SRINAGAR: Engineer Muhammad Yaqub Qureshi is no more. He was 79.
Family sources said he was rushed to SKIMS where he remained admitted for a brief period. He passed away at around 10: 30 pm, today.
The Nimaz-e-Jinaza, the funeral prayers, are slated to take place at Syed Rahman Sahib Mosque, Nishat at 11:30 am.
A former Commissioner of Public Works, and Chief Engineer PWD, Qureshi lived an illustrious career as a civil engineer. Graduated from the first batch of REC, Srinagar (now NIT), he worked across the state of Jammu and Kashmir, overseeing various important projects in many districts, including serving as one of the earlier Divisional (Executive) Engineers for UEED (now LAWDA) in the late 1980s, and early 1990s. The Northern Foreshore Road connecting Nishat to Hazratbal is one of the many projects that was beloved to him.
Qureshi was an avid golfer, for several decades. He also loved the outdoors, hiked up to Kolohai glacier and had friends spread across the globe of different faiths, ethnicities and nationalities.
A devoted family man, who loved entertaining friends and family, he was well travelled and demonstrated a unique spirit for life. He was always the most strong and most positive person in the room and was known very well for being a very kind and helpful officer.
While he bravely battled several health challenges for the past 09 years, he always held his strength, resolve and dignity.
He is survived by his wife Rifat Jabeen (former Sr Lecturer Women’s College), daughter Dr Manejeh Yaqub (Physician/Scientist), son-in-law Faisal Jahan (IT Engineer) in the USA, son Zulqadr Arsalan (Engineer), daughter in law Wasia Shah (Architect) in Canada and 5 grandkids.