Renowned Pashto folk singer Gulrez Tabassum, whose distinctive voice and lifelong dedication to traditional Pakhtun music earned him widespread admiration, passed away at a local hospital in Peshawar on Wednesday. He was 77.
He was laid to rest later in Kakakhel Town, Peshawar.
Born in Mardan in 1950, Tabassum began his musical journey at Radio Pakistan Peshawar, where his performances introduced him to audiences across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He subsequently gained wider recognition through Pakistan Television’s Peshawar Centre, live stage performances and Pashto cinema, establishing himself as a prominent figure in regional folk music.
Celebrated for his expressive singing style and close connection to Pakhtun cultural traditions, Tabassum devoted much of his career to preserving the distinctive sounds of traditional Pashto music.
His performances became familiar to audiences at local hujra gatherings, on television and through regional audio recordings, helping sustain a musical heritage deeply rooted in the social and cultural life of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Unlike performers who increasingly embraced electronic arrangements, Tabassum remained committed to traditional instrumentation, particularly the rubab and acoustic percussion, which formed an essential part of his musical identity.
His death marks the loss of a respected voice in Pashto folk music and a performer whose work helped preserve the region’s traditional musical heritage for successive generations.