Pakistan businessman and former media owner Zafar Siddiqui passed away on Friday in the United Arab Emirates.

Family sources said that Siddiqui was unwell and was undergoing medical treatment in the UAE where he breathed his last.

He founded one of Pakistan’s major news channels, Samaa TV, in 2009. Prior to that he had also founded CNBC Pakistan and CNBC Africa.

Siddiqui also worked with KPMG for 18 years, first as a partner and later as a managing consultant.

He ventured into media in 1995 when he established Telebiz in Karachi becoming one of the first private media owners in the country.

Condolences poured in for the respected figure in the media industry, with many praising his leadership and impact on the media industry.