he ushered in pop music, broke boundaries with her songs, and reminded a then-shackled nation that it was possible for a woman to stand on her own even in oppressive times. Nazia Hassan, along with brother Zoheb Hassan, made futuristic music videos, sang playback at a time when someone like her hadn’t and in doing so made us dance, laugh, cry and vibe to the music.

Nazia Hassan, who passed away on August 13, 2000, therefore will never be forgotten. To this day, from artists such as Meesha Shafi to Zoe Viccaji to foreign acts like FDVM, by covering her music have kept her even more relevant and memorable.

Commemorating her posthumously on the 22^nd death anniversary of the late singer, Spotify paid tribute to Nazia Hassan by selecting her as their Equal Pakistan Ambassador, an initiative that highlights the work of the chosen artist. As part of the initiative, chosen artists get a billboard in the heart of Times Square in New York City. And now Nazia has joined the list (this month) which has previously featured the likes of Arooj Aftab and Hadiqa Kiani. It’s one thing to imagine it but when you see her on the digital billboard, you realize the treasure she was - who died after succumbing to cancer at age 35 - and how she is still a treasured artist who will live on in our hearts.