LAHORE, Aug 29: Poet Ahmad Rahi was shifted to a private hospital on Thursday when his condition deteriorated.

The legendary Ahmad Rahi had been suffering from paralysis for the last seven months. He had been admitted to the Lyallpur Ward of the Mayo Hospital for the last over a week.

He was shifted to a private hospital off Jail Road on Thursday noon after he had developed some respiratory problems. A duty doctor at the intensive care unit of the hospital told Dawn that the condition of the poet was slightly stable. “He is not out of danger yet.”

APP ADDS: Born in the Eastern Punjab city of Amritsar in 1929, Rahi is considered a close associate of renowned progressive poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. He wrote songs for more than 1,900 Punjabi movies during his career spanning over more than five decade in Pakistan. The late Melody Queen Noor Jehan sung around 1,700 songs of the legendary Rahi.

The poet went into seclusion after his Temple Road house caught fire early this year that destroyed much of his belongings.

Later, he shifted to a rented house in Cantonment area where he had been living with his wife and son Suleman.

“Doctors are battling to save the extremely fragile Rahi who has lost speaking power as well as orientation,” Suleman, who has been looking after Rahi said. He appealed to the people to pray for the health of Mr Rahi.

Opinion

Editorial

Environment deficit
Updated 05 Jun, 2026

Environment deficit

Pakistan knows all too well the consequences of environmental neglect.
Rights concerns
05 Jun, 2026

Rights concerns

TWO recent news reports have highlighted foreign concerns about the state of human and labour rights in the country....
Patient care crisis
05 Jun, 2026

Patient care crisis

HEALTHCARE in Pakistan is a footnote. Claims by successive governments to introduce vast reforms with huge schemes...
Budget delay
Updated 04 Jun, 2026

Budget delay

With economic stabilisation yet to translate into tangible improvement in living standards, the country’s leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to ignore demands for relief.
Absentee lawmakers
04 Jun, 2026

Absentee lawmakers

TWENTY per cent. That is the percentage of lawmakers whose commitment to their vocation is reflected in the time ...
Deliberate provocations
Updated 04 Jun, 2026

Deliberate provocations

THE latest events at Al-Aqsa Mosque reflect the growing impunity with which extremist Israeli settlers operate. ...