis association in Norway also expressed grief on the death of Mr Naqvi.

His body was buried in Kot Syedan near the Gujar Khan city.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2020