Karachi’s own Nazia remembered

One of pioneers in Pakistan’s pop music and iconic singer Nazia Hassan was remembered on her death anniversary on Monday.
Nazia Hassan was born on April 3, 1965, in Karachi. Nazia began her singing career during the late 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on PTV as a child artist.
Her professional career started at the age of 15 when she provided the lead vocals for the song Aap Jaisa Koi from the 1980 film Qurbani and in 1981 won Filmfare award for it.
In 1981, Nazia became the first playback singer to release an album after the release of her first album, Disco Deewane. Nazia’s second album Star/Boom Boom was released in 1982. The soundtrack of the album was used in the movie Star.
Nazia’s third album, Young Tarang was released in 1984. The album sold 40 million copies which set the record of most selling video album of all times.
Nazia’s fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987. In 1988, Nazia and her brother Zoheb appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung.
In the following year, Nazia and Zoheb hosted the groundbreaking show Music ’89. Nazia hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.
In 1991, Nazia and her brother Zoheb recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. The album was released in 1992.
Nazia was married on March 30, 1995, to Mirza Ishtiaq Baig. They had a son born on April 7, 1997, named Arez. Nazia’s marriage with Mirza Ishtiaq Baig was a complete failure and she got divorce on August 4, 2000.
Nazia died of lung cancer in London on August 13, 2000 at the age of 35. The Government of Pakistan conferred upon Nazia Hassan the highest civilian award Pride of Performance.