ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) has arranged a two-day Ghazal festival on June 19 and 20 to pay tribute to legendary King of Ghazal, Mehdi Hassan for giving a unique identity to the classical music of the country.

Popular classical musicians and other artistes will pay homage to the late classical and play back singer in Lahore to give honour to Mehdi Hassan for his dedication towards classical singing.

Talking to APP, Tauqeer Nasir, Director General PNCA said that PNCA honored Mehdi Hassan during the end months of his life through a Ghazal festival and will keep on remembering him as a chapter of classical singing that was based on almost a century.

He said the Ghazals of Mehdi Hassan gave a new dimension to Urdu literature and poetry in terms of classical singing in a melodious way.

Mehdi Hassan's melodies will keep on echoing in the hearts of

people. Now it is the responsibility of art institutions and media to transfer his singing to the young generation by promoting the classical tunes of Mehdi Hassan, he said, adding "We should acknowledge our artistes in their life by giving them due recognition and pass on their skills to future generations to keep them alive."

Mehdi Hassan was highly regarded in the Pakistan film industry and was honored with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance and Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan and Gorkha Dakshina Bahu by the Government of Nepal. He remained a leading singer of film industry.

He was the 16th generation of hereditary musicians hailing from the Kalawant clan of musicians. Mehdi Hassan had his musical grooming from his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan who were both traditional Dhrupad singers. Hassan started to perform at a young age and the first concert of dhrupad and kheyal with his elder brother is reported to have been held in 1935.