Munnu Bhai (born Muneer Ahmed Qureshi) was one of Pakistan’s most renowned writers, columnists and was a poet also. He was awarded the Pride of Performance Award by the president of Pakistan in 2007 for his services to the nation. Munnu Bhai died on January 19, 2018 in Lahore at the age of 84 and was posthumously awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz on March 23, 2018 for his notable literary services.
Munnu Bhai’s love for humanity was beyond imagination. The greatest example of it is the Sundus Foundation, which he started for the purpose of treating patients suffering from Thalassaemia. Although, he left us a year ago, his legacy still lives on in the countless contributions he made to the nation.
In his memory and to mark his one-year death anniversary, an event was held on Saturday at a local hotel.
The event was attended by prominent members of the civil society along with Munnu Bhai’s family that was also present on the occasion as well as children from the Sundus Foundation.
Guests speakers at the occasion included Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and former information minister Pervaiz Rasheed. Renowned journalists Sohail Warraich, Hassan Nisar and Imtiaz Alam also spoke a few words in memory of the legendary writer.
Munnu Bhai was born in 1933 at Wazirabad, Punjab. According to a local publication, he started his career as a journalist at an Urdu newspaper but soon turned to writing dramas.
He wrote some of the most memorable drama serials for Pakistan Television including ‘Sona Chandi’, ‘Dasht’, ‘Tammanna’, ‘Gumshuda’, ‘Aashiyana’ and ‘Khoobsurat’.
Veteran journalist IA Rehman once commented about him at an event in 2013, “Munnu Bhai always wrote to the purpose, to create awareness among the masses and to kindle hope among them even in worst circumstances.”
Published in Daily Times, January 23rd 2019.