LAHORE Celebrated TV producer and radio artiste Nusrat Thakur passed away on Saturday after a brief illness. He was 72.

He was the son of M.J. Thakur, himself a well-known radio and TV artiste.

According to his younger brother Safdar Jang, Thakur had been ill for the last one week. He was a diabetic and diabetes had led to other complications. He was admitted to Doctors' Hospital on Friday night where he died at around 130am.

Born in Lahore in 1937, Thakur joined Radio Pakistan's Lahore station in '60s and served as a drama artiste for many years. He joined television in the late '60s as duty officer. Later, he was appointed assistant producer.

In the early '70s, Thakur became a producer and had a number of plays and serials to his credit. But the drama serial that shot him to popularity was Waris, written by Amjad Islam Amjad.

Among his other prominent plays and serials were Waqt, Ghulam Gardish, Piyas, tele-theatres Khwaish and Raat Rail aur Khat. He also worked as an assistant to known TV producer Yawar Hayat.

Thakur also served PTV's Lahore station as general manager and got retirement some 10 years ago.

He has left behind his wife, a son and a daughter. He had two brothers and eight sisters.

His funeral prayers were held at Sadar (Cantonment) Jamia Masjid. Qul will be held between Zuhar and Asr at Jamia Masjid, Delhi Road, Sadar (Cantt), on Sunday.