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The Music of Pakistan () is a fusion of Turko-Persian,
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
,
North Indian North India is a geographical region, loosely defined as a cultural region comprising the northern part of India (or historically, the Indian subcontinent) wherein Indo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority populati ...
, and contemporary Western influences, creating a distinct musical tradition often referred to as "Pakistani Music." The genre has adapted and evolved over time in response to shifting cultural norms and global influences. It has also been deeply shaped by Pakistan's tumultuous political and geopolitical landscape. The
Islamization The spread of Islam spans almost 1,400 years. The early Muslim conquests that occurred following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE led to the creation of the caliphates, expanding over a vast geographical area; conversion to Islam was boosted ...
policies of the 1980s, which sought to align Pakistani culture with conservative ideals of
Wahhabism Wahhabism is an exonym for a Salafi revivalist movement within Sunni Islam named after the 18th-century Hanbali scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. It was initially established in the central Arabian region of Najd and later spread to oth ...
, imposed strict censorship on music and musical expression. This period of repression was further fueled by the ongoing
Soviet occupation of Afghanistan The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until it dissolved in 1991. During its existence, it was the largest country by area ...
, during which Wahhabism was aggressively promoted with backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to counter Soviet influence. Although Pakistan as a nation emerged in 1947, the region it occupies has served as a historical crossroads for millennia. The
Persian Empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the larg ...
, Turko-Persian dynasties, the Afghan Empire, Arab Caliphates, Indian dynasties, and
British colonial rule The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts establish ...
, each era left defining imprints on the country's musical traditions, leading to classical forms like ''
qawwali Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing originating in the Indian subcontinent. Originally performed at Sufi shrines throughout the Indian subcontinent, it is famous throughout Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and has ...
'' and ''
ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
'', as well as vibrant folk music reflecting the country’s ethnic diversity—Punjabis,
Pashtuns Pashtuns (, , ; ;), also known as Pakhtuns, or Pathans, are an Iranian peoples, Iranic ethnic group primarily residing in southern and eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. They were historically also referred to as Afghan (ethnon ...
, Balti, Baloch,
Hazaras The Hazaras (; ) are an ethnic group and a principal component of Afghanistan’s population. They are one of the largest ethnic groups in Afghanistan, primarily residing in the Hazaristan (Hazarajat) region in central Afghanistan. Hazaras al ...
,
Sindhis Sindhis are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group originating from and native to Sindh, a region of Pakistan, who share a common Sindhi culture, history, ancestry, and language. The historical homeland of Sindhis is bordered by southeastern Balochi ...
, Wakhi, Shina and more. In the late 20th century and beyond, globalization significantly influenced Pakistani music, with elements of Western popular music merging with local traditions to create contemporary genres. Diaspora Pakistanis in the West, such as
Nazia Hassan Nazia Hassan (3 April 1965 – 13 August 2000) was a Pakistani singer, songwriter, lawyer, political analyst and philanthropist. Referred to as the " Queen of South Asian Pop", she is considered one of the most influential singers in South Asia ...
,
Zayn Malik Zain Javadd "Zayn" Malik ( ; born 12 January 1993) is an English singer-songwriter. He auditioned as a solo contestant for the British music competition television series ''The X Factor'' in 2010, where he ended up being a part of five-piece b ...
(One Direction), Nadia Ali, and
Annie Khalid Noor-ul-Ain Khalid (; born 27 March 1987), known professionally as Annie Khalid (), is a Pakistani-born British singer and model. She rose to fame in Pakistan in 2006, after releasing the single "Mahiya"; the song was used in the 2007 film '' ...
, played a crucial role in introducing modern music to the Pakistani music scene. Their music resonated with younger Pakistani audiences, who saw in their success a representation of their own identity on the global stage, particularly at a time when that identity was under threat during the period of Islamization in Pakistan. As of 2015,
EMI EMI Group Limited (formerly EMI Group plc until 2007; originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At t ...
Pakistan is the country's biggest record label, holding the licenses of some 60,000 Pakistani artists and around 70% of the total music of the country, while streaming service
Patari The Patari are a community found mainly in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, India. History and origin There are various theories as to the origin of the Patari tribe. According to the tribe itself, the Patari are by origin Gond tribal ...
has the largest independent digital collection, with some 3,000 artists and 50,000 songs.


Pre-history

Pakistan boasts a rich and ancient history of music, with some of the earliest evidence traced back to the
Indus Valley civilisation The Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), also known as the Indus Civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the Northwestern South Asia, northwestern regions of South Asia, lasting from 3300 Common Era, BCE to 1300 BCE, and in i ...
(c. 3300–1300 BCE), one of the world's oldest urban cultures. Among the notable artifacts from this period is the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro (2300–1751 BC), a bronze sculpture discovered in the ancient city of
Mohenjo-daro Mohenjo-daro (; , ; ) is an archaeological site in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. Built 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major city, cities, contemp ...
, located in present-day Pakistan. The sculpture, depicting a young female figure poised mid-motion, is widely believed by scholars to symbolize ritualistic or celebratory dance, likely performed to the accompaniment of music. Other archaeological findings, including seals depicting musical instruments like flutes, drums, and stringed instruments, indicate that the Indus Valley people likely had a rich musical tradition. The legacy of this early musical culture continued to evolve through various dynasties and empires that ruled the region.


Traditional music

Pakistan, located in South-Central Asia, is home to a wide array of ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups. The country’s traditional music reflects this diversity, with each ethnic group contributing unique styles and forms. At the same time, Pakistan's music scene has also seen the development of musical forms born from the fusion of various influences, such as ''Qawwali'' and ''Ghazal'', which blend traditional, regional, and
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
elements.


