View source for Music of Pakistan

{{Short description|none}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2025}}
<!--"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]-->{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}[[File:Annie_Khalid_during_a_concert.jpg|thumb|British-Pakistani singer [[Annie Khalid]] during a live concert in Pakistan.]]The '''Music of Pakistan''' includes [[Music of South Asia|South Asian]], [[Music of Central Asia|Central Asian]], [[Middle Eastern music|Middle Eastern]] and contemporary [[Western culture#Music|Western influences]].<ref name="gov222">{{cite web |title=Music and Dances of Pakistan, Musical Instruments of Pakistan |url=http://nationalheritage.gov.pk/musicdances.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414060812/http://nationalheritage.gov.pk/musicdances.html |archive-date=14 April 2015 |access-date=16 October 2020 |website=Government of Pakistan, National Heritage Wing website |publisher=Ministry of Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage}}</ref> The genre has adapted and evolved over time in response to shifting cultural norms and global influences.

It has been shaped by [[Persian traditional music|Persian]], [[Arabic music|Arab]] and [[Ottoman music|Turkish]] traditions among others. [[Hindustani classical music]] forms like ''[[qawwali]]'' ([[Sufism|Sufi]] [[Devotional song|devotional music]]) and ''[[ghazal]]'' (love poetry) are popular, as are [[Music of Punjab|Punjabi]], [[Pashto music|Pashto]], [[Sindhi music|Sindhi]] and [[Balochi music|Balochi]] regional music. [[Islamization in Pakistan|Islamization]] policies during the 1980s imposed strict censorship on music and musical expression.<ref name=":1222" /><ref name=":0222">{{Cite web |last=Paracha |first=Nadeem F. |date=2010-12-09 |title=Popping Zia |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/813551/popping-zia |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2222">{{Cite web |date=2013-04-02 |title=Times of the Signs {{!}} Blog {{!}} DAWN.COM |url=http://dawn.com/2013/03/28/times-of-the-signs/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402133212/http://dawn.com/2013/03/28/times-of-the-signs/ |archive-date=2 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Citation |title=Pakistan - Music Under Siege |date=2015-10-22 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8993480/ |access-date=2024-11-19 |series=101 East |others=Steve Chao, Abdul Aziz Ghazi}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web |last=Mansoor |first=Halima |date=2014-03-03 |title=Music and militancy: The decade of silence |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/678162/music-and-militancy-the-decade-of-silence |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> 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.

As of 2015, [[EMI Group Limited|EMI]] 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,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahmood |first=Rafay |date=12 June 2015 |title=Patari takes a hit as country's biggest record label threatens legal action |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/902453/patari-takes-a-hit-as-countrys-biggest-record-label-threatens-legal-action |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205182602/https://tribune.com.pk/story/902453/patari-takes-a-hit-as-countrys-biggest-record-label-threatens-legal-action |archive-date=5 December 2024 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |quote=[...] EMI Pakistan holds licences to around 60,000 Pakistani artists and almost 70% of the total music of the country.}}</ref> while streaming service [[Patari (service)|Patari]] has the largest independent digital collection, with some 3,000 artists and 50,000 songs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patari's profile |url=https://www.sarmayacar.com/ventures/patari-online-music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205182846/https://www.sarmayacar.com/ventures/patari-online-music |archive-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

==Traditional music==
=== Folk music ===
{{Main|Pakistani folk music}}
[[File:Haroon Bacha in 2017.jpg|thumb|Haroon Bacha performing at [[AVT Khyber]]'s "Sparle Suroona" in [[Peshawar|Peshawar, Pakistan]]. Bacha was forced to leave Pakistan and resettle in [[Brooklyn|Brooklyn, New York]], after the [[Pakistani Taliban|Taliban]] threatened his life for refusing to abandon music.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |title=U.S. Refuge for Singer Fleeing the Taliban |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=12 October 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/arts/music/13bach.html}}</ref>]]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 [[Zarsanga]], [[Sanam Marvi]], [[Nazia Iqbal]], [[Gul Panra]], [[Raheem Shah]], [[Saieen Zahoor]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Ghazala Javed]], [[Tina Sani]], [[Musarrat Nazir]], [[Tahira Syed]], [[Laila Khan (singer)|Laila Khan]], [[Naheed Akhtar]], [[Zeb Bangash]], [[Suraiya Multanikar]], [[Allan Fakir]], [[Alam Lohar]], [[Hadiqa Kiani]], [[Ali Zafar]], [[Haroon Bacha]], and [[Khumariyaan|Khumarian]].

