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Music of Pakistan

Hindustani and Carnatic classical raga, Qawwali, Baul mystics of Bengal, Bhangra, Sri Lankan baila, Nepali folk and the sitar, tabla and sarod.

Sung and searched in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi. The YouTube button above can run your search in that language.

Roots and traditions

Traditional 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 Zarsanga, Sanam Marvi, Nazia Iqbal, Gul Panra, Raheem Shah, Saieen Zahoor, Abida Parveen, Ghazala Javed, Tina Sani, Musarrat Nazir, Tahira Syed, Laila Khan, Naheed Akhtar, Zeb Bangash, Suraiya Multanikar, Allan Fakir, Alam Lohar, Hadiqa Kiani, Ali Zafar, Haroon Bacha, and Khumarian.

Modern music

The song "Ko Ko Korina" sung by Ahmed Rushdi in 