Lahore, Oct 20 (IANS): One of the best playback singers in the Pakistani film industry, Zubaida Khanum breathed her last Saturday night after suffering a fatal heart attack.

The 78-year-old singer was suffering from prolonged heart ailments for a few years and was living with her sons in West Wood Colony in Lahore.

Doctors at a Lahore hospital pronounced her dead after she was rushed there when her condition deteriorated, Dawn newspaper reported.

At the height of her career, Khanum married cameraman Riyaz Bokhari and left playback singing for good. Her son Faisal Bokhari is also a well known cameraman.

Coincidentally, her husband also died on the same date, Oct 19.

Khanum was born in 1935 in Amritsar, India. Her family migrated to Lahore after partition. She did not belong to any traditional music gharana.

Khanum began her career as a playback singer in the Pakistani film industry in 1951 with the film 'Billo' and was recognised early on for her melodious voice.

She also worked as an actress in a number of films in the 50s but stopped performing after settling down.

One of her most remembered songs, 'Assan jaan ke meet liye ankh wey', from the movie 'Heer', continues to charm Punjabi music lovers.

In a condolence message to the deceased singer's family, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed regret at Khanum's demise and called her a national asset.

President Mamnoon Hussain in his condolence message recalled her services to the performing arts in the country and said that they were unforgettable.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement(MQM) chief Altaf Hussain also sent a condolence message to Khanum's family. He said that Pakistan has lost a talented artiste.