Islamabad: Google Pakistan’s homepage celebrated Waheed Murad, one of the pioneers of Pakistan’s film industry, with a special doodle on his 81st birthday.
The day-long illustrations are often created to shine a light on major events, holidays, and to honor personalities who have contributed significantly to the cause of a specific country or the world at large.
A click on the doodle takes you to the search results of the individual or event being celebrated.
Thus far, the tech giant has displayed memorable doodles of several people from Pakistan, including Abdul Sattar Edhi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Noor Jehan.
Born in Sialkot in 1938, Murad, also known as a “chocolate hero,” was an actor, producer and script writer who laid the ground work for the entertainment industry in the country.
He first entered showbiz at the age of 21, after he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies, with a Masters in English from the University of Karachi.
Making a cameo in Saathi in 1959, he went on to star in 125 feature films (38 of which were in black and white) and took home 32 awards (for acting and producing) including for classics such as Armaan, Heera Aur Pathar, Doraha, Usey Dekha Usey Chaha, Dushman and Ishaara, which he also directed.
While a majority of his films were in Urdu, a few were in Punjabi and one in Pashto, too.
Murad was also the youngest film producer of his time and worked under his father’s banner, Film Art productions.
Murad was a beloved actor across the subcontinent winning fans in both Pakistan and neighboring India.
In his later years, Murad reportedly struggled with his declining status as a hero and had turned to substance abuse which may have contributed to his unexpected death in 1983 at the age of 45. He is survived by his wife Salma, daughter Aaliya, and son Adil.
In 2011, 27 years after his death, Murad was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the then-president Asif Ali Zardari.
In addition to the Google Doodle, Google Arts and Culture has curated a page with the help of Pakistan’s “The Citizens Archive” to provide more information about Murad’s life and achievements, including photos of his work, family, and friends.
Google Doodle celebrates Pakistani actor’s 81st birthday
Google Doodle celebrates Pakistani actor’s 81st birthday
- Waheed Murad played a significant role in carving out the film industry
- In 2011, 27 years after his death, Murad was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
Pakistan says defense pact with Saudi Arabia elevated brotherly ties to ‘new heights’
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia signed strategic defense pact last year pledging aggression against one will be treated as attack on both
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says enduring bonds with Islamic and Arab nations form vital pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia elevated its brotherly ties with the Kingdom to “new heights,” stressing that close ties with Arab and Islamic nations form a key pillar of Islamabad’s foreign policy.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement on Sept. 17 last year, pledging that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, enhancing joint deterrence and formalizing decades of military and security cooperation.
Both nations agreed in October 2025 to launch an economic cooperation framework to strengthen trade and investment ties.
“In the Middle East, our landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia has elevated our brotherly ties to new heights,” Dar said while speaking at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026 event in Islamabad.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister was speaking on the topic “Navigating International Relations Amidst Changing Geo-Politics.”
Dar noted that Pakistan has reinforced partnerships with other Middle Eastern nations such as the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Egypt and Bahrain. He said these partnerships have yielded “concrete agreements” in investment, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
“Our enduring bonds with Islamic and Arab nations form a vital pillar of our foreign policy, and we will continue to expand our partnerships across Asia, Latin America, and Africa,” he said.
Dar pointed out that the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have undertaken visits to Pakistan in recent months, reflecting Central Asian nations’ desire to boost cooperation with Islamabad.
On South Asia, the Pakistani deputy PM said Pakistan has successfully transformed its fraternal ties with Bangladesh into “a substantive partnership.”
“Similarly, the trilateral mechanism involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh has been launched with a view to expanding and deepening regional cooperation and synergy,” the Pakistani minister said.
He said Islamabad has strengthened its “all-weather” partnership with China via the second phase of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor agreement and “unwavering support” from both sides for each other’s core interests.
Dar said Pakistan had also reinvigorated its partnership with the US, advancing cooperation in trade, technology, investment, and regional stability.
“This calibrated approach has enhanced our ability to navigate complexity with skill and confidence, ensuring that our national interests are served without compromising our core foreign policy principles,” he said.
