KARACHI: Iqbal Haider, a known poet of the country having created a niche for himself in the genre of Haiku passed away in Dallas (USA) Tuesday night, M Azmat Shigeyyuki Ataka, a close friend of the deceased told APP on Wednesday.

Remembering his friend, who also remained associated as a producer with Pakistan Television and was acknowledged for his creativity as well as commitment to his work, Ataka reminisced as how his friend developed deep interest in Haiku, a traditional Japanese poem evoking images of natural world.

“He was a true ambassador of Haiku and was among the poets who made extra efforts incorporating it to the Urdu poetry,” said the man who himself played a great role in bringing the people of Pakistan and Japan close to one another.—APP