Creator of national anthem of Pakistan, Abul Athar Hafeez Jalandhri was remembered on Thursday on his 41st death anniversary. Born in Jalandhar, Indian Punjab on 14th January 1900, family of Hafeez Jalandhri migrated from Jalandhar to Lahore after partition. He was a great poet of song as well as poem and ghazal. His extreme achievement is “Shahnama Islam” which he wrote in poetic form and published in four volumes. Due to this commendable achievement, he was given the title of 'Firdowsi Islam'.

The second major achievement of Hafeez Jalandhri is the National Anthem of Pakistan and he will always be remembered for this unique creation. Hafeez Jalandhri's poetry collections include 'Naghma Bar', 'Talkhaba Shireen' and 'Soz-o-Saz'. He also compiled a collection of short stories 'Haft Paikar'. His songs collections were published as 'Hindustan Hamara', 'Phool Mali' and 'Bachun ki Nazmeen'. Hafeez Jalandhri died on December 21, 1982 in Lahore and buried near Minar-e-Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)