Folk Music

Pakistan has diverse folk traditions, with each region reflecting its local culture and language through its musical traditions. These folk traditions are passed down through generations and often form the core of community events, rituals, and festivals, typically celebrating themes of village life, nature, bravery, spirituality, love, longing and separation. Some of the famous folk singers/bands of Pakistan include Wajid Ali Baghdadi Zarsanga, Sanam Marvi,
Nazia Iqbal Nazia Iqbal () (born 1984) is an Pashtun singer from Swat, Pakistan.Gul Panra Mehnaz, known professionally as Gul Panra (sometimes spelled Gulpanra; ; ; born 6 September 1989), is a Pakistani Pakistani folk music, folk singer and Concert tour, touring artist, mainly associated with Pashto music, Pashto language music indu ...
, Raheem Shah, Saieen Zahoor,
Abida Parveen Abida Parveen (; ; born 20 February 1954) is a Pakistani singer, composer, musician of Sufi music, painter and an entrepreneur. Parveen is one of the highest-paid singers in Pakistan. Her singing and music have earned her many accolades, and s ...
,
Ghazala Javed Ghazala Javed (; 1 January 1988 – 18 June 2012) was a Pashtun playback singer from Swat Valley, Pakistan. She began singing since 2004 and was "popular with young, progressive ethnic Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Her music was famous not on ...
, Tina Sani,
Musarrat Nazir Musarrat Nazir Khawaja (; born 13 October 1940) is a Pakistani singer and film actress, who acted in many Urdu and Punjabi language, Punjabi films. She is also known as ''The Silver Screen's Sparkling Star'' and is recognized for her role in Ci ...
,
Tahira Syed Tahira Syed (in Punjabi and ) (born 1958, Lahore) is a Pakistani ghazal and folk singer. Her repertoire includes folk songs in Urdu, Punjabi, Dogri and Pahari. Early life Tahira Syed was born in Lahore to a vocalist Malika Pukhraj and Shab ...
, Laila Khan,
Naheed Akhtar Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "''Nightingale of Pakistan''". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She i ...
,
Zeb Bangash Zebunisa Bangash (), better known as Zeb Bangash (), is a Pakistani singer-songwriter from Lahore, Punjab. Her family originally comes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Apart from her solo career, she was a member of the music group Zeb and Haniya along ...
,
Suraiya Multanikar Suraiya Multanikar (born 1940) is a Pakistani singer mostly known for her folk songs especially kafis. Her repertoire includes classical, semi-classical, ghazal, folk songs, kafis and film songs. Early life and family Multanikar was born i ...
,
Allan Fakir Allan Fakir or Allan Faqir (1932 – 4 July 2000) (), was a Sindhis, Sindhi folk singer from Sindh, Pakistan. He was particularly known for his ecstatic style of performance, marked with devotional rhetoric and Sufi dance-singing. Personal life ...
,
Alam Lohar Alam Lohar () was a Pakistani Punjabi folk music singer. He is widely regarded as the greatest singer of Punjabi folk music. He is credited with creating and popularising the musical term Jugni. Early life Alam Lohar was born in 1928 in Ac ...
,
Hadiqa Kiani Hadiqa Kiani (Urdu, ; born 11 August 1972) 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 Ke ...
,
Ali Zafar Ali Zafar (; born 18 May 1980) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, actor, model, producer, screenwriter and painter. He started out on Pakistani television before becoming a popular musician, later also established a career in Bollywood and h ...
, Haroon Bacha, and Khumarian. In Pakistan's rural areas and ethnic communities, bards continue to perform traditional folk music, preserving ancient songs and cultural customs. In the Pashtun community, '' ashiqs'' or ''barkhurdars'' are traditional bards who sing epic tales of ''
Pashtunwali Pashtunwali (), also known as Pakhtunwali and Afghaniyat, is the traditional lifestyle or a code of honour and tribal code of the Pashtuns, Pashtun people, from Afghanistan and Pakistan, by which they live. Many scholars widely have interpreted it ...
'' (the Pashtun code of honor), recounting historical battles, and the lives of famous warriors. In Balochistan, ''Ghazaks'' (Balochi bards) perform songs about historical figures, social struggles, and regional issues, often accompanied by the ''
dambura The dombra, also known as dombyra (; ) is a long-necked musical string instrument used by the Kazakhs, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Nogais, Bashkirs, and Tatars in their traditional folk music. The dombra shares certain characteristics with the k ...
'', a stringed instrument. Similarly, in Sindh, bards continue to preserve and perform the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and other
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
mystics, traveling between shrines and festivals. Some of the major folk traditions of Pakistan include:


Pashto music

Pashto Pashto ( , ; , ) is an eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family, natively spoken in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan. It has official status in Afghanistan and the Pakistani province of Khyb ...
music is predominantly found in the
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (; ; , ; abbr. KP or KPK), formerly known as the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Northern Pakistan, northwestern region of the country, Khyber ...
province and in major urban centers of Pakistan, including
Peshawar Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...
,
Islamabad Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
,
Rawalpindi Rawalpindi is the List of cities in Punjab, Pakistan by population, third-largest city in the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is a commercial and industrial hub, being the list of cities in P ...
,
Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...
, and
Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
. There is a long oral tradition of Pashto folk music, which includes genres such as the Tappa, Charbeta, Neemkai, Loba, Shaan and Badala. The Tappa is considered one of the oldest forms of Pashto poetry, consisting of two unequal meters, with the second being longer than the first. Charbeta is another highly popular form of Pashto poetry, often epic in nature, focusing on heroic figures and events. It is typically performed at a fast tempo by two or more singers. Neemkai is a type of folk song usually composed by Pashto women, expressing themes drawn from daily life and personal experiences. Loba is a dramatic form of Pashto folk song, often a dialogue that tells romantic stories or allegorical tales. Shaan is a celebratory song performed during significant life events, such as marriages or the birth of a child. Badala, is an epic poem set to music and accompanied by instruments like the harmonium, drums, and tabla. Although it is a form of folk music, it is typically performed by professional musicians.


