Dilip Kumar was hugely popular among cinema lovers in Pakistan as well. In 1998, he was awarded the Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, becoming the only Indian citizen to receive it.

Gulf Today Report

Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan, politicians, film stars, sports personalities mourned and paid tribute to Dilip Kumar, the legendary actor of the Indian subcontinent, who passed away on Wednesday morning in Mumbai at the age of 98. He had been ill for quite some time.

Dilip Kumar, whose real name was Yusuf Khan, won millions of hearts with his stellar acting in some of the Bollywood cinema's most iconic and landmark movies including Mughal-e-Azam, Devdas, Naya Daur, Ram Aur Shyam, Azad, Aaan, Andaz, Deedar, Daagh, and Ganga Jamuna.
Dilip Kumar is decorated with Pakistan's highest civil award "Nishan-e-Imtaiz" by the then President Rafiq Tarrar. File / AFP

Alvi paid tribute to the late Dilip Kumar, saying he was an "outstanding actor” and “dignified person.” "Sorry to see Dilip Kumar (Yusuf Khan) depart from his worldly abode. An outstanding actor, a humble man, and a dignified personality,” the president tweeted on the death of the veteran actor. The president extended condolences to the family and fans of Dilip Kumar. "Condolences to the immediate family and his huge family of admirers. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote.

Imran expressing sorrow over the death of legendary actor Dilip Kumar said his generosity in raising big funds for launch of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Trust was unforgettable.

Imran hailed Kumar, saying that his appearances in London and Pakistan helped raise a lot of money for the cancer hospital. “Saddened to learn of Dilip Kumar’s passing. I can never forget his generosity in giving his time to help raise funds for SKMCH when project launched,” the prime minister wrote in a tweet.

The prime minister recalled the personal efforts of Dilip Kumar who visited Pakistan and London to generate first 10 per cent chunk of the fund-raising for the cancer hospital, the first of its kind in the country. "This was the most difficult time to raise first 10% of the funds and his appearance in Pakistan and London helped raise huge amounts,” he said.

People pray for Dilip Kumar outside his ancestral home in Peshawar on Wednesday. AFP

The prime minister also paid tribute to the veteran actor and said that for his generation, he was the greatest of all. "For my generation Dilip Kumar was the greatest and most versatile actor,” he said.

Leader of the opposition in National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, said that “Yousuf Khan's films form the most memorable era in the world, he played an unforgettable role. The fame of some of his films was unparalleled.”

Information Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said, “the death of Dilip Kumar is the end of the golden chapter of the film world. Wherever Urdu is understood and spoken all over the world, Dilip is the heartbeat of all these people.”

On his twitter account, Pakistan cricket star Shahid Khan Afridi called Kumar’s death a huge loss for his fans in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Mumbai and across the world. He lives in our hearts, Shahid Afridi said on twitter.

Special Assistant for Information and Higher Education to CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Kamran Bangash and nephew of Dilip Kumar, Senator Mohsin Aziz, also expressed grief and sorrow over the sad demise of son of Peshawar and Bollywood legend Dilip Kumar.

In his condolence message, Kamran said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the government were equally grieved over the death of Dilip Kumar and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family in this hour of tragedy.
A man reads a sign on a closed entrance of childhood home of  Dilip Kumar in Peshawar. Reuters

Bangash said that Dilip Kumar had great love and affection for his ancestral city Peshawar, adding that the city of Peshawar would always remember him and he would live in hearts and minds of people forever.

Senator Mohsin also expressed condolence and prayed eternal peace for the departed soul. He said Dilip Kumar was a very loving, decent and educated personality.

Pakistan actor and singer Ali Zafar tweeted, “A purist par excellence and a man who will continue to inspire generations to come. A human being so sophisticated and refined that chapters could be written on the cadence of each line he spoke. End of an era that will nonetheless remain timeless.”

Director General of Archaeology Department, Dr Abdus Samad, said the KP government was planning to restore Dilip Kumar’s ancestral home in the city of Peshawar. The government is now working on its conservation Samad added.