Zubaida ‘Aapa’ passes away

KARACHI: Famed chef and TV personality Zubaida Tariq alias Apa passed away on Thursday night in Karachi, Geo News reported.

Her brother Anwar Maqsood confirmed the news, adding the celebrated professional cook had been unwell for some time. Her Namaz-e-Janaza will be offered in Sultan Mosque in Defence after Friday prayers.

She achieved fame doing culinary shows on TV and writing cookbooks. Her regular culinary advice segments on various TV channels were so popular that Zubaida Apa became a household name across the country.

With a formal-sounding name, Mrs Zubaida Tariq, Apa, made her TV debut back in 1996 when she was in her 50s. Her first programme — Dalda Ka Dastarkhwan — soon went on to become a widely popular evening engagement. Apa was one of the nine siblings, including playwright Anwar Maqsood, author and poet Zehra Nigah, designer Sughra Kazmi, and the late Fatima Surraiya Bajiya — a drama writer.