Sindhi music

Sindhi music is traditionally performed in two primary styles: Baits and Waee. The Baits style is a form of vocal music, characterized by two variations: Sanhoon (low voice) and Graham (high voice). On the other hand, Waee is primarily instrumental and often involves the use of string instruments. Waee music is also referred to as Kafi and is widely found in the surrounding regions of Balochistan and Punjab. Common instruments used in Sindhi regional music include the Yaktaro (a one-string instrument), Narr (a type of flute), and Naghara (a drum). The themes in Sindhi music often center around Sufism and mysticism.


Balti music

According to Balti folklore,
Mughal Mughal or Moghul may refer to: Related to the Mughal Empire * Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries * Mughal dynasty * Mughal emperors * Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia * Mughal architecture * Mug ...
princess Gul Khatoon (known in
Baltistan Baltistan (); also known as Baltiyul or Little Tibet, is a mountainous region in the Pakistani-administered territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and constitutes a northern portion of the larger Kashmir region that has been the subject of a dispute bet ...
as Mindoq Gialmo—Flower Queen) brought musicians and artisans with her into the region and they propagated Mughal music and art under her patronage. Musical instruments such as the '' surnai'', ''karnai'', ''dhol'' and '' chang'' were introduced into Baltistan. Classical and other dances are classified as sword dances, ''broqchhos'' and Yakkha and ''
ghazal ''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
'' dances. ''Chhogho Prasul'' commemorates a victory by the Maqpon ''rajas''. As a mark of respect, the musician who plays the drum (''dang'') plays for a long time. A Maqpon princess would occasionally dance to this tune. ''Gasho-Pa'', also known as ''Ghbus-La-Khorba'', is a sword dance associated with the Gasho Dynasty of Purik (
Kargil Kargil or Kargyil is a City in Indian-administered Ladakh in the disputed Kashmir region. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the WP:TERTIARY, tert ...
). ''Sneopa'', the marriage-procession dance by ''pachones'' (twelve ''wazirs'' who accompany the bride), is performed at the marriage of a ''raja''.


Balochi music

Balochi music, primarily found in the Pakistani province of
Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...
, is a diverse and rich tradition shaped by the region's variety of languages, including Balochi,
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
,
Pashto Pashto ( , ; , ) is an eastern Iranian language in the Indo-European language family, natively spoken in northwestern Pakistan and southern and eastern Afghanistan. It has official status in Afghanistan and the Pakistani province of Khyb ...
, Brahui, Sindhi,
Dari Dari (; endonym: ), Dari Persian (, , or , ), or Eastern Persian is the variety of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan. Dari is the Afghan government's official term for the Persian language;Lazard, G.Darī – The New Persian ...
and Saraiki. Common instruments used in Balochi music include the
Suroz The suroz ( Balochi: سُروز or سُرود) is a bowed string instrument with a long neck, similar to a fiddle or sarangi and played vertically. It is considered the traditional instrument of the Baloch people in Balochistan. Suroz is a Ba ...
, Donali, and
benju A Benju, Benjo (Sindhi language, Sindhi, Balochi language, Balochi: بینجو) is a type of zither fitted with a Keyboard instrument, keyboard, commonly used in the Sindhi music and Balochi Music, Balochi music. The Benju holds a significan ...
. Notable musical forms in Balochi culture include Sepad, Shabtagi, Vazbad, Lullaby, and Zayirak, which are performed in various rituals, such as those following the birth of a child, while lullabies are sung to soothe infants and children.


Shina music

Shina is the predominant language found in Pakistan's northern areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. The language has an extensive oral history which dates back several thousand years. With the increase in tourism to the northern areas and increased domestic as well as international awareness of the local folk music, the Shina folk traditions have managed to stay alive and vibrant. Folk music in this region has remained relatively pure and unscathed by modern influences due to the relative isolation of this area. The arrival of many refugees from the adjacent
Nuristan Nuristan, also spelled as Nurestan or Nooristan (Pashto: ; Katë: ), is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the eastern part of the country. It is divided into seven districts and is Afghanistan's least populous province, with a ...
province of Afghanistan and the subsequent increase in commercial activity in Chitrali bazaars allowed this local form of music to further flourish in the past few decades.


Punjabi music

Folk music from the Punjab province is rich and varied, showcasing a range of instruments such as the dhol (a large drum), flute, dholak (a smaller drum), and tumbi (a single-stringed instrument). The folk music invokes the traditions and tells stories of agricultural life, love, and joy. Famous folklores, such as that of ''Sassi Punnu'' set in the historic city of Bhanbhore (Sindh) and the coastal regions of
Makran Makran (), also mentioned in some sources as ''Mecran'' and ''Mokrān'', is the southern coastal region of Balochistan. It is a semi-desert coastal strip in the Balochistan province in Pakistan and in Iran, along the coast of the Gulf of Oman. I ...
(
Balochistan Balochistan ( ; , ), also spelled as Baluchistan or Baluchestan, is a historical region in West and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. This arid region o ...
), are often the poetic content of Punjabi folk music.


Qawwali

One of the most notable genres of traditional Pakistani music is ''
Qawwali Qawwali is a form of Sufi Islamic devotional singing originating in the Indian subcontinent. Originally performed at Sufi shrines throughout the Indian subcontinent, it is famous throughout Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and has ...
(, , )'', a devotional musical form primarily performed in Urdu, Persian, or Punjabi. A key characteristic of Qawwali is its emphasis on
improvisation Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen. Improvis ...
and lyrics derived from
Sufi poetry Sufi literature consists of works in various languages that express and advocate the ideas of Sufism. Sufism had an important influence on medieval literature, especially poetry, that was written in Arabic, New Persian, Persian, Punjabi language ...
, often expressing themes of divine love, longing, and spiritual devotion. In recent decades, however, Qawwali has increasingly incorporated secular themes into its repertoire.
Amir Khusrau Abu'l Hasan Yamīn ud-Dīn Khusrau (1253 – 1325 AD), better known as Amīr Khusrau, sometimes spelled as, Amir Khusrow or Amir Khusro, was an Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar, who lived during the period of the Delhi Sult ...
, a prominent figure of the
Chisti The Chishti order () is a Sufi order of Sunni Islam named after the town of Chisht, Afghanistan where it was initiated by Abu Ishaq Shami. The order was brought to Herat and later spread across South Asia by Mu'in al-Din Chishti in the city o ...
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood ...
of Sufis, is credited with creating Qawwali by blending Turkish,
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
,
Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
, and
North Indian North India is a geographical region, loosely defined as a cultural region comprising the northern part of India (or historically, the Indian subcontinent) wherein Indo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority populati ...
musical traditions in the late 13th century. The word "Qawwali" is derived from the Arabic term "Qawl" (), meaning "saying" or "utterance." A session of Qawwali is formally referred to as "''Mehfil-e-Sama,''" as it is considered a form of Sama ( Turkish: ''Sema'';  
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
,
Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
and
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: سَماع,
romanized In linguistics, romanization is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and transcription, ...
:
''samā‘un''), a
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
tradition performed as part of the meditation and prayer practice known as
dhikr (; ; ) is a form of Islamic worship in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly recited for the purpose of remembering God. It plays a central role in Sufism, and each Sufi order typically adopts a specific ''dhikr'', accompanied by specific ...
. In
Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...
and
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, the word "''Sama''" is used (or is preferred) for musical forms that closely resemble Qawwali. Qawwali music is performed by a group of about nine musicians, called ''Humnawa'' () led by a principal singer. The performance incorporates various musical instruments alongside hand clapping by the singers. Common instruments used in Qawwali include the
Harmonium The pump organ or reed organ is a type of organ that uses free reeds to generate sound, with air passing over vibrating thin metal strips mounted in a frame. Types include the pressure-based harmonium, the suction reed organ (which employs a va ...
,
Tabla A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...
, Rubab,
Sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form in 19th-century India. Khusrau K ...
,
Sarangi The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked three-stringed instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, Sindhi folk music, Haryanvi folk music, Braj folk music, and Boro folk music (the ...
, and
Tanpura The tanpura (; also referred to as tambura, tanpuri, tamboura, or tanpoura) is a long-necked, plucked, four-stringed instrument originating in the Indian subcontinent, found in various forms in Indian music. Visually, the tanpura resembl ...
. Qawwali gained international acclaim through the legendary artist
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (, ; born Pervez Fateh Ali Khan; 13 October 1948 – 16 August 1997), also known by his initials NFAK, was a Pakistani singer, songwriter, and music director. Khan was primarily a singer of qawwali, a form of Sufi devot ...
, often hailed as "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali" (). In 2016,
LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. The paper covers music, arts, film, theater, culture, and other local news in the Los Angeles area. ''LA Weekly'' was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin (among others), ...
ranked Khan as the fourth greatest singer of all time. One of his most celebrated albums, Night Song, produced in collaboration with
Michael Brook Michael Brook (born 1951) is a Canadian guitarist, inventor, music producer, and film music composer. He plays in many genres, including rock, electronica, world music, minimalism and film scores. His collaborations with musicians around the worl ...
, reached number 4 on the
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
Top World Music Albums chart in 1996 and was nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best World Music Album The Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album is an honor presented to recording artists for influential music from around the globe at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors i ...
in 1997.


