PESHAWAR: Noted Pashto singer Sardar Yousafzai has said that despite his huge contribution for about 35 years to Pashto folk music his services are yet to get official recognition.

He regretted that he was never nominated for an official award by culture department. He said that despite being in service of his mother tongue for over three decades, the relevant officials ignored him while prizes and awards were showered on undeserved so-called artists.

Sardar Yousafzai has more than 400 albums to his credit and is recipient of local awards. He enjoys widespread popularity and large fans following owing to his velvety voice and light ghazal singing art.

“I don’t care my own self but the pressing needs of the family come up, one gets fed up with everything around. Last week my younger daughter asked me to pay for her tuition fee. She is currently making preparations for appearing in merit test for admission to medical college. Sending her back unpaid was hard for me,” he said with eyes welled up.

It is pertinent to mention here that during Taliban’s control in Swat, Sardar Yousafzai’s car was fired upon by militants in 2008 when he was returning from a local musical concert. His colleague Ustad Anwar Gul was killed and his three friends were seriously injured in the attack.

Sardar Yousafzai did not flee the area as his other folk artists did at that time and continued contributing to Pashto music. He also fused to seek political asylum in any foreign country rather sped up his literary and cultural activities despite militants’ threats.

His financial condition went from bad to worse since then and a few years ago he had gone through the agony of his son posterior tumour surgery, which made him spent huge money. Likewise, a long trail of unpleasant indents made his life hard.

Ajmal Khan, a senior official at the culture and tourism authority, when contacted, said that his office did not receive any application from him for finical assistance or otherwise.

“Nominations for awards and financial assistance are made after hectic discussions by the relevant committee members. Sardar Yousafzai is recipient of monthly stipend. The authority has close contact with senior artists and literati,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2022