Karachi:
Ghazal maestro Mehdi Hassan could be discharged from hospital soon. He has been moved from the special care unit to a private room at the Agha Khan University Hospital in Karachi.
Last week his doctor said he was "improving" and "responding" to treatment, even as his birth village in Rajasthan prayed for his good health and long life.
Earlier reports said that the singer was critical and on a ventilator following respiratory problems, but they were negated by his doctor.
The 84-year-old Hassan has been ill for the last few years due to a serious lung condition that has led to complications and breathing problems.
The Shahenshah-e-Ghazal, who was born into a family of traditional musicians at Luna village in Rajasthan in 1927, and the voice behind evergreen ghazals like Ab Ke Hum Bichde, Patta Patta Boota Boota, Yeh Dhuan, Woh Dilnawaz, Magghan Baat and Arz-E-Nyaz, had recently lost his voice due to his illness.
The singer's son Arif said his father always wanted to visit India for treatment but doctors ruled out any travel due to his ill-health. Facing a cash crunch, the family had appealed to the Pakistan government for help.
The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other government officials have visited the legendary singer at his residence in recent times but Asif said financial help had been slow in coming from the government.
Hassan remains a hugely popular ghazal singer in the Indian sub-continent though he cut back on his performances in the late 80s due to illness.
Last week his doctor said he was "improving" and "responding" to treatment, even as his birth village in Rajasthan prayed for his good health and long life.
Earlier reports said that the singer was critical and on a ventilator following respiratory problems, but they were negated by his doctor.
The 84-year-old Hassan has been ill for the last few years due to a serious lung condition that has led to complications and breathing problems.
The Shahenshah-e-Ghazal, who was born into a family of traditional musicians at Luna village in Rajasthan in 1927, and the voice behind evergreen ghazals like Ab Ke Hum Bichde, Patta Patta Boota Boota, Yeh Dhuan, Woh Dilnawaz, Magghan Baat and Arz-E-Nyaz, had recently lost his voice due to his illness.
The singer's son Arif said his father always wanted to visit India for treatment but doctors ruled out any travel due to his ill-health. Facing a cash crunch, the family had appealed to the Pakistan government for help.
The Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other government officials have visited the legendary singer at his residence in recent times but Asif said financial help had been slow in coming from the government.
Hassan remains a hugely popular ghazal singer in the Indian sub-continent though he cut back on his performances in the late 80s due to illness.
