Famous Writers from Pakistan

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Updated June 9, 2017 22.2K views270 items

List of famous writers from Pakistan, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Pakistan is home to many prolific writers, including those who write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies and more. These are some of the best Pakistani writers that have ever lived, so if you're a native of Pakistan and an aspiring writer then use this list as inspiration to achieve your own writing goals.

Writers include everything from Kashif Butt to Fazlur Rahman.

This list answers the questions, "Who are popular Pakistani writers?" and "Which writers are from Pakistan?"

You can click on the names of these renowned writers of Pakistan in order to get more information about each one. Some of these historic writers may no longer be living in Pakistan, but they're all of Pakistan descent.
Photo: Freebase / Public domain
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  • Tariq Ali

    Tariq Ali

    Age: 79
    • Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
    • Nationality: Pakistan, United Kingdom
    • Works: South of the Border, An Indian dynasty, Pakistan, The American Effect, Speaking of Empire and Resistance
    Tariq Ali Khan (; Urdu: طارق علی‎; born 21 October 1943) is a British political activist, writer, journalist, historian, filmmaker, and public intellectual. He is a member of the editorial committee ...more
  • Kader Khan

    Kader Khan

    Age: 87
    • Birthplace: Pakistan, Pishin, Pakistan
    • Nationality: Canada, Pakistan, India
    • Works: Naseeb, Chhailla Babu, Roti, Satte Pe Satta, Fiffty Fiffty
    Kader Khan (Pashto: قادر خان‎ Qâder Xân; 22 October 1937 – 31 December 2018) was an Indian-Canadian film actor, screenwriter, comedian, and director. As an actor, he appeared in over 300 films after ...more
  • Manoj Kumar
    • Birthplace: Pakistan, Eurasia, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Abbottabad
    • Nationality: Pakistan
    • Works: Mera Naam Joker, Kranti, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Purab Aur Paschim, Shor
    Manoj Kumar (born Harikishan Giri Goswami on 24 July 1937) is an Indian actor and director in Bollywood. He is remembered for his versatile performances in films like Hariyali Aur Raasta, Woh Kaun ...more
  • Muhammad Iqbal

    Muhammad Iqbal

    Dec. at 60 (1877-1938)
    • Birthplace: Sialkot, Pakistan
    • Nationality: British Raj
    • Works: Nigārishāt-i Iqbāl, Rubayiat of Iqbal, Asrār-i khvudī, Mut̤ālaʻah-yi Bedil, Asrār o rumūz
    Sir Muhammad Iqbal (; Urdu: محمد اِقبال‎; 9 November 1877 – 21 April 1938), widely known as Allama Iqbal was a poet, philosopher and politician, as well as an academic, barrister and scholar in ...more
  • Hanif Kureishi
    • Birthplace: Bromley, United Kingdom
    • Nationality: United Kingdom
    • Works: My Beautiful Laundrette, The Buddha of Suburbia, Venus, Le Week-End, Intimacy
    Hanif Kureishi, CBE (born 5 December 1954) is a British playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist of Pakistani and English descent. In 2008, The Times included Kureishi in their list of "The ...more
  • Chetan Anand

    Chetan Anand

    Dec. at 76 (1921-1997)
    • Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
    • Nationality: India
    • Works: Kudrat, Taxi Driver, Aakhri Khat, Heer Raanjha, Haqeeqat
    Chetan Anand (3 January 1921 – 6 July 1997) was a Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director from India, whose debut film, Neecha Nagar, was awarded the Grand Prix Prize (Now Golden Palm) at the ...more