Yasmeen Tahir

Yasmeen Tahir
یاسمین طاہر
Tahir in 2016
Born
Yasmeen Imtiaz[1]

1937 (1937)
Lahore, Punjab Province, British India
Died19 July 2025 (aged 88)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
EducationUniversity of California
Occupations
  • Actress
  • radio artist
  • writer
  • host
Years active1958–2025
Spouse
​
(m. 1960)​
ChildrenAli Tahir (son)
Faran Tahir (son)
Mehran Tahir (son)
Parent(s)Imtiaz Ali Taj (father)
Hijab Imtiaz Ali (mother)
RelativesMuhammadi Begum (grandmother)
Sayyid Mumtaz Ali (grandfather)
AwardsSitara-i-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) Award by the Government of Pakistan (2015)[2]

Yasmeen Tahir (1937 – 19 July 2025) was a Pakistani actress, radio artist, host and writer. She worked for Radio Pakistan for more than three decades.[3]

Early life

Born in Lahore in 1937 and educated at the Convent and Kinnaird College,[4] Yasmeen pursued acting during her time in the Government College Dramatics Club, despite the societal constraints of her time.[1][5]

Career

In 1958, after completing her master's degree, Yasmeen joined Radio Pakistan and served as a publicity officer.[6] Her career in radio broadcasting began before the partition of India when she joined the Lahore Radio Station as a children's program host.[7][8] Subsequently, she introduced Western music to Pakistani radio when she hosted the Western music request show.[9][10][11] She is known for hosting the morning show Saat Rang for over 12 years,[7][8] where her listeners resonated personally with her commentary.[6]

During the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, Yasmeen hosted Fauji Bhaiyon Ka Programme[12] for military personnel, which had extended airtime during the war and was the first call-in show on Pakistani radio.[8][9][13] Her live program featured conversations between the singer Noor Jehan and the soldiers which helped boost their morale.[13][14]

Yasmeen also did programmes from Voice of America and BBC, although she noted a lack of the personal rapport she had with her Pakistani audience.[6]

Yasmeen hosted another popular morning program called Subah Savere, which ran for more than three and a half years.[15][4]

In 1970, she interviewed ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan on Radio Pakistan and she asked about his entry in the music industry.[16]

She declined an offer from the Director-General of Pakistan Broadcast Corporation to lead FM 101, citing her dissatisfaction with modern radio's casual usage of different languages.[6]

In 2018, she was in the cast in the drama Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderellayain along with Shabnam, Naeem Tahir, Faryal Gohar and Usama Khan.[17] Her broadcasting career spanned 37 years, during which she acted on plays, hosted talk shows and other formats.[6][18]

Personal life

Yasmeen was born to Imtiaz Ali Taj and Hijab Imtiaz Ali.[7] In 1960, Yasmeen married Naeem Tahir[19] and had three sons, Faran Tahir, Mehran Tahir and Ali Tahir.[7][20] Noor Jehan sang the sehra for their marriage which was penned by the poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.[20][21] The couple pursued further education in theater at UCLA on a Rockefeller Scholarship, during which their eldest son, Faran Tahir, was born.[7]

On 19 April 1970, her father Imtiaz Ali Taj was murdered at his home by unknown assailants.[22] At the time of the murder, Yasmeen and Naeem were in Rawalpindi.[23] Following the murder, Yasmeen was involved in a legal inheritance case concerning her father. Relatives of Imtiaz Ali Taj contested that they needed a share of the inheritance since Yasmeen was not a male child. It was argued in court that Imtiaz Ali Taj had converted to the Shia sect, making his children the rightful heirs, regardless of gender. This claim was supported by newspaper advertisements and the court ruled in Yasmeen's favor.[24]

Death

Tahir died after a prolonged illness in Lahore, on 19 July 2025, at the age of 88.[25][4]

Awards and recognition

Tahir was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, which was presented by acting Punjab Governor Rana Muhammad Iqbal on Pakistan Day, March 24, 2015.[26][2]

Filmography

Radio programs

Television

Year Title Role Network
1969 Khuda Ki Basti Mrs. Kamal PTV[29][30]
1982 Sona Chandi Mrs. Tafazzul
2008 Sitara Azra Hum TV[31]
2018 Mohini Mansion Ki Cinderellayain Zubeida BOL Entertainment[32]

References

  1. ^ a b Ali, Sarwat (4 July 2021). "Pioneer performer". The News International. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024. Then, there was Yasmin Imtiaz, later Yasmeen Tahir, who was able to do so because she was the daughter of Imtiaz Ali Taj, who also broke many rules to be a playwright, screen play writer, radio voice and a short story writer, continuing with his passion from his exposure during the Government College Dramatics Club days with Patras and Sondhi.
  2. ^ a b "In recognition: Two women among 36 honoured for their services". The Express Tribune. 23 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Actors Naeem Tahir and Ali Tahir participate in the 1st session of 'Intergenerational Talks'". Daily Times newspaper. 8 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Ahmed, Shoaib (20 July 2025). "Broadcaster, actor Yasmin Tahir passes away". Dawn. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  5. ^ Ali, Sarwat (3 July 2016). "The story of Kamal". The News International. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Flashback: This is Radio Pakistan". Dawn. 13 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Aziz, Shahnaz (10 September 2012). "تاج اور حجاب کی محبوب ترین تخلیق، یاسمین طاہر" [The most beloved creation of Tāj and Hijāb: Yasmin Tahir]. VOA Urdu (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Khan, Jamil. "Bazm-E-Urdu to present shows at SCRF". Gulf Today. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Radio: the real pioneer — II". Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) website. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  10. ^ Lateef, Shahid (16 January 2021). "ملکہ حسن کہلانے والی اداکارہ صابرہ سلطانہ" [Sabira Sultana: the celebrated beauty queen of the silver screen]. Humsub (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  11. ^ "The 'Taj' remains intact". Daily Times. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  12. ^ Brig Sandeep, Thapar (15 May 2022). "The 'Fauji Bhaiyon Ke Liye' lifeline". Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b Zahra, Ghulam (6 September 2022). "جنگِ ستمبر : ریڈیو پاکستان کے بغیر ادھوری" [The September War: incomplete without Radio Pakistan]. Nawa-i-waqt (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  14. ^ Nusrat, Javed (7 September 2012). "جنگ ستمبر اور بچپن کی کچھ یادیں" [The September War and some childhood memories]. Express News (in Urdu).
  15. ^ a b Gulzar, Izhar Ahmed. "ممتاز میلسی ۔۔۔۔ریڈیو پاکستان کی ایک مضبوط آواز" [Mumtaz Malisi... a powerful voice of Radio Pakistan]. Massarat (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  16. ^ Parvez, Amjad (24 June 2023). "Mehdi Hassan's entry in the music industry". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  17. ^ "In conversation with drama and film writer Fasih Bari Khan". Daily Times. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  18. ^ Ali, Muhammad (18 April 2018). "Website launched to acquaint people with works of Urdu dramatist Imtiaz Ali Taj". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  19. ^ Abbas, Qamar. "انار کلی اور چاچا چھکن کے خالق" [Creator of Anarkali and Chacha Chakkan]. Daily Jang (in Urdu). Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  20. ^ a b Parvez, Amjad (21 February 2019). "An evening with a legendary speaker and columnist". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  21. ^ "ملکہ ترنم نور جہاں نے کس اداکار کی شادی کا سہرا گایا؟" [Which actor's wedding song was sung by the melody queen Noor Jehan?]. Hungama Express. 25 May 2024. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Legendary dramatist Imtiaz Ali Taj's death anniversary today". SAMAA. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  23. ^ Jāved, Yūnus (1998). ایک چہرہ یہ بھی ہے [Yet another facet] (in Urdu). Dost Publications. p. 23. ISBN 978-969-496-048-7. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  24. ^ Malik, Aslam. "آج ممتاز مصنف، ڈراما نگار امتیاز علی تاج کا یومِ ولادت ہے" [Today marks the birth anniversary of renowned writer and playwright Imtiaz Ali Taj]. Punjnud. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Renowned broadcaster Yasmeen Tahir passes away". Associated Press of Pakistan. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Civil awards". The News International. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  27. ^ Parvez, Samina (7 September 2014). "A nostalgic look back at Radio Pakistan". The News International. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  28. ^ a b براڈکاسٹر یاسمین طاہر انتقال کر گئیں [Broadcaster Yasmin Tahir passes away]. Daily Jang (in Urdu). 20 July 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  29. ^ "PTV Drama Serial Khuda Ki Basti Cast | Yasmeen Tahir | Behroze Sabzwari | Arsh-e-Muneer | Raju Jamil". Youtube. 19 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Sona Chandi Drama Star Cast". Youtube. 11 November 2022.
  31. ^ Ali, Muhammad (24 June 2020). "Wajeeha Tahir Talks About 'Sitara' And What It Meant To Her". Naya Daur.
  32. ^ "سینئر اداکارہ یاسمین طاہر طویل عرصے بعد ٹی وی پر واپسی" [Senior actress Yasmeen Tahir returns to television after a long hiatus]. Daily Pakistan (in Urdu). 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.

Further reading

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