A popular veteran Pashto singer Qamar Gula passed away at a hospital in Toronto, Canada after a short illness, family sources confirmed on Saturday.

She was born in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, and lived in Canada for years.

She was credited to be the second female Pashto singer to have sung for Radio Television Afghanistan and her career in the Pashto music industry spans nearly five decades.

She was eight years old when started singing in the Pashto language. She still maintains her popularity among Afghans, particularly among the older generation who associate her music with the nostalgic times of Afghanistan. Her voice is often referred to as “The Golden Voice” by the Afghan media.