PESHAWAR: The local artists on Tuesday demanded the naming of a Peshawar road after noted TV and film actor Rasheed Naz, who passed away last week due to health issues.

The demand was made during a literary reference arranged in the Zubair Mir Hall of the Peshawar Press Club by the press club`s cultural committee.

Artists, members of literati and journalists attended the event, which was meant to pay tribute to Rasheed Naz, who was born in Peshawar.

Peshawar Press Club president Riaz Ahmad, general secretary Shahzada Fahad, committee chairman Arshad Aziz Malik and members of the cultural committee were noted among participants.

Senior TV artist NajeebullahAnjum chaired the event and said selfless contributions of Rasheed Naz to the field of acting would be remembered for a long time.

He said the deceased was the gem of a man with natural style of facial expression and manly sound effects and several traits that kept him distinguished him from his contemporary artists.

A resolution was unanimously passed by the participants asking the provincial government to name a thoroughfare in Peshawar city after Rasheed Naz as a token of respect and commemoration.

The other speakers said Rasheed Naz was not only an artist belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but he had brought laurels to Pakistan through his commendable work in Hollywood, Bollywood, Lollywood and Pollywood.

They said Naz would get special attention due to his charismatic personality wherever he went and his work would draw appreciation from all and sundry.

The speakers complained that needs of the local artists were ignored by the society.They called for initiatives of welfare by the relevant authorities for the needy and deserving artists.

The speakers said praising artists after their death served no purpose.

Tariq Jamal, senior actor and head of the Awaz` organisation, said Rasheed Naz was a source of motivation for many young artistsand performers.

He said the deceased would always serve people secretly and remained a humble and down-to-earth person all through his life despite winning world name and fame.

Senior artists Dr Niaz Ali, Ishrat Abbas, Khalid Khattak, Samad Shad and Zulhqar Qureshi also spoke at the event.