Renowned broadcaster Azeem Sarwar passes away

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 13 September 2021

Azeem Sarwar, a prominent figure in Pakistani broadcasting, has died at a local hospital in Karachi. Known for pioneering sports programming, he left a significant impact on media and sports enthusiasts.

Summary

KARACHI—Renowned broadcaster and sports producer Azeem Sarwar breathed his last here at a local hospital Sunday. According to the family sources, he was undergoing kidney treatment.

Having conceived, anchored, and produced Aalami Sports Round-Up and Subh-e-Pakistan, considered blockbusters due to their record-breaking audience and following. He was credited to have scouted, trained, and groomed many youngsters who later became success stories in the media.

His accomplishments as a voice-over artist, producer, playwright, presenter, compere, announcer, commentator, editor, and columnist had made him a legend in his lifetime.

Sports was his passion which drove him to launch Aalami Sports Round Up on the national hook-up of Pakistan in the summer of 1985. Although the primary target was to cater to the needs of the country’s large number of sports enthusiasts, it was also listened to eagerly in the neighboring countries, as reflected by heaps of mail that arrived at his chamber in Broadcasting House.

The 15-minute daily program, exclusively for sports, continued for more than a decade, and it was brought to an end only when the government enforced a ban on tobacco sponsorship.

During his 44-year with Radio Pakistan, Sarwar also did running commentary for many international sports events, including the World Cup Hockey Tournament 1986 and the World Cup Cricket Tournament 1992.

Photo courtesy: Shahid Hashmi