KARACHI: Legendary Pakistani writer and dramatist Haseena Moin breathed her last in Karachi. She was 79 years old.

Her family confirmed the demise Friday morning. Moin had been battling cancer for the past few years.

Moin was perhaps one of the most celebrated playwrights and scriptwriters to come out of Pakistan and had several accolades under her belt. News of her death rumbled on social media Friday morning as showbiz personalities and politicians paid tribute to the marvelous writer.

Haseena was born in the Indian city of Kanpur and received her early education in her ancestral region.

She then moved to Karachi in the 1950s where she graduated from the Government College for Women and earned a Master of Arts in History from Karachi University in 1963. She had written several plays for stage, radio, and television, some of the writings had gained international repute. She was also the recipient of the Pride of Performance award for her services to the performing arts in Pakistan.

She wrote Pakistan’s first original script ‘Kiran Kahani’ aired in the early 1970s. Some of the most popular dramas she wrote that gained international repute included Ankahi, Tanhaiyaan, Kiran Kahani, Dhoop Kinaray, Aahat, Uncle Urfi, Shehzori, Kohar, Des Pardes, Pal Do Pal, Aansoo, Kasak, Parchaiyan (1976) and Parosi. A web-series she wrote on breast cancer is scheduled to release next month. Haseena Moin was a breast cancer survivor. Other notable works included Mere Dard ko Jo Zuban Milay, Kaisa Yeh Junoon, Dhundle Raaste, Shayad ke Bahar Aaye, Mohim Joo, Tum Se Mil Kar, Bandish and Zer Zabar Paish.—INP