“Irfan Khoosat is a national asset. It is an honour for me and I feel proud to have the opportunity to stand with legendary actor,” said caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage & Integration Shahzada Jamal Nazir at the conclusion of the function arranged by Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) to pay tribute to Khoosat under Aiteraf-e-Fun on Thursday at PNCA auditorium Islamabad. It took me to my young age and hostel life when we waited the whole week for ‘Andehara Ujala,’ he said. That was the only source of recreation and respite at that time, the minister added. Earlier PNCA Director General Tauqeer Nasir said PNCA has started this programme to pay tribute to national heroes and legends during their life time as opposed to acknowledging icons after their death. This practice was started with honouring the king of Ghazal Mehdi Hassan, he said. Artists reflect society’s behavior and attitudes and try to mend shortcomings, he said. Khoosat, sharing his life and work with the audience reminisced the start of his career. He attributed his success to producers and intellectuals such as Hali, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Sufi Tabassum, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and others. Khoosat paid a special tribute to Jamil Fakhri and other contemporaries. Khoosat belongs to a family of artists. His father, Sultan Khoosat was a prolific actor and painter having several other talents. His children are also artists and producers. Khoosat was twelve when his father died and he had to support a family of nine persons. He thanked PNCA for honouring and acknowledging artists.
