10 Most Famous Pakistani Singers

Green Carpet by Laura Lee Dooley from Wikimedia Commons

10 Most Famous Pakistani singers

Beginning in the early 1990s, Pakistani singers and bands rose to fame and proliferated, specializing in Pop, Rock, and Ghazal. We’ve compiled a list of the best singers and musicians from Pakistan in this article.

1. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Fateh Ali Khan by Thomas Rome from Wikimedia Commons

One of the well-known vocalists in the Bollywood and Lollywood industries is Rahat Fateh Khan. He comes from a well-known Punjabi family of classical vocalists and Qawwals. The renowned vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s nephew is Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. At a very young age, he studied music with his uncle NFAK.

The NFAK Qawwali ensemble served as the foundation for Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s musical career. At that time, he also sang a lot of songs by himself. He began singing in playback in the Indian film Paap (2003). He appeared in several international performances and rose to fame all around the world.

Additionally, he had four appearances in the popular Coke Studio music program for Pakistan. He received several honours, including Lux Style Awards, ARY Film Awards, HUM Awards, UK Asian Music Awards, IIFA Awards, and Mirchi.

2. Abida Perveen 

Sufi Night by Cawo.india from Wikimedia Commons

The most paid Sufi singer in Pakistan’s music industry and the “Queen of Sufi Music” is Abida Perveen. She also works as a painter, musician, composer, and businesswoman.

She had several proposals from India to perform songs for Bollywood films, but she turned them all down since she had become so engrossed with “Sufism”. She was given Pakistan’s second-highest civilian honour, the “Hilal e Imtiaz,” by the country’s president. She received several honours, including Pride of Performance. In terms of Pakistani Sufi music, she is a living legend.

3.Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi Niazi

Pride of Performance Award by Pauleee1 from Wikimedia Commons

A well-known musician from Pakistan is Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi Niazi. He is well-known for his Ghazals and traditional folk music. Esakhelvi has always had a passion for music, although it is completely banned in his home.

There are more than 50,000 songs that Attaullah Esakhelvi recorded in seven different languages. Esakhelvi has been honoured by Queen Elizabeth II with a lifetime achievement award.

His name was added to the Guinness Book of World Records in 1994 for having recorded the most audio songs. In 1991, the Government of Pakistan presented him with the “Pride of Performance Award.” In 2019, he also won the “Sitara e Imtiaz,” the second-highest civilian honour.

4. Sajjad Ali

Sajjad Ali by Muhammad Farhan Saleem from Wikimedia Commons

Sajjad Ali is a well-known musician from Pakistan who is also a poet, actor, producer, and director of motion pictures. He is a pro at playing rock, pop, semi-classical, and classical music. He is from the Kasur Patiala gharana (Classical Musicians).

After receiving his FA from Karachi’s National Arts College, he began studying music with his uncle Tassaduq Hussain. In his debut CD, he sang a variety of traditional tunes by Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali, Amanat Ali Khan, and Mehdi Hassan.

He contributed to several TV series, including Raag Rang and Aap Janab. Next, he produced his own records, including Babia 93, Sohni Lagdi, and Chef Saab. He began releasing single tracks once these albums became a huge success.

5. Arif Lohar

Chimta by adil113 from Wikimedia Commons

Arif Lohar is a folk singer from Pakistan who frequently sings while playing an instrument (Chimta). His song is an excellent example of conventional Punjabi folk music.

Throughout his career, he has been in over 50 worldwide musical productions. In 2004, he also gave a performance during the Asian Games opening ceremony, which drew close to a million spectators. Additionally, he contributed three songs to the 2012 film “Jugni” by Syed Noor.

In 2005, the Pakistani government presented Arif Lohar with the Pride of Performance award. A “Lifetime Achievement Award” was also given to him at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards ceremony.

6. Atif Aslam

Atif Aslam by Bollywood from Wikimedia Commons

One of the best musicians in Pakistan’s music business is Atif Aslam. He is a well-known actor and playback singer in Pakistan. He performs for local and regional music businesses (Pakistan & India). He is regarded as the all-time finest playback singer in both the Indian and Pakistani music industries due to the numerous famous songs he has consistently contributed to the business.

He put a lot of effort into the music business and made a number of classic songs that were hits for his career. Doorie, Woh Lamhey, Pehli Nazar Main, Tu Jaane Na, Tera Hone Laga Hoon, dil Diyan Gallan, Maula, Tere Naal Love Ho gya, Main Rang sharbaton ka, Jeena Jeena, and other well-known songs are a few of his best-known compositions.

In Coke Studio season 8, he sang “Tajdar e Haram,” which has 285 million views by July 2020. (originally sung by Sabri Brothers). There have been 185 viewings of “Tajdar e Haram” worldwide. He also released a number of tracks for our music industry that broke records.

7. Alamgir

Pakistani musician Alamgir Haq is also referred to as “Babae Pop” or the “creator of pop music” there. In Dhaka, he finished his primary schooling. Alamgir graduated from Mirzapur Cadet College in Bengal when he was about 15 years old.

He subsequently travelled to Karachi, west Punjab, where he continued his education at the University of Karachi.

In 2013, the Pakistani government presented him with the Pride of Performance Award. He was also the recipient of the Best Playback Singer Nigar Award. In 2012, Pakistan Television presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Pakistan Air Force and Hum TV both gave him Pride of Performance Awards.

8. Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan

Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan by Faisal Akram from Wikimedia Commons

Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is the younger brother of Asad Amanat Ali Khan and the son of the legendary musician Amanat Ali Khan (Late). He is a Patiala Gharana member. He was born into a musical family, thus music runs in his veins.

Up until 2006, he was the frontman of the well-known rock band “Fuzon.” Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan began singing when he was a little child. He performed the hits “Aankhon Ke Saagar,” “Ankhiyan,” “Mitwa,” and “Khamaj.” For the Pakistani film “Ramchand Pakistani,” he sang two songs.

Additionally, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan has received several honours for his contributions to the music industry. For “Mitwa – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna,” he received the “GIFA Best Male Playback Singer” honour in 2006. In 2008, he also received a “Most Wanted Male” award from The Musik Awards.

9. Rafaqat Ali Khan

Rafaqat Ali Khan has demonstrated his abilities in the music business for about 20 years. He began solo singing and afterwards appeared in a variety of performances in the UK, UAE, US, Australia, Canada, and many other European nations.

He collaborated with Sheraz Upel on the hugely successful song “Tu Kuja Man Kuja” for Coke Studio Pakistan’s ninth season. This Kalam gained popularity very away. Additionally, he contributed to several foreign films, including Youngistan, Dhokha, The Dressing Room, Silence Please, and Krrish. For performing traditional Sufi music, he was also given the Mirchi Award.

10. Hadiqa Kiani 

Hadiqa Kiani by NIA2307 from Wikimedia Commons

Pakistani singer and songwriter Hadiqa Kiani performs pop and folk music. Additionally, she was given several national and international honours.

Hadiqa Kiani won numerous honours for her outstanding accomplishments, including Best Playback Singer (1995—Sangam), Best New Talent (1995), Best Selling Album (1996—Raaz), Excellence in Pop & Light Music (2005), Best English Song (2008)—Living This Lie, Most Wanted Female (2008), Stylish Singer Female (2010), and many others. More than ten times, Hadiqa was named Best Female Singer. She received recognition for Pride of Pakistan (2006) and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (2006). (2015).

Pakistan has produced some of the best vocalists since it is the birthplace and supporter of Sufism, Ghazals, Qawwali, Klasik, and several other folk music styles.