Tariq Tafu, the singer behind the iconic Punjabi song “Lahore Lahore Aye”, died in Lahore on Monday at the age of 58 after suffering from sudden and severe stomach ache.
His family has said that his condition deteriorated rapidly while he was rushed to a private hospital, where he suffered cardiac arrest during treatment. Doctors could not save him. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.
His funeral prayers will be offered on Wednesday at 3:30pm at Emperor’s Cemetery, Karim Block, Lahore.
Tariq rose to nationwide fame with his 2004 hit, a Punjabi song that grew into a cultural anthem for Lahore and earned him a permanent place in Pakistan’s musical landscape.
Born into a prominent musical family, Tariq was the son of legendary tabla maestro Ustad Tafu Khan, who died in October 2024 at the age of 79. His brother, Ustad Wajid Tafu, is also a renowned composer and tabla player. Through marriage, he was connected to ghazal legend Ustad Ghulam Ali, who was his father-in-law.
In late 2025, he received the Pride of Pakistan shield in recognition of his contributions to Pakistani music and culture.
His death came just a day after his final Facebook post, in which he paid tribute to his late father on Father’s Day.
