Poets/ Writers from Pakistan
Afzal Ahsan Randawa
A renowned poet, storyteller, novelist, playwright, and translator. Professionally, he was a lawyer.
1937-2017
Afzal Parwez
Poet, journalist, and playwright; known for his books on folk theatre and folk songs. His famous book is “Ban Phulwari.”
1916-2001
Afzal Sahir
A prominent poet, writer, and journalist of the new generation from West Punjab.
Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi
A renowned Urdu and Punjabi poet, journalist, writer, literary critic, dramatist, and short-story writer.
1916-2006
Ahmad Rahi
A renowned poet, writer, film story writer, and lyricist. His famous book is Trinjan.
1923-2002
1945-2023
Ahmad Yar
The most prolific Qissakar (narrative poet) in Punjabi literature, renowned for the Qissa of Heer Ranjha.
1768-1848
1926-2001
Akhtar Ahsan
A poet and psychologist from West Punjab, who lived in New York. A pioneer of a new trend of eidetic image-psychology.
1935-2018
Akram Shekh
A poet, historian, researcher, critic, translator, columnist, and journalist from Western Punjab.
1948-1924
Ali Akbar Natiq
A renowned Urdu poet, writer, novelist, and short-story writer from West Punjab. Besides Urdu, he also writes in Punjabi.
Ali Haidar
A renowned medieval Sufi poet. Ali Haider was a contemporary of Bulleh Shah and a politically conscious poet.
1690-1785
Amrita Pritam
A renowned poet, short story writer, novelist, and prose writer. She was honored with the Padma Vibhushan and the Jnanpith Award.
1919-2005
Anwar chaudhary
Poet and novelist from West Punjab. He also remained an active worker of the Mazdoor Kisan Party.
1947-2015
Arif Abdul Mateen
A Punjabi and Urdu poet and writer, who remained associated with the editorial departments of the renowned literary magazines Adab-e-Latif and Auraq.
1923-2001
Ashfaq Ahmad
A renowned writer and broadcaster from West Punjab. Primarily an Urdu writer, he also wrote some works in Punjabi.
1925-2004
Asif shahkar
A poet, writer, and essayist from Western Punjab. Currently residing in Sweden.
1946-2016
Baba Ghulam Hussain Nadeem Qadri
A renowned contemporary poet of Western Punjab, whose poetry beautifully reflects the colors of Sufism.
Babu Firoz Din Sharaf
A leading poet of stage poetry, honoured with the titles “Nightingale of Punjab” and “People’s Poet.”
1898-1955
Babu Rajab Ali
A distinguished kavishar and master of poetic metre (chhandbandi) from Punjab, particularly the Malwa region. His 72-kalaa chhand “Maan De Makhni Khaniyo Ve” remains popular among the people even today.
1894-1979
Baqi Siddiqui
A Punjabi poet from Western Punjab who writes in the Pothohari dialect. He has also earned a distinct place in Urdu poetry.
1905-1972
Bari Nizami
A famous lyricist from West Punjab, whose works were sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Noor Jehan, Ghulam Ali, and many others.
1946-1998
Barkat Ram
A master poet of stage poetry. The name of Shiv Kumar Batalvi is especially prominent among his disciples.
1905-1967
Bhagat Sadhna
A renowned medieval Punjabi poet, saint, and devotee. Bhagat Sadhana is believed to have lived during the 14th century. One of his hymns is included in the Guru Granth Sahib, under Raag Bilawal. His composition serves as a beautiful example of humility and self-surrender.
1270-1350
Bhai Mardana
A renowned medieval personality, rababi, and poet, who is also known as a companion of Guru Nanak. Two saloks composed by him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
1459-1534
BiBi Makhfi
A poetess from Multan, whose three works, Makhfi Asghar, Taleem-ul-Nisa, and Ishq Haqqani, were published.
Bulleh Shah
A renowned medieval Sufi poet and mystic who raised his voice against religious extremism and traditional rigidity. He is famous for his kafis.
1680-1758
Darshan Singh Awara
A leading poet of stage poetry, who raised a strong voice of rebellion against slavery through his poetry. Besides poetry, he also translated important books.
1906-1982
Devinder Josh
A capable poet with a distinct idiom of ghazal. During his lifetime, he wrote four books of ghazals.
1936-1991
Dhani Ram Chatrik
A leading Punjabi poet. Chatrik’s poetry is a fine example of linguistic mastery and skilful prosody. His celebrated composition is **“Marda Damame Jatt Mele Aa Gaya.”**
1876-1954
Dr Diwan Singh Kalepani
Poet, writer, and freedom fighter. In 1944, Diwan Singh was tortured and martyred by the Japanese.
1897-1944
1947-2025
Faiz Ahmad Faiz
A world-famous Urdu poet, who also wrote some poems in Punjabi. He is known for his romantic and revolutionary poetry.
1911-1984
Fakhar Zaman
A renowned writer, poet, and a devoted activist from Western Punjab who has worked sincerely for the promotion and dissemination of the Punjabi language.
faqeer muhammad faqeer
An eminent poet and researcher of his time, a distinguished intellectual who made dedicated efforts for the Punjabi language.
Fazal Shah
An important qissa writer of the 19th century. At a time when the glory of qissa poetry was fading, he immortalized this love story forever by writing the qissa “Sohni Mahiwal.”
1827-1890
Ghulam Yaqoob Anwar
A renowned poet of Western Punjab. His father, Abdul Ghani, was also an eminent poet of his time.
1915-1973
Giyani Ditt Singh
A prominent preacher of the Singh Sabha Movement, editor of Khalsa Akhbar, journalist, and writer. He also authored the qissa Shiri Farhad.
1853-1901
Gopal Singh
Poet, writer, and thinker. Alongside Punjabi poetry, he also composed poetry in English. He also translated the Guru Granth Sahib into English.
1917-1990