Literature of Pakistan
The poets and writers of Pakistan's languages, from the Sufi masters of Punjab, Sindh and the Pashtun lands to the modern voices of Urdu. Select a name for a full profile: life, works, themes and legacy.
The poets and writers of Pakistan's languages, from the Sufi masters of Punjab, Sindh and the Pashtun lands to the modern voices of Urdu. Select a name for a full profile: life, works, themes and legacy.
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Languages & Literature
Pakistan
World & History
28 of 28 poets and writers
1173 (traditional date) – 1266 · Sufi saint and poet
The first great poet of the Punjabi language
1538 – 1599 · Sufi poet
Pioneer of the Punjabi kafi; remembered at Lahore's Mela Chiraghan
1613 – 1689 · Warrior poet
The warrior-poet of the Pashtuns; father of Pashto literature
1630 – 1691 · Sufi saint and poet
His Punjabi abyat, each line ending with the sound 'Hu'
c. 1632 (dates vary) – c. 1706 · Sufi poet
The most loved Sufi poet of Pashto, 'the nightingale of Peshawar'
1680 – 1757 · Sufi poet
The most famous Punjabi Sufi poet, author of 'Bulleya ki jaana main kaun'
1689 – 1752 · Sufi poet
The greatest poet of Sindhi; author of Shah Jo Risalo
Early 18th century – Late 18th century · Classical poet
The great romantic poet of classical Balochi, at the court of Kalat
1722 – 1798 · Poet
Author of Heer, the most celebrated version of the Heer–Ranjha story
1739 – 1829 · Sufi poet
The 'poet of seven languages', famous for bold mystical verse
c. 1825 – c. 1892 · Sufi poet
Balochi mystic poet whose love for Sammo became a spiritual legend
1830 – 1907 · Sufi poet
Author of Saif-ul-Malook; called the 'Rumi of Kashmir'
1845 – 1901 · Sufi poet
The greatest Saraiki poet; his kafis celebrate the Rohi (Cholistan) desert
9 November 1877 – 21 April 1938 · Poet and philosopher
Pakistan's national poet, the 'Poet of the East' (Shair-e-Mashriq)
1900 – 1982 · Poet
Writer of Pakistan's national anthem, the Qaumi Tarana
1911 – 1984 · Political and folk poet
Lahore's fearless people's poet, known for witty political verse
13 February 1911 – 20 November 1984 · Poet
The great progressive poet of Urdu, who joined romance and revolution
11 May 1912 – 18 January 1955 · Short-story writer
The master of the Urdu short story, famous for his stories of Partition
1914 – 1996 · Poet, painter and philosopher
Modern Pashto's philosopher-poet, known as 'Lewanay Falsafi' (the mad philosopher)
1914 – 1983 · Poet, historian and politician
Called 'Malik-ush-Shu'ara' (king of poets) of Balochistan
20 November 1916 – 10 July 2006 · Poet, short-story writer and editor
Poet, story writer and editor of Funoon, a mentor to generations of writers
1923 – 1997 · Modern poet
The leading modern Sindhi poet; translated Shah Jo Risalo into Urdu
7 December 1923 – 2 February 2016 · Novelist and short-story writer
Master of modern Urdu fiction; first Pakistani shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize
4 September 1923 – 20 June 2018 · Humorist
The greatest humorist of Urdu prose
24 March 1928 – 12 March 1993 · Revolutionary poet
The people's poet who defied dictators
12 January 1931 – 25 August 2008 · Poet
One of the most popular modern Urdu ghazal poets
14 December 1931 – 8 November 2002 · Poet
An unconventional poet of despair and longing, now hugely popular with young readers
24 November 1952 – 26 December 1994 · Poet
The leading woman poet of modern Urdu; author of Khushbu