Karachi: Sindh Minister for Information Shazia Marri has said that Mehdi Hassan served music for 50 years and promoted Pakistan internationally, adding that the Pakistani nation was proud of the legendary singer.

The provincial minister visited the ailing classical singer who is admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Monday on behalf of the president of Pakistan and the chief minister Sindh.

She presented a bouquet to him and enquired after his health from the family.

She said that Hassan was a cultural asset of Pakistan and his services could not be ignored.

On the occasion, she held out assurance to his son, Arif Mehdi, for bearing all expenses for his treatment.

Talking to journalists at the Aga Khan Hospital, the minister said that a medical board would be constituted under the supervision of senior doctors to treat the ghazal maestro and if need be he would be sent abroad on doctors’ recommendations.

The son of Hassan thanked Marri for extending help in the treatment of his father.

His family also thanked and expressed gratitude to the president for his cooperation.