Renowned Urdu writer and playwright Bano Qudsia passed away in Lahore on Saturday. She was 88.

Bano Qudsia, who married short story writer Ashfaq Ahmed, was best known for her novel Raja Gidh. She had written for television and stage in both Urdu and Punjabi languages.  ‘Aadhi Baat’ was a classic play penned by her.

Bano Qudsia was recognised as a trendsetter in the realm of television plays. Some of her plays gained immense popularity in Pakistan and across the border because of their vitality, warmth and courage.

Bano moved with her family to Lahore during the partition of India. Her father, a landlord with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, died when Bano was very young.  She attended school in Dharamsala in eastern India before moving to Lahore.

PM condoles death of Bano Qudsia

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday expressed deep condolences on the sad demise of prominent Urdu writer Bano Qudsia.

The prime minister said Bano Qudsia was an asset of Pakistan and she had innumerable services in the field of Urdu literature.

“Her demise has left a huge space in the literary field, and her writings would be remembered for generations to come,” he added.

The PM prayed for the blessing of the departed soul and grant of patience to the bereaved family, said a press release of the PM office media wing.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed a deep sense of grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Bano Qudsia.

In a condolence message, the chief minister paid rich tributes to the services of Bano Qudsia for the promotion of Urdu literature and said that she has earned niche with her unique writing style. “With the death of Bano Qudsia, Urdu literature has been deprived of a towering personality,” he said, adding, “I have been grieved over the death of Bano Qudsia, and her services for Urdu literature, especially fiction and novel writing, would always be remembered.”

Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, while expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Bano Qudsia, said in a statement, “In her passing away, we have lost one of our icons of Urdu drama and fiction, and a guide whose creative contribution in the realm of literature will be remembered for times to come.”

Marriyum said Bano Qudsia was a great author and a critic, and her literary work was a classic example of adherence and conformity to innovative and progressive thought.

The minister extended sympathies to her bereaved family and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace.