It is interesting to note that Faiz had a fascination with the classical singer Begum Akhtar, and true connoisseurs of classical music have marked similarities between her and Iqbal Bano. Begum Akhtar passed away on 7 October 1974 in Ahmedabad, India – the same year Bano was awarded the Tamgha e Imtiaz (Pride of Performance) in Pakistan.