Ghazal

The ''ghazal'' (, ) is a form of poetry consisting of
couplet In poetry, a couplet ( ) or distich ( ) is a pair of successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (closed) couplet, each of the two lines is end-stopped, implying that there ...
s which share a
rhyme A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (usually the exact same phonemes) in the final Stress (linguistics), stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words. Most often, this kind of rhyming (''perfect rhyming'') is consciou ...
and a
refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeated in poetry or in music">poetry.html" ;"title="Line (poetry)">line or lines that are repeat ...
, with both lines of the opening couplet and the second line of each subsequent couplet adhering to the same
meter The metre (or meter in US spelling; symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Since 2019, the metre has been defined as the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of of ...
. Etymologically, the word "ghazal" () originates from Arabic, where it means "to flirt," and often denotes themes of love and longing in
Arabic poetry Arabic poetry ( ''ash-shi‘r al-‘arabīyy'') is one of the earliest forms of Arabic literature. Pre-Islamic Arabic poetry contains the bulk of the oldest poetic material in Arabic, but Old Arabic inscriptions reveal the art of poetry existe ...
. In the Persianate world, the term acquired additional symbolic meaning, being associated with the "mortal cry of a gazelle"—based on the Persian word "ghazāl" (), from which the English word "
gazelle A gazelle is one of many antelope species in the genus ''Gazella'' . There are also seven species included in two further genera; '' Eudorcas'' and '' Nanger'', which were formerly considered subgenera of ''Gazella''. A third former subgenus, ' ...
" stems. The cry of a gazelle when hunted became a metaphor for the pain, separation, and yearning central to the ghazal's themes. The name ''ghazal'' encapsulates its dual essence: the tender, often melancholic exploration of love, loss, and existential musings, alongside its lyrical and rhythmic beauty, evoking the elegance and grace of the gazelle.While traditionally rooted in poetry, the ghazal in Pakistan has evolved to become closely associated with music. This transformation began in the early 20th century when the recording industry played a key role in popularizing the musical adaptation of Urdu and Persian ghazals, making the works of renowned poets like
Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (), or simply Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi '' faqih'' (jurist), Maturidi theologian (''mutakallim''), and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire ...
,
Hafez (), known by his pen name Hafez ( or 'the keeper'; 1325–1390) or Hafiz, “Ḥāfeẓ” designates someoone who has learned the Qurʾān by heart" also known by his nickname Lisan al-Ghaib ('the tongue of the unseen'), was a Persian lyri ...
,
Mirza Ghalib Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan (27 December 179715 February 1869), commonly known as Mirza Ghalib, was an Indian poet. Widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the Urdu language, he also produced a significant body of work in Persian. Ghali ...
,
Allama Muhammad Iqbal ''Allamah'' () is an Islamic honorary title for a profound scholar, a polymath, a man of vast reading and erudition, or a great learned one. The title is carried by scholars of Islamic fiqh (jurisprudence) and philosophy. It is used as an hon ...
, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmed Faraz, and Parveen Shakir accessible to a wider audience. Ghazal music originally adhered to the Hindustani (North Indian) classical tradition, employing
raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...
s (melodic modes) and talas (rhythmic cycles), typically at a slow, contemplative tempo. In modern times, however, ghazals have seen a fusion with genres such as light classical, jazz, rock, or pop music, resulting in a more contemporary sound that retains the lyrical beauty of its origins.


Modern music

The song "Ko Ko Korina" (
Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
: کوکوکورینا) sung by Ahmed Rushdi in 1966 is considered to be the first pop song of Pakistan. Rushdi was born in present day India in 1934, where he started his musical career, but later migrated to Pakistan in 1954. Pop music in Pakistan truly gained momentum during the 1980s with the brother-sister duo Nazia and Zoheb Hassan. Their debut album, ''Disco Deewane'' (), released in 1981, broke sales records in Pakistan and became the best-selling Asian pop album at the time. It topped charts in India, Russia, South Africa, Latin America, and Philippines, and earned international acclaim. Another popular act of the 1980s was the pop and rock band ''
Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of ...
'', with Junaid Jamshed as the vocalist and Rohail Hyatt as the keyboardist. From the 1980s to the 1990s, they produced many of their highly successful and critically praised albums. Their song "''Dil Dil Pakistan''" was voted as the third most popular song of all time by a
BBC World BBC News is an international English-language pay television channel owned by BBC Global News Ltd. – a subsidiary of BBC Studios – and operated by the BBC News division of the BBC. The network carries news bulletins, documentaries, an ...
poll in 2003. However, the 1980s were also the time of rapid political change in Pakistan, driven by the Islamization policies of President Muhammad Zia Ul Haq, who came to power through a coup d'état in 1977. Under the banner of Nizam-e-Mustafa (), Zia's regime sought to implement a conservative Islamic agenda, which came with strict bans and restrictions on musical expression across the country. Even the song "Dil Dil Pakistan" by Vital Signs, despite being a patriotic anthem—typically the kind of music that thrives under autocratic regimes—got censored for showing young men in Western clothing. President Zia Ul Haq had strongly denounced " western ideas" such as
jeans Jeans are a type of trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Often the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of trousers, called "blue jeans", with the addition of copper pocket rivets added by Jacob W. Davis in 1871 and patented by ...
and rock music. The regime also banned music for reasons such as "endorsing alcohol consumption" if lyrics mentioned alcohol, or "obscenity" if a male and female were shown standing close or dancing. This period also saw the closure of all bars, nightclubs, and theater halls in the country, depriving aspiring musicians and bands of venues to perform and earn a living. The Islamization regime of Zia Ul Haq in Pakistan coincided with the broader rise of conservative movements across the
Greater Middle East The Greater Middle East is a geopolitical term introduced in March 2004 in a paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as part of the United States' preparatory work for the Group of Eight summit of June 2004. The pap ...
, including the
Islamic Revolution The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Im ...
(1979) in neighboring Iran, the Soviet invasion of neighboring Afghanistan (1979), and the
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...
(1975-1990)—all of which strengthened the role of the clergy and fueled sectarian tensions throughout the region. Of particular relevance to Pakistan was the Soviet-Afghan War, in which Pakistan played a direct role as an ally in the U.S.-led ''
Operation Cyclone Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) program to arm and finance the Afghan mujahideen in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1992, prior to and during the military intervention by the USSR in support ...
'' to expel Soviet forces from Afghanistan. As part of this operation, Saudi Arabia arranged the transport of thousands of young, indoctrinated volunteers, known as " Afghan Arabs," from across the Middle East to Pakistan. There, they were trained and equipped with U.S.-provided arms before being sent into Afghanistan to fight against Soviet forces. Additionally, Saudi Arabia funded the establishment of thousands of madrassahs in Pakistan, with their number growing from about 900 in 1971 to over 33,000 in 1988. These madrassahs promoted Wahhabi ideology, seeking to radicalize Afghan refugees and impoverished local populations to join the "
jihad ''Jihad'' (; ) is an Arabic word that means "exerting", "striving", or "struggling", particularly with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it encompasses almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with God in Islam, God ...
" () against the Soviets in Afghanistan. However, these radicalized youths also launched a campaign inside Pakistan against music, which is considered impermissible under Wahhabi doctrine. Many musicians were threatened with violence unless they abandoned their craft or left the country. This fervor escalated into acts of violence, including the burning of record shops and attacks on art exhibitions and musical performances.


Pop music

Despite the crackdown on music during the Islamization regime, Pakistani music continued to evolve, often thriving in underground performances, through the efforts of diaspora communities, particularly in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, and through artists at home who continued to defy the regime. In the 1980s and 1990s, pop acts like
Nazia Hassan Nazia Hassan (3 April 1965 – 13 August 2000) was a Pakistani singer, songwriter, lawyer, political analyst and philanthropist. Referred to as the " Queen of South Asian Pop", she is considered one of the most influential singers in South Asia ...
, Zoheb Hassan,
Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of ...
, Strings, and Nermin Niazi gained widespread popularity, defining a new era of Pakistani pop music. The 1990s also saw the rise of rock and fusion bands such as Junoon, Aaroh, and
Noori Noori () is a Pakistani rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The group was formed by songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist, Ali Noor, along with his younger brother Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali ...
, which became household names and enjoyed immense popularity. By the early 2000s, a fresh wave of pop acts has emerged, including
Ali Zafar Ali Zafar (; born 18 May 1980) is a Pakistani singer-songwriter, actor, model, producer, screenwriter and painter. He started out on Pakistani television before becoming a popular musician, later also established a career in Bollywood and h ...
,
Momina Mustehsan Momina Mustehsan (; born 5 September 1992) is a Pakistani singer. In 2017, BBC named her one of the 100 Women (BBC), 100 most influential women, and the following year, ''Forbes'' featured her among its "30 Under 30" Asia list along with nine o ...
, Zoe Viccaji,
Hadiqa Kiani Hadiqa Kiani (Urdu, ; born 11 August 1972) 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 Ke ...
,
Aima Baig Aima Noor-ul Ain Baig (, ; born 10 March 1995) is a Pakistani singer, known for her soundtracks in films and television. Started as appearing on Dunya News' program '' Mazaaq Raat'' during 2015–2017, she rose to fame from her songs in '' L ...
,
Awaz Awaz ( ) was a Pakistani pop band that formed in Islamabad in 1992. The group was formed by Haroon Rashid, lead vocalist, who was soon joined by keyboardist Faakhir Mehmood and lead guitarist Asad Ahmed. Awaz were one of the pioneer band ...
( Haroon,
Faakhir Mehmood Faakhir Mehmood (; born 20 April 1973) is a Pakistani actor, singer, keyboradist, composer and music producer. He started out his career with the Pakistani musical group Awaz. However, due to conflicts of interest, the band split in 2000 and ...
), and Jal.


Rock music

The rise of rock music in Pakistan began in the 1980s when cassettes first came into Pakistan bringing in a wave of Western rock music, particularly groups such as
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
,
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
,
Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...
, and
AC/DC AC/DC are an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1973. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock and Heavy metal music, heavy metal, although the band calls it simply "rock and roll". They are cited as a formativ ...
. Despite the restrictive environment of the Islamization era, which sought to suppress Western cultural influences, underground rock concerts began to flourish across the country. Rock bands
Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of ...
and Strings rose in defiance of the regime and gained immense popularity amongst the youth.
Vital Signs Vital signs (also known as vitals) are a group of the four to six most crucial medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of ...
is widely regarded as Pakistan's first and most successful pop rock band. Strings gained widespread acclaim following the release of their second album in 1992, eventually selling over 25 million albums worldwide. The 1990s saw the rise of other notable bands, including Junoon, Aaroh, and
Noori Noori () is a Pakistani rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, formed in 1996. The group was formed by songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist, Ali Noor, along with his younger brother Ali Hamza, who were soon joined by bassist Muhammad Ali ...
. Junoon pioneered the genre of
Sufi rock Sufi rock or Sufi folk rock is a subgenre of rock music that combines rock with classical Islamic Sufi music traditions. It emerged in the early 1990s and became widely popular in the late 1990s in Pakistan and Turkey. The term "Sufi rock" was co ...
, combining the poetry of famous Sufi poets such as
Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (), or simply Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi '' faqih'' (jurist), Maturidi theologian (''mutakallim''), and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire ...
,
Hafez (), known by his pen name Hafez ( or 'the keeper'; 1325–1390) or Hafiz, “Ḥāfeẓ” designates someoone who has learned the Qurʾān by heart" also known by his nickname Lisan al-Ghaib ('the tongue of the unseen'), was a Persian lyri ...
, and
Bulleh Shah Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī (; ), popularly known as Baba Bulleh Shah and vocatively as Bulleya, was a Punjabi revolutionary philosopher, reformer and Chishti Sufi poet, regarded the 'Father of Punjabi Enlightenment'; and one of the g ...
with the hard rock brand of
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
and
Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer * Sailboat designs by W. D. Schock Corp ** Santana 20 ** Santan ...
and classical instruments such as the
tabla A ''tabla'' is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments a ...
. Junoon is one of Pakistan's and South-Central Asia's most successful bands with over 30 million albums sold worldwide; the
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
called Junoon "the U2 of Pakistan" and
Q magazine ''Q'' was a British popular music magazine. It was founded in 1986 by broadcast journalists Mark Ellen and David Hepworth, who were presenters of the BBC television music series ''The Old Grey Whistle Test''. ''Q'' was published in print in the ...
dubbed them as "One of the biggest bands in the world".(Jon Parele
In Performance: Pop; Divine and Secular Love Expressed in Rock Style
New York Times, Published 8 May 2002, Retrieved 16 October 2020
Junoon became the first rock band to perform at the
United Nations General Assembly Hall The United Nations General Assembly Building is part of the headquarters of the United Nations in the Turtle Bay, Manhattan, Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It contains the main assembly hall of the United Nations Genera ...
and only the second Pakistani act to perform at a
Nobel Peace Prize Concert The Nobel Peace Prize Concert ( Norwegian and Swedish: '')'' has been held annually since 1994 on 11 December to honour the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The award ceremony on 10 December takes place in Oslo City Hall, while the concert has been ...
.Junoon Band's Concert in Observance of United Nations Day to be held in General Assembly Hall, 24 October 2001
United Nations website, Published 19 October 2001, Retrieved on 16 October 2020