==== Pashto music ====
{{main|Pashto music|Folk music of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa}}
[[File:Laila khan Singer.jpg|alt=Laila Khan|thumb|306x306px|[[Laila Khan (singer)|Laila Khan]], a Pashto singer, who has also sung in Urdu, Arabic, and French.]]
[[Pashto language|Pashto]] music is predominantly found in the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province. There is a long oral tradition of Pashto folk music, which includes genres such as the charbeta, neemkai, loba, shaan and badala.

Charbeta is a 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 ====
{{main|Sindhi music}}

[[File:4094w_sain-zahoor.jpg|thumb|217x217px|Sufi folk singer [[Saieen Zahoor]] performing live.]][[Sindhi music]] is traditionally performed in two primary styles: [[Bayt (poetry)|bait]] and waee. The bait 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 also found in the neighbouring Punjab. Common instruments used in Sindhi regional music include the [[Ektara|yaktaro]] (a one-string instrument), narr (a type of flute), and [[Nagara (drum)|naghara]] (a drum). The themes in Sindhi music often center around [[Sufism]] and mysticism.

==== Balti music ====
According to [[Balti people|Balti]] folklore, [[Mughal emperors|Mughal]] princess Gul Khatoon (known in [[Gilgit-Baltistan|Baltistan]] as Mindoq Gialmo—Flower Queen) brought musicians and artisans with her into the region and they propagated Mughal music and art under her patronage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 January 2010 |title=Baltistan is Beautiful Land of Mountain&#124;Glaciar&#124; Velleys |url=http://www.mybaltistan.com/History/History%20of%20Baltistan/English/6.htm |access-date=16 October 2020 |website=mybaltistan.com website}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2025}} Musical instruments such as the [[Zurna|surnai]], karnai, dhol and [[Chang (instrument)|chang]] were introduced into Baltistan. Classical and other dances are classified as sword dances, broqchhos and [[ghazal]] dances.<ref>Hussainabadi, Muhammad Yousuf: ''Balti Zaban'' 1990</ref>

==== Balochi music ====
{{main|Balochi music}}

[[File:Mural_panel_depicting_romances_of_Laila_and_Majnun_(above)_and_Sasui_and_Punhun_(below)_in_a_tomb_in_the_necropolis_of_Mian_Nasir_Muhammad_Kalhoro_in_Sindh.jpg|alt=Mural panel depicting the tales of Laila and Majnun, and Sasui and Punhun.|thumb|315x315px|Mural panel from the necropolis of [[Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro]] in [[Dadu District]], Pakistan, depicting the romance of [[Layla and Majnun|Laila and Majnun]] (above), a famous Arabian folklore, and [[Sassui Punnhun|Sasui and Punhun]] (below), a Punjabi and Sindhi legend frequently celebrated in Pakistani folk music.]][[Balochi music]], primarily found in the Pakistani province of [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]]. Common instruments used in Balochi music include the [[suroz]], [[donali]], and [[benju]]. Notable musical forms in Balochi culture include sepad, shabtagi, vazbad and [[Zahirok|zayirak]], which are performed in various rituals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Music {{!}} American Institute of Pakistan Studies |url=https://pakistanstudies-aips.org/node/61 |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=pakistanstudies-aips.org}}</ref>

==== Punjabi music ====
{{Main|Folk music of Punjab|Music of Punjab}}
[[File:Hadiqa_Kiani_Pakistani_Singer.jpg|thumb|280x280px|[[Hadiqa Kiani]], renowned Pakistani singer known for her contributions to folk and pop music in Urdu and Punjabi, among other languages.]]
[[Folk music of Punjab|Folk music from the Punjab]] 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 ''[[Sassui Punnhun|Sassi Punnu]]'', are often the poetic content of Punjabi folk music.

