PESHAWAR: Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, station director Syeda Iffat Jabbar handed over the Mehdi Hassan award to Pashto ghazal maestro Khayal Mohammad in a simple ceremony at his residence here on Friday.

Khayal Mohammad said on the occasion that the Mehdi Hassan diamond jubilee independence award given to him by the headquarters of Radio Pakistan, Islamabad, was a commendable act. He added that Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, had played a great role in making his voice popular and ensuring its reach to millions of his fans.

“I owe much to the Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, and expect that it would continue promoting Pashto music and folk artists,” he said.

On this occasion, Iffat Jabbar highlighted the role of Khayal Mohammad in promotion of Pashto ghazal singing and folk music.

Sources in PBC, Peshawar, told this scribe that the award was supposed to be given to the legendary folk artist in Islamabad in August during the diamond jubilee celebrations of the country’s independence, but he could not attend the function due to his health problems.

Folk singer Wisal Khayal, son of Khayal Mohammad, said his father had contributed to Pashto folk music and inspired a host of young folk artists and therefore he well-deserved the diamond jubilee award.

The station director said Khayal Mohammad was a role model for the upcoming folk singers.

In his address, Khayal Mohammad said Radio Pakistan was playing the role of an academy for the new artists. He said his links with Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, spanned over several decades.

He also appealed to the public to come forward and join hands with the government and welfare organisations for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.

“Relief workers should also remember the poor artists affected by the recent floods,” he maintained.

Deputy controller engineering Mohammad Riaz, programme manager Abdul Majeed Baloch, producer Azam Khan and other staff of Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, were also present on this occasion.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2022