Published 17 December 2007, Retrieved 29 July 2020
The early 2000s saw the arrival of progressive metal, progressive rock, and psychedelic rock with bands such as Entity Paradigm and Mizraab. Qayaas,
Call Call or Calls may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games * Call (poker), a bet matching an opponent's * Call, in the game of contract bridge, a bid, pass, double, or redouble in the bidding stage Music and dance * Call (band), from L ...
, Roxen, Jal, Mizmaar,
Karavan Karavan ( ) was a hard rock band hailing from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1997. The band was founded Asad Ahmed, former lead guitarist of Awaz, and bassist Sameer Ahmed. They were joined by drummer Allan Smith and vocalist Najam Sh ...
, and
Mekaal Hasan Band Mekaal Hasan Band , (sometimes shortened to MHB), is a progressive rock band, founded in 2001 by the Pakistani guitarist,composer and producer, Mekaal Hasan. The Mekaal Hasan Band is known for being innovators of a progressive style of music w ...
also exploded onto the music scene with different brands of rock including alternative and soft rock. The television series
Pepsi Battle of the Bands ''Pepsi Battle of the Bands'' is a Pakistani television series, originally based on the concept of Battle of the Bands, first aired in 2002 on PTV Home. The show was revived in 2017. Season 1 ''Pepsi Battle of the Bands: Season 1'' aired in J ...
was instrumental in launching Entity Paradigm, Aaroh, and the Mekaal Hasan Band, all of whom competed in the inaugural edition of the show in 2002. After a 15-year hiatus, the series resumed in 2017, introducing new bands to the rock scene, such as
Kashmir Kashmir ( or ) is the Northwestern Indian subcontinent, northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term ''Kashmir'' denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir P ...
,
Bayaan Bayaan ( ) is an alternative rock band from Lahore, Pakistan. They won the Pepsi Battle of the Bands Season 3 in 2018. Appeared in Nescafe Basement, the band had performed throughout Pakistan before appearing in Pepsi Battle of the Bands. The ...
, and
Badnaam ''Badnaam'' is a Pakistani film in Urdu language, released on 2 September 1966, adapted from Saadat Hasan Manto's short story ''Jhumkay'' ("Ear-rings") by screenwriter Riaz Shahid, and was the second film adaptation of the Manto's story after ...
.(Turyal Azam Kha
'Pepsi Battle of the Bands' makes a powerful return
Asia Times (newspaper), Published 24 July 2018, Retrieved 16 October 2020
Although the heavy metal genre began to rise in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, its roots can be traced back to the influence of the
New Wave of British Heavy Metal The new wave of British heavy metal (often abbreviated as NWOBHM) was a nationwide musical movement that began in England in the mid-1970s and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. Editor Alan Lewis (music journalist), Alan Lew ...
(NWOBHM) of the late 1970s and 1980s. Early pioneers of Pakistani heavy metal included bands like ''Black Warrant'', ''Final Cut'', and ''Barbarians''. Since then, a number of heavy and black metal bands have emerged, including Overload,
Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant, with an average radius of about 9 times that of Earth. It has an eighth the average density of Earth, but is over 95 tim ...
, Saakin, Karakoram, Burq - The Band, Taarma, The Nuke, and Aag.


Patriotic and political music

Patriotic music in Pakistan has long played a significant role in shaping the national identity and reflecting the country’s spirit. Early iconic songs, such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's ''"Mera Paigham Pakistan"'', Vital Signs' ''"Dil Dil Pakistan"'', Awaz's ''"Ay Jawan"'', and Shabana Benjamin's ''"Aye Gul-e-Yasmeen"'', became anthems that resonated with the nation's pride and sense of unity. Political music in Pakistan also extends beyond fostering national pride, frequently veering into propaganda. Pakistani military's media arm, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), colloquially referred to as the "propaganda house" in the country, regularly produces and sponsors music that glorifies the military. The military has a long history of overthrowing democratic governments, which has contributed to civilian mistrust, with confidence in the institution remaining among the lowest in the world. ISPR uses music and other forms of media to shape and whitewash the military’s image, and deflect attention from ongoing allegations of corruption, election rigging, human rights abuses, and oppression. ISPR productions frequently use emotional imagery and lyrics to frame dissent and criticism of the military as an attack on personnel who are on the frontlines, sacrificing their lives for the nation’s security and well-being. In addition to state-sponsored patriotic music, political parties in Pakistan have also harnessed the power of music to rally their supporters. Political songs are regularly featured during rallies, gatherings, and protests to energize crowds. At the same time, music serves as a powerful tool for activism and resistance. Songs such as ''"Intebah"'' by Saakin, ''"Mori Araj Suno"'' by Tina Sani (based on Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry), and ''"Wajood-e-Zan"'' by Natasha Noorani (based on Allama Iqbal's poetry) have become iconic in Pakistan's activism culture, representing dissent and resistance to political injustice.


