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.
"Qaumī Tarānāh", also known by its incipit "Pāk Sarzamīn", is the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and formerly the Dominion of Pakistan. It was written in Urdu and Persian by Hafeez Jalandhari in 1952 and the music was composed by Ahmad G. Chagla in 1949, preceding the lyrics. It was broadcast publicly for the first time on Radio Pakistan on 13 August 1954, sung by Jalandhari himself and officially adopted on 16 August 1954 by the Interior Ministry of the Government of Pakistan.
Hadiqa KianiTI(c) is a Pakistani singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, actress, and philanthropist. She has received numerous local and international awards and has also performed at the Royal Albert Hall and The Kennedy Center. Besides Urdu and Punjabi, she has also sung several songs in the Sindhi & Pashto language.
Fuzön is a pop rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan formed in 2001. The name was derived from fusion, as the former lead vocalist of the band, Shafqat Amanat Ali describes the band as a fusion of Hindustani classical and modern soft rock music blended with the Sufi Style of singing.
Jilawatan is the debut album by Pakistani rock band, Call. It was released on November 20, 2005 and gained huge popularity. It was the second album produced by the band's guitarist, Xulfi. The album was received with quite a bit of critical acclaim as well, spending over a year on the Vibes Charts.
Saagar is the debut album by the Pakistani pop rock band, Fuzön, released in January, 2002 by Amazing Productions/Empire Music Limited in Pakistan and by Virgin Records in India. The album is also known eponymously as Fuzön and was re-released in 2004 by the Sound Master record label. Saagar is noteworthy for embedding elements of Hindustani classical ragas within pop rock and jazz compositions, and it is widely considered a pathbreaking album for the way it revolutionized Pakistani music in the 2000s. The album also made history by becoming the first album to be released by a band simultaneously in both India and Pakistan.
Roxen is a Pakistani rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The band had a debut studio album Rozen-e-Deewar, released in 2006. Following this, the band had singles "Toh Phir Aao" and "Tera Mera Rishta" which featured as soundtracks for the Bollywood movie Awarapan in 2007.
Mustafa Zahid is a Bollywood and Pakistani music composer and singer who achieved success with his 2007 singles "Toh Phir Aao" and "Tera Mera Rishta". He sang several hit songs for Bollywood movies. He is also the band leader and the lead vocalist of Roxen, a rock band which was formed in 2004.
Aamina Sheikh is an American-Pakistani actress, songwriter and former fashion model. Sheikh has received critical appreciation for her work in the Urdu television series and art films, and is the recipient of four Lux Style Award from nine nominations.
Strings was a Pakistani pop/rock band composed of two members, plus four live band members from Karachi, Pakistan. The band was initially formed by four college students—Bilal Maqsood, Faisal Kapadia (vocals), Rafiq Wazir Ali (synthesizer) and Kareem Bashir Bhoy —in 1988. In 1992 the quartet disbanded, only to make a comeback with Maqsood and Kapadia in 2000. While the initial band rode the new wave of Pakistani pop music, the later lineup ushered a revival in the Pakistani music industry.
Dhoom is the second studio album by the Pakistani rock band Call, released in January 2011. The album included the singles "Laree Chootee", "Yeh Pal" and "Dharkay Jiya" which featured in several Bollywood movies as soundtracks. The album also included the patriotic songs "Humse Hai Ye Zamana" and "Aasmaan".
Zulfiqar "Xulfi" Jabbar Khan is a Pakistani composer, singer-songwriter, music producer and a guitarist. Starting his career in 1994, Khan is the recipient of multiple awards in Pakistan. He is currently working on the television series Coke Studio, for which he is the producer and mentor.
Hajra Masroor was a Pakistani writer. Masroor established herself with her short fiction stories, known as afsana in Urdu literature. Her elder sister, Khadija Mastoor was also an accomplished short story writer and novelist.
Javed Bashir is a Pakistani playback singer who mainly sings classical songs. Javed has sung songs for many Bollywood movies including Cocktail, Kahaani, Rush, Bombay Talkies, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!.
Ibrahim Jalees born Ibrahim Hussain on was a Pakistani journalist, writer, and humorist. He has authored several books of the short stories such as Chalees Karor Bhikari and Tikona Des and the novel Chor Bazar. He joined the Daily Jang newspaper and wrote his columns titled Waghaira Waghaira which made him famous. He also worked as an editor of Musawat, Karachi, the daily newspaper of the Pakistan People's Party. Later he launched his own weekly magazine, Awami Adalat.
E Sharp is a rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, that initially started as a cover band active in Karachi's underground music scene but later on started creating their own original work. The band's first two albums; Bahadur Yaar Jung (2015) and 600 Saal (2017)were nominated at the Lux Style Awards respectively. A bunch of their singles and music videos has mostly received positive reviews. Their third album Choti Khushiyan was released in 2020 and received positive reviews as well.
Kashmir is an alternative rock band from Karachi, Pakistan. It is the winning band of Pepsi Battle of the Bands Season 2 in 2017. Formed in 2012, the band played for various shows across the country prior to PBOB. The band consists of Bilal Ali (Vocalist), Vais Khan, Usman Siddiqui, Shane J. Anthoney (drummer), Zair Zaki, and Ali Raza (keyboardist). The band has won Rs. 5 million, a music album contract, concerts across Pakistan and lifetime royalties on their music from the Battle of the Bands competition leaving the Badnaam Band as a runner-up. Kashmir Band won the Lux Style Award for Best Emerging Talent (Music) 2017 for their song "Kaaghaz Ka Jahaaz".
Badnaam is a Pakistani grunge band from Lahore, Pakistan. It is the runners up band of Pepsi Battle of the Bands Season 2 in 2017. Formed in 2009, the band has played for numerous shows throughout Pakistan before performing in Pepsi Battle of the Bands. The three-member band consists of Ahmed Jilani, Lala Ahsan (drummer), and Raheem Shahbaz Sunny (bassist). The band also performed the team anthem 'Quetta Kai Kai' for Quetta Gladiators in the 4th Edition of Pakistan Super League. The band gained popularity because of their sufi rock and grunge genre and their combination of a unique performing style and use of strong vocals.
[1]