Journalist, poet Kaleem Omar dead | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Journalist, poet Kaleem Omar dead

KARACHI: Celebrated English poet and prolific journalist Kaleem Omar died on Thursday of heart failure at the age of 72.

He had undergone a bypass last month.

Omar was born in India in November 1937 to an affluent family that owned the vast construction firm, Omar Sons. He went to school in Nainital, India, and then to England. After completing his studies, he came back to Pakistan to work for the family company and then for Cessna.

He became a journalist in 1982 with The Star and then joined The News. Kaleem Omar was known for his investigative reporting, political and economic columns and articles on current affairs. He was also ranked amongst the top 150 English poets of the world and his work was published by Oxford University Press in 1975, under the title Wordfall, which was followed by an anthology, Pieces of Eight that included his verse.

Omar leaves behind a sister, a son and a daughter and grandchildren. He was buried after Asr prayers in the Defence graveyard.

Source: Dawn

Date:6/26/2009