Loss of musical identity and attempts at revival

In the decades following the Islamization regime, restrictions on music in Pakistan eased somewhat, and the rise of the internet opened new avenues for sharing and accessing music. This shift has contributed to a considerable resurgence in the country’s domestic music scene. However, many feel that the music of today diverges significantly from its pre-Islamization roots, with much of Pakistan’s distinctive musical identity—a fusion of Turko-
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
,
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
,
North Indian North India is a geographical region, loosely defined as a cultural region comprising the northern part of India (or historically, the Indian subcontinent) wherein Indo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority populati ...
, and
Arab Arabs (,  , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world. Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
influences—now largely absent. The erosion of this identity began during the Islamization period, when local music industries were systematically dismantled. This created a cultural void that foreign music sought to fill. However, at the same time, music industries throughout the
Greater Middle East The Greater Middle East is a geopolitical term introduced in March 2004 in a paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace as part of the United States' preparatory work for the Group of Eight summit of June 2004. The pap ...
, particularly in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
,
Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
, and
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
, were also being dismantled by Islamization movements and
ongoing conflicts The following is a list of ongoing armed conflicts that are taking place around the world. Criteria This list of ongoing armed conflicts identifies present-day conflicts and the death toll associated with each conflict. The criteria of inclu ...
, leaving these industries unable to fill the gap. Meanwhile, Western music was heavily censored to prevent the spread of Western values, which left the Pakistani music market wide open for India’s rapidly growing
Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
industry to dominate. With limited exposure to other musical traditions, generations of Pakistanis grew up immersed largely in Bollywood’s melodies, leading to a gradual cultural shift. By the 2000s, as Pakistan’s domestic music industry began to reemerge, it found itself catering to an audience attuned to
Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
's sound and style. As a result, many Pakistani artists and studios embraced a process of “Bollywood-ification” to remain relevant, often at the expense of the rich musical heritage that once defined the country’s unique sound.


Coke Studio Pakistan

Coke Studio Pakistan ''Coke Studio Pakistan'' () is a Pakistani television programme and a part of the international music franchise, Coke Studio, which features studio-recorded music performances by established and emerging artists. It is the longest-running annua ...
, a music television series, aimed to revive the blended identity of Pakistani music. The first season mainly featured live-recorded performances of pop and rock songs. From Season 2 onward, the show began emphasizing Pakistan's original musical identity, while also evolving by fusing in more contemporary Western influences—a trend that became more prominent in Seasons 3, 5, and 6. As the show's founder and director, Rohail Hyatt, described, the aim was to "promote Pakistan's folk, classical, and indigenous music by merging it with more popular or mainstream music." However, after Hyatt's departure at the end of Season 6, the show took a different direction. From Season 7 onward, Coke Studio shifted to a more mainstream style, increasingly incorporating more visual communicating and
Lollywood Lollywood is Pakistan's film industry, which has served as the base for both Urdu- and Punjabi-language film production. Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since independence in 1947. However, with the Urdu film hub largel ...
influences to attract a wider audience. This shift also expanded Coke Studio’s appeal in India, with viewership from Indian audiences surpassing that of Pakistan on platforms like YouTube and streaming services.


See also

*
Culture of Pakistan The culture of Pakistan () lies at the intersection of Turko-Persian, Arab, and North Indian cultural traditions. Over centuries, the region has developed a distinct cultural identity, shaped by a fusion of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and No ...
*
Filmi pop Filmi pop (Urdu: فلمی موسیقی filmi mosiqi) is a term first coined by Pakistani music journalist, Ali Tim in 1990 but made famous by the country's most influential pop critic, Nadeem Farooq Paracha, Nadeem F. Paracha. In 1966, a talented ...
* History of Pakistani pop music * Karachi: The Musical *
List of Pakistani musicians This is an alphabetical list of musicians from Pakistan. The list includes musical bands, some groups and solo artists that were and are in the industry today. The list also includes film singers, folk singers, pop/rock singers, jazz musicians, ...
* List of Pakistani film singers * List of Pakistani folk singers *
List of Pakistani ghazal singers A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
* List of Pakistani qawwali singers *
List of Pakistani music bands Pakistan's music band scene was discovered in the 60s. The Panthers, a Karachi-based band founded in the late 60s, consisted of Norman Braganza (Lead Guitar and Vocals), Fasahat Husain Syed (Keyboard, Sitar and Tabla), Eric Fernandes (Bass Guit ...
*
List of songs about Pakistan This is a list of songs about Pakistan (known as Milli naghmay, ) listed in alphabetical order. The list includes songs by current and former solo-singers and musical bands. It also includes some film songs originally recorded for Cinema of Paki ...
*
National Academy of Performing Arts The National Academy of Performing Arts (; abbreviated as NAPA) is a performing arts school located at Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. NAPA was established in 2005 as an institution to conserve and teach performing arts and music. ...
* Nescafé Basement * Velo Sound Station *
Pakistani hip hop Pakistani hip hop is a music genre in Pakistan, influenced heavily from merging American hip hop style beats with Pakistani poetry. The genre was initially dominated in English and Punjabi, but in recent years has expanded to Urdu, Sind ...
* Uth Records * List of most-viewed Pakistani music videos on YouTube


References


External links


BBC Radio 3 Audio (45 minutes): The Nizamuddin shrine in Delhi

BBC Radio 3 Audio (45 minutes): A mahfil Sufi gathering in Karachi

BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Music from the Sufi Shrines of Pakistan
{{Authority control Urdu music Culture of Pakistan