PESHAWAR: Noted artist, TV actor and Radio Pakistan announcer Shakeel Arshad passed away here on Monday. He was 76.

He had been suffering from multiple health complications and living a miserable life in a rented house in Peshawar, according to his close friends.

Writers, artists and civil society members expressed deep grief on the sad demise of the voice artist and termed his departure an irreparable loss to art and culture. He remained to sere art for almost six decades and lived among Peshawarites with respect and honour.

His Namaz-i-Janaza was offered at Anum Sanum Chowk in Gulbahar where local artists, friends and fans turned up in a large number. He was buried the same day in the city graveyard.

He left behind a son, and four daughters to mourn his death.

Shakeel Arshad was born in 1949 in Chiniot, Punjab. He received his early education in a local school and college and later got job in Radio Pakistan Peshawar as a programme announcer. He soon became the most sought after voice artist and later emerged as a popular radio and TV artist.

He performed in around 250 Urdu and Hindko radio and TV plays and earned a widespread fame owing to his impactful voice quality, artistic skills and mastery over dialogue delivery. He enjoyed the honour of starting live telephone call from Radio Peshawar which was adopted by rest of radio channels across the country. He also sang popular numbers of Prof Taha Khan on PTV, Peshawar, and gained popularity among the audience.

Bushra Farrukh, one of his close associates, told this scribe that the contributions of Shakeel Arshad for Radio Peshawar and PTV Peshawar were immense and he would be always remembered for his quality work and multi-talented personality.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2025