Today marks the 56th birth anniversary of one of the most iconic figures of Pakistan Nazia Hassan, who is being remembered by music-lovers around the world today.

Nazia was termed as the ultimate “pop queen” of the 80s and 90s whose songs were on everyone’s playlist. She along with her brother Zohaib Hassan introduced the magic of disco and indie-pop music across sub-continent.

Nazia Hassan made her singing debut at the age of 15 with the song Aap Jaisa Koi, from, the Indian film Qurbani (1980). Her debut album, Disco Deewane (1981), charted in fourteen countries worldwide and became the best-selling Asian pop record up at the time.

The song was widely admired and led her to team up with her brother Zoheb Hassan who was into writing and composing songs. Later the brother-sister duo came up with their very first album Disco Deewane that was also a big hit and kept them among their fans.

They enjoyed a great era of 80s when they were overwhelmingly adored by masses for their contribution to unique brother-sister act comprising music composition, singing and fascinating performance.

Her English language single Dreamer Deewane made her the first Pakistani singer to make it to the British charts.

Nazia received numerous national and international awards, and became the first Pakistani to win the Filmfare Award at the young age of 15 and remains the youngest recipient of the award to date. She was also a recipient of Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Pride of Performance.

The sensational singer, who was also a lawyer and a social activist, breathed her last 19 years ago after battling cancer.