=== Qawwali ===
{{main|Qawwali}}One of the most notable genres of traditional Pakistani music is [[qawwali]], a [[Devotional song|devotional musical]] form. A key characteristic of Qawwali is its emphasis on [[Musical improvisation|improvisation]] and lyrics derived from [[Sufi literature|Sufi poetry]], often expressing themes of divine love, longing, and spiritual devotion. In recent decades, however, Qawwali has increasingly incorporated secular themes into its repertoire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Classical Music {{!}} American Institute of Pakistan Studies |url=https://pakistanstudies-aips.org/node/58 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=pakistanstudies-aips.org}}</ref> 

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 (Sufism)|sama]], a Sufi tradition performed as part of the meditation and prayer practice known as [[dhikr]].

Qawwali music is performed by a group of about 8 to 12 musicians, called humnawa ({{Langx|ur|ہم نوا|4=one who sings in harmony with}}) 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]], [[tabla]], [[Rubab (instrument)|rubab]], [[sitar]], [[sarangi]], and [[tanpura]]. In a 2015 profile on the Indian news website ''[[Scroll.in]]'', while noting its rising popularity, it was estimated that there were more than 100 hereditary Qawwal parties, many centuries‑old, mostly located in [[Karachi]] and [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Rabe |first=Nate |date=6 September 2015 |title=Dream journey: Fresh traditional qawwalis from Qawwal Gali in Karachi |url=https://scroll.in/article/753722/dream-journey-fresh-traditional-qawwalis-from-qawwal-gali-in-karachi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720110536/https://scroll.in/article/753722/dream-journey-fresh-traditional-qawwalis-from-qawwal-gali-in-karachi |archive-date=20 July 2025 |access-date= |work=Scroll.in}}</ref> the total number of individual Qawwals active in the country could thus be estimated between 1,000 and 2,000.

Qawwali gained international acclaim through [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], often hailed as "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali" ({{Langx|ur|شهنشاهِ قوالی|4=The King of Qawwali}}). In 2016, ''[[LA Weekly]]'' ranked Khan as the fourth greatest singer of all time. One of his most celebrated albums, [[Night Song (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan album)|''Night Song'']], produced in collaboration with [[Michael Brook]], reached number 4 on the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] [[Top World Music Albums]] chart in 1996 and was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best World Music Album]] in 1997.

=== Ghazal ===
{{main|Ghazal}}The [[ghazal]] is a form of poetry consisting of [[couplet]]s which share a [[rhyme]] and a [[refrain]], with both lines of the opening couplet and the second line of each subsequent couplet adhering to the same [[Metre (poetry)|meter]]. Etymologically, the word "ghazal" originates from Arabic, where it means "to flirt," and often denotes themes of love and longing in [[Arabic poetry]]. [[File:Faiz,_London_1983.jpg|alt=Faiz Ahmad Faiz|thumb|210x210px|The renowned poet [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]] sought asylum [[Beirut|Beirut, Lebanon]], during the Islamization regime of [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|General Zia Ul Haq]] in Pakistan due to his support for [[Marxism]]. Faiz was awarded the [[Lenin Peace Prize]] in 1962 by the [[Soviet Union]] and was also nominated for the [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize in literature]]. His ghazals and poetry, known for their blend of political and romantic themes, have been rendered in both traditional and modern musical styles.]]While traditionally rooted in poetry, the ghazal in Pakistan has evolved to become closely associated with music. The works of renowned poets like [[Ghalib|Mirza Ghalib]], [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz|Faiz Ahmed Faiz]], [[Ahmad Faraz|Ahmed Faraz]], and [[Parveen Shakir]] have seen musical adaptations. Ghazal music originally adhered to the [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani classical]] tradition, employing [[raga]]s (melodic modes) and [[Tala (music)|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.

Numerous musicians have made a name through the ghazal genre, including [[Mehdi Hassan]], [[Ghulam Ali (singer)|Ghulam Ali]] and [[Tina Sani]], and in 2009 in the Indian newspaper ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' we could read that "in the Indian Sub-continent, Pakistan has the largest number of ghazal singers."<ref>{{cite news |author=PTI |date=24 October 2009 |title=Voice from across |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/voice-across-2568473 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250720111734/https://www.deccanherald.com/features/voice-across-2568473 |archive-date=20 July 2025 |access-date= |work=Deccan Herald}}</ref>
[[File:Nazia Hassan.jpg|alt=Nazia Hassan|thumb|[[Nazia Hassan]], widely celebrated as the "Queen of Pakistani Pop." |210x210px]]

