Pashto melody queen Zarsanga cries for financial assistance.

Byline: Sher Alam Shinwari

PESHAWAR -- As the world celebrated the music day on Friday, popular Pashto folk singer Zarsanga has cried for help as she has been living in a pitiable condition.

The world music day was first launched in Paris by French ministry of culture way back in 1982. The theme for the current year music day is 'what is new this year'.

The desert melody queen has demanded of the cultural department to provide her with financial assistance and free medical treatment.

Bad luck struck the nomad folk singer two years ago when a group of people forcibly entered her residence in Azakhel area in Nowshera district and attacked her sons over a monetary issue and also left her seriously injured.

Zarsanga has been suffering from asthma and other multiple health issues since long. Recipient of President's Pride of Performance, she has been to the US, UK, France, Germany and Gulf States and has around 1,200 hit Pashto albums to her credit.

Official says culture directorate hasn't received any request from her family for help

'It is my humble request to Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to arrange for my free medical treatment and extend financial support and provide if possible a government quarter where I could live with my family. I want to contribute to Pashto folk music till last. I am old but my voice is young,' said the melody queen.

According to her son Shahzada, the issue was resolved by handing over their home to rivals and resultantly Zarsanga shifted her family comprising over 96 persons to Kohat where she has been living in a tent alongside other nomad families in miserable condition for the last over two years.

The septuagenarian, folk singer told this scribe that she had been suffering from...