Junaid Jamshed, a well-known music singer turned televangelist, is being remembered fondly on the seventh anniversary of his death on Thursday.
Jamshed, who was born in Karachi on September 3, 1964, began his career as a civilian contractor and engineer with the Pakistan Air Force before moving on to a successful career in music.
In the 1990s, he rose to international recognition as the main vocalist of the pop band Vital Signs, with singles such as "Dil Dil Pakistan," "Namumkin," and "Goray Rang ka Zamana." Despite the acclaim and international tours, Jamshed surprised the world in 2004 by leaving the music profession at the pinnacle of his success to devote himself to his Islamic faith.
Despite speculation regarding his departure since the late 1990s, Jamshed maintained his musical adventure with solo albums that included significant pieces like "Na Tu Ayegi," "Tum Kehti Ho," "O Sanama," and "Aankhon Ko Aankhon Ne."
In a 2003 BBC World Service survey of the world's most renowned songs, "Dil Dil Pakistan" was ranked third among the top ten, demonstrating Jamshed's musical legacy's ongoing significance.
Jamshed formally gave up music and engineering in 2004 to devote his life to Islam. In honour of his achievements, the government of Pakistan awarded him the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2007.
Jamshed and his wife were killed in an aircraft crash near Havelian in 2016 while on a journey to disseminate Islamic teachings in Chitral.
Junaid Jamshed's diverse journey, from music to preaching, left an unforgettable impression, and people from all walks of life appreciate his legacy to this day.