==Modern music==
The song "[[Ko Ko Korina]]" sung by [[Ahmed Rushdi]] in 1966 is considered to be the first pop song of Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-06-18 |title=Chowk: Poetry: Socio-political History of Modern Pop Music in Pakistan |url=http://www.chowk.com/articles/8459 |access-date=2024-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618091924/http://www.chowk.com/articles/8459 |archive-date=18 June 2010 }}</ref> The 1980s saw the brother-sister duo [[Nazia and Zoheb|Nazia and Zoheb Hassan]]. Their debut album ''[[Disco Deewane]]'', released in 1981, broke sales records in Pakistan and became the best-selling [[Music of Asia|Asian pop]] album at the time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gopal |first1=Sangita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=19JBf6oDOy0C&pg=PA99 |title=Global Bollywood: Travels of Hindi Song and Dance |last2=Moorti |first2=Sujata |date=2008 |publisher=U of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-4578-7 |language=en}}</ref> It also the topped charts in India, Russia, West Indies and Latin America. Another popular act of the 1980s was the pop and rock band [[Vital Signs (band)|Vital Signs]], 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]] poll in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Worlds Top Ten {{!}} BBC World Service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/profiles/index.shtml |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

However, the 1980s were also the time of rapid political change in Pakistan, driven by the [[Islamization in Pakistan|Islamization policies]] of President [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Muhammad Zia Ul Haq]], who came to power through a [[1977 Pakistani military coup|coup d'état in 1977]]. 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, a patriotic anthem, got censored for showing young men in Western clothing.<ref name=":2222" /> Zia Ul Haq had strongly denounced "western ideas" such as jeans and rock music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paracha |first=Nadeem F. |date=2013-03-28 |title=Times of the Signs |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/798600/times-of-the-signs |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0222" /><ref name=":1222">{{Cite web |title=Pakistan's Music Industry – A Historical Perspective {{!}} Pulse Connects |url=http://www.pulseconnects.com/pakistans-music-industry-historical-perspective |access-date=2024-11-19 |website=www.pulseconnects.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1222" />

=== Pop music ===
{{Main|Pakistani popular music}}
Despite the crackdown on music during the Islamization regime, Pakistani music continued to evolve, often thriving in [[Underground music|underground performances]], through artists who continued to defy the regime. In the 1980s and 1990s, pop acts like Nazia and Zoheb Hassan, Vital Signs and [[Strings (band)|Strings]] 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 (band)|Junoon]], Aaroh, and [[Noori]], which became household names and enjoyed immense popularity. By the early 2000s, a fresh wave of pop acts has emerged, including [[Ali Zafar]], [[Momina Mustehsan]], [[Zoe Viccaji]], [[Hadiqa Kiani]], [[Awaz]] ([[Haroon (singer)|Haroon]], [[Faakhir Mehmood]]), and [[Jal (band)|Jal]].

=== Rock music ===
{{Main|Pakistani rock|Sufi rock}}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]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Van Halen]], and [[AC/DC]]. Despite the restrictive environment of the Islamization era, underground rock concerts began to flourish across the country. Rock bands Vital Signs and Strings gained immense popularity amongst the youth. Vital Signs is widely regarded as Pakistan's first and most successful pop rock band. Strings gained acclaim following the release of their second album in 1992, eventually selling over 25 million albums worldwide. [[File:Junoon_Live_at_Channel_V_Awards.jpg|thumb|The Sufi rock band [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]] during a live performance.]]The 1990s saw the rise of other notable bands, including Junoon, [[Aaroh]], and Noori. Junoon pioneered the genre of [[Sufi rock]], combining the poetry of famous Sufi poets such as [[Rumi]], [[Hafez]], and [[Bulleh Shah]] with the hard rock brand of Led Zeppelin and Santana and classical instruments such as the [[tabla]]. Junoon is one of Pakistan's most successful bands with over 30 million albums sold worldwide; the [[New York Times]] called Junoon "the [[U2]] of Pakistan" and [[Q magazine]] dubbed them as "One of the biggest bands in the world".<ref name="U2222">(Jon Pareles)[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/08/arts/in-performance-pop-divine-and-secular-love-expressed-in-rock-style.html In Performance: Pop; Divine and Secular Love Expressed in Rock Style] New York Times, Published 8 May 2002, Retrieved 16 October 2020</ref> Junoon became the first rock band to perform at the [[United Nations General Assembly Hall]] and only the second Pakistani act to perform at a [[Nobel Peace Prize Concert]].<ref name="United Nations General Assembly222">[https://www.un.org/press/en/2001/note5687.doc.htm 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</ref><ref name="Nobel Peace Prize Concert222">[https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=35224. Junoon band's performance for Nobel Peace Prize Concert at The Royal House of Norway website] Published 17 December 2007, Retrieved 29 July 2020</ref>

