The Music of Pakistan includes diverse elements ranging from music from various parts of South Asia as well as Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and modern-day Western popular music influences. With these multiple influences, a distinctive Pakistani music has emerged.
Noor Jehan was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked in both British India and later in Pakistan's cinema. Her career lasted over six decades, during which she recorded 10,000 songs. Jehan had proficiency in Hindustani classical music, as well as in other genres such as Punjabi and Sindhi. She made her directorial debut with the film Chann Wey in 1951, becoming the first female film director in Pakistan. She is recognized for her contributions to music in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Pakistan. She was given the title of Malika-e-Tarannum in Pakistan.
Armaan is a 1966 Pakistani black-and-white film produced by Waheed Murad and directed by Pervez Malik. It was the first Pakistani film to complete 75 weeks in cinemas and, thus, became the first Pakistani (Urdu) "Platinum Jubilee" film. The film was picturized in black-and-white prints in Karachi. It starred Waheed Murad and Zeba in leading roles.
Habib Wali Mohammad (Urdu: حبِیب ولی محمد), was a Pakistani ghazal and film playback singer.
Nazia and Zoheb were a Pakistani pop duo from Karachi, Sindh formed in 1980. The group consisted of two siblings, Nazia Hassan and Zoheb Hassan, who were considered pop icons across South Asia. They are regarded as pioneers of the Pakistani pop scene, and were one of the most successful Asian pop duos of all time, selling more than 105 million albums worldwide.
Nisar Bazmi was a composer and music director of Indian and Pakistan film industry.
Ahmed Rushdi was a versatile Pakistani playback singer and was "an important contributor to the golden age of Pakistani film music." Regarded as one of the greatest singers in South Asia who could sing high tenor notes with ease, he is best known for his versatility and distinctive voice, with complex and dark emotional expressions. Considered the first pop singer of South Asia, he sang South Asia's first pop song, "Ko Ko Korina", in the 1966 film Armaan.
Nazia Hassan was a Pakistani singer-songwriter, lawyer and social activist. Referred to as the Queen of South Asian Pop, she is considered one of the most influential singers in Pakistan and India as well. Starting in the 1980s, as part of the duo Nazia and Zoheb, she and her brother Zoheb Hassan, have sold over 65 million records worldwide.
Nawabzada Mirza Jamiluddin Ahmed Khan PP, HI, also known as Jamiluddin Aali or Aaliji, was a Pakistani poet, critic, playwright, essayist, columnist, and scholar.
Sohail Rana is a Pakistani music composer for films and television. He was introduced by actor Waheed Murad in Pakistan film industry and gained popularity when singer Ahmed Rushdi sang his compositions in such films as Armaan and Doraha. He is now based in Canada.
Nashad was a film composer and music director of Indian and Pakistani film industry. He composed music for Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s, credited on-screen under the names Nashad and then later migrated to Pakistan in 1964.
Doraha is a 1967 Pakistani musical romance film directed by Pervaiz Malik. It starred Waheed Murad and Shamim Ara, with Deeba, Talish and Ibrahim Nafees in the supporting cast. The film become remarkable due to its music, which was composed by Sohail Rana. It was co-produced by Malik and Rana under banner United Talents.
Ehsaan is a 1967 Pakistani Urdu black & white film produced by Waheed Murad and directed by Pervaiz Malik. The film is a love story, starring Waheed Murad, Zeba, Nirala, Rozina, Azad and Ibrahim Nafees.
Tina Sani is a Pakistani female singer famous for her classical and semi-classical Urdu Ghazals.
Mohammed Ali Shehki is a Persian-Pakistani pop singer. Shehki entered the music scene in the 1970s with his originally composed and written songs, with a touch of Persian music. He later earned a name for himself in Pakistani pop music and as a playback singer.
Shamim Hilaly is a Pakistani actress who has acted in both films and television. She is most famous for acting in PTV dramas including Barzakh, Mere Dard Ko Jo Zuban Mile, Parosi ,and Waqt Ko Tham Lo. She is noted for her performance in Maigh Malhar during the 1990s. She has also acted in Pakistan's only English language movie, Beyond the Last Mountain (1976).
"Ko Ko Korina" is a song which appeared in the 1966 Urdu-language film Armaan and is considered the first pop song of Pakistan, and often of all South Asia. Produced during the Golden Age of Pakistani cinema, the song's lyrics were written by Masroor Anwar and the music composed by Sohail Rana. Ahmed Rushdi was the playback singer, with actor Waheed Murad lip-syncing.
Afshan Ahmed is a Pakistani singer who is known for her television and radio songs like "Dosti Aisa Naata" and "Meray Bachpan Ke Din", and others.
