Shoaib Hashmi (; 12 July 1938 – 15 May 2023) was a Pakistani playwright, actor and academic.

Career

Hashmi received his Master of Arts degree in economics from Government College, Lahore (now Government College University),

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

and his MSc. degree from

London School of Economics The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises in the social sciences. Founded ...

(LSE),

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

He also studied theater at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London. Hashmi taught economics for many years at Government College (now Government College University), Lahore and later taught at Lahore School of Economics.

Personal life

Hashmi was married to Salima Hashmi, the daughter of noted Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The couple had two children Yasser Hashmi and actress Mira Hashmi.

Death

Hashimi died on 15 May 2023, at the age of 84 due to a prolonged and extended illness. He reportedly suffered a brain haemorrhage 12 years ago after which he never fully recovered. Prior to his death, he had been sick and paralysed, with difficulty in walking and talking. He received treatment in

, Pakistan. According to a major newspaper of Pakistan, "His humble, warm and unassuming demeanor was among the most remarkable aspects of his personality".

Works

Television serials

He wrote the following comedy TV serials for

Pakistan Television Pakistan Television Corporation (; reporting name: PTV); also known as ''Pakistan Television'', is the Pakistani state-owned broadcasting, broadcaster founded by the Government of Pakistan, operating under the Ministry of Information & Broadc ...

(PTV), which originally aired in the 1970s. He was widely considered as one of the pioneers of PTV. * ''Akkar Bakkar'' (1970s

comedy show designed to educate children) * ''Sach Gupp'' (1970s PTV comedy show) * ''Taal Matol'' (1970s Ptv comedy show) * ''Balila'' - banned soon after it aired.

Newspaper columnist

* 'Taal Matol' newspaper column in ''

The News International ''The News International'', published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/ Islamabad. An overseas edition is published from London th ...

'' newspaper on Sundays. He also wrote columns for

Gulf News ''Gulf News'' is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. First launched in 1978, it is distributed throughout the UAE and also in other Persian Gulf countries. Its online edition was launched in 1996. Thro ...

Book translator

Hashmi translated a few books from

Urdu language Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

to English, notably ''A song for this day: 52 poems'' by Pakistani noted poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

Awards

Pride of Performance The Pride of Performance (), officially known as the Presidential Pride of Performance, is an award bestowed by the Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Pakistan to recognize people with "notable achievements in the field of art, science, literature, sp ...

Award by the

President of Pakistan The president of Pakistan () is the head of state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The president is the nominal head of the executive and the supreme commander of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

in 1995. * Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) Award by the

Government of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan () (abbreviated as GoP), constitutionally known as the Federal Government, commonly known as the Centre, is the national authority of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a federal republic located in South Asia, con ...

References

1938 births 2023 deaths Pakistani dramatists and playwrights Recipients of the Pride of Performance Recipients of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Academic staff of Lahore School of Economics Government College University, Lahore alumni Writers from Lahore Alumni of the London School of Economics Academic staff of the Government College University, Lahore Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art St. Anthony's High School, Lahore alumni Pakistani male television actors Male dramatists and playwrights Pakistani television writers Pakistani male television writers 20th-century Pakistani male writers 20th-century Pakistani male actors 20th-century dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Pakistani screenwriters {{Pakistan-writer-stub