The early 2000s saw the arrival of progressive metal, progressive rock, and psychedelic rock with bands such as [[Entity Paradigm]] and Mizraab. [[Qayaas]], [[Call (band)|Call]], [[Roxen (band)|Roxen]], [[Mekaal Hasan Band|Jal]], [[Mizmaar]], [[Mekaal Hasan Band|Karavan]], and [[Mekaal Hasan Band]] also exploded onto the music scene with different brands of rock including alternative and soft rock. The television series [[Pepsi Battle of the Bands]] 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 (Pakistani band)|Kashmir]], [[Bayaan]], and [[Badnaam (band)|Badnaam]].<ref name="Pepsi Battle of the Bands222">(Turyal Azam Khan)[https://asiatimes.com/2018/07/pepsi-battle-of-the-bands-makes-a-powerful-return/ 'Pepsi Battle of the Bands' makes a powerful return] Asia Times (newspaper), Published 24 July 2018, Retrieved 16 October 2020</ref>

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|New Wave of British Heavy Metal]] (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 (Pakistani band)|Overload]], [[Saturn (band)|Saturn]], [[Saakin]], Karakoram, Burq - The Band, Taarma, The Nuke, and Aag.
=== Patriotic and political music ===
{{Main|:Category:Pakistani patriotic songs}}
Patriotic songs, such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Mera Paigham Pakistan", Vital Signs' "Dil Dil Pakistan", Awaz's "Ay Jawan", and [[The Benjamin Sisters|Shabana Benjamin]]'s "Aye Gul-e-Yasmeen", have become anthems.

[[Inter-Services Public Relations|Inter Services Public Relations]] (ISPR), the media arm of Pakistan's powerful military, is colloquially referred to as its "propaganda house" and regularly produces and sponsors music that glorifies the military.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISPR Productions |url=https://ispr.gov.pk/#ispr_productions}}</ref> ISPR uses music and other forms of media to shape the military’s image, its 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 Muhammad Iqbal's poetry) have become iconic in Pakistan's activism culture, representing dissent and resistance to political injustice.

=== 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.

==== Coke Studio Pakistan ====
[[Coke Studio Pakistan]], a music television series, aimed to revive the blended identity of Pakistani music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Syed |first=Madeeha |date=2019-12-08 |title=I wanted to reestablish Coke Studio's connection to music holistically, says Rohail Hyatt |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1184167 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Images |language=en}}</ref> 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."<ref name=":0" /> 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]] 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]]
* [[Filmi pop]]
* [[History of Pakistani pop music]]
* [[Karachi: The Musical]]
* [[:Category:Pakistani singers]]
* [[List of Pakistani musicians]]
* [[List of Pakistani film singers]]
* [[List of Pakistani folk singers]]
* [[List of Pakistani ghazal singers]]
* [[List of Pakistani qawwali singers]]
* [[List of Pakistani music bands]]
* [[List of songs about Pakistan]]
* [[National Academy of Performing Arts]]
* [[Nescafé Basement]]
* [[Pakistani hip hop]]
* [[Uth Records]]
* [[List of most-viewed Pakistani music videos on YouTube]]

==References==
<references responsive="1"></references>

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}

* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p005xm48 BBC Radio 3 Audio (45 minutes): The Nizamuddin shrine in Delhi]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p005xm4c BBC Radio 3 Audio (45 minutes): A mahfil Sufi gathering in Karachi]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p005xhxj BBC Radio 3 Audio (60 minutes): Music from the Sufi Shrines of Pakistan]
{{Music of Asia}}{{Pakistan topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Urdu music]]
[[Category:Music of Pakistan| ]]
[[Category:Culture of Pakistan]]