ISLAMABAD, Oct 15: Mansha Yaad, a prominent short story writer, playwright and critic, died of heart ailments here on Saturday. He was 74 and left behind three sons, one daughter and a widow.

He was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2004 in recognition of his invaluable contribution to literature. He also received a PTV award for his drama serial Rahain in 1988 and Waris Shah literary award of the Pakistan Academy of Letters for his collection of Punjabi short stories, Wagda Pani.

His first short story was published in 1955, and short story collection Band Muthi Mein Jugnu in 1975. He was the author ofnine books comprising eight short story collections in Urdu and one in Punjabi.

Mansha Yaad was born in 1937 in Thatta Nastar village of Sheikhupura on Sept 5, 1937. His father Haji Nazir Ahmed was a farmer and hakeem.

He joined the public relations department of Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 1960. He laid the foundation of various literary organisations, including the Halqa Arbab-i-Zauq in Islamabad.

He started writing stories and poems for children magazines when he was only a student of class VII. He passed examinations of Fazil-i-Urdu in 1964, BA in 1965, MA (Urdu) in 1967 and MA (Punjabi) in 1972 from the University of Punjab as external student.

He will be laid to rest in the H-8 graveyard, Islamabad, at 1.30pm on Sunday.