Laiq Zada Laiq

Laiq Zada Laiq (لائق زادہ لائق; 15 January 1959 – 30 October 2023) was a Pakistani Pashto-language poet, fiction writer, and dramatist from Madyan, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He served as the director of All Pakistan Radio and authored more than 500 radio plays, 12 TV plays, 120 stories, and 36 books. Laiq was a recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and the Kamal-e-Fun Award in 2021, the highest literary honour in Pakistan. His contributions to Pashto literature have left a lasting impact and he is remembered for his significant contributions to the field.

Biography
Laiq graduated from Jahanzeb College Swat, and received a master's degree in Urdu and Pashto literature from University of Peshawar, and in political science from University of Karachi. He also worked at Radio Pakistan as a director. Laiq wrote more than 500 radio plays and 12 TV plays. In addition to his radio and TV work, he authored 120 stories and 36 books.

Death
Laiq died from a heart attack in Peshawar, on 30 October 2023, at the age of 64. His contribution to Pashto literature was widely recognised and his death mourned. President of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Najiba Arif, expressed her deep sorrow over Laiq's death.

Awards and recognition
Laiq was the recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Pashto literature, he was awarded the Kamal Fan Award in 2021, Pakistan's highest literary award.