LAHORE, Feb 8: Embassy of Japan's Minister Hiroshi Azuma has eulogized the services of the late Hayat Ahmad Khan as president of the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association (PJCA).

"Mr Khan was, indeed, a loyal friend of Japan and he will be missed," Mr Azuma said at the inauguration of an exhibition of Japanese calenders at Alhamra on Tuesday.

Mr Azuma said the endeavour of the late Hayat Ahmad Khan for introducing the Japanese culture to the people of Pakistan would not be forgotten.

He said the calendars exhibition, in which Mr Khan always played a part, had become an annual cultural feature on the Lahore social scene and Basant festivities.

Hayat Ahmad Khan, the founder and secretary-general of the All-Pakistan Music Conference, died on Sunday. He was 84.

Born in 1921 in Lahore, Mr Khan did his graduation from the Punjab University. Later, he studied tabla and sur at the Gandharav Mahavidvala Academy and did his master's in music from there.

Mr Khan was a sportsman in his youth and during his stay at the PU he won the 100-metre event in the Punjab swimming championship. He was an extensive traveller and had toured around the globe.

He was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2000 for his contribution towards classical music.

He was the chief examiner (music) of the Punjab University, a member of the National Commission on History and Culture since 1994, and the president of the Japan Karate Association of Pakistan since 1970.

He was a member of the board of governors of the Alhamra Art Council, Lahore, and the Lok Virsa, Islamabad. He was elected president of the Pakistan Japan Cultural Association in 1981 and had been promoting cultural ties between the two countries since then.

An avid classical music lover, Mr Khan founded the APMC in 1959 and had been attracting a galaxy of classical vocalists and musicians since then at the annual event on schedule against all the odds.

Despite the hospitalization of Mr Khan on Feb 1, the APMC upheld its tradition to start its programme at 6pm.

The artistes who performed at Mr Khan's APMC included Roshan Ara Begum, Farida Khanum and Iqbal Begum. Those who blossomed after performing at the APMC included Ghulam Ali, Nayyara Noor, Ashraf Sharif Khan, Faheem Mazhar, Sara Zaman, Shaukat Ali and Rustam Fateh Ali Khan.

Mr Khan revived the teaching of music at some of the premier educational institutions of Lahore like the Kinnaird College, the Lahore College for Women, the Government College for Women, Gulberg, besides the Alhamra Music Academy. -ZAHEER MAHMOOD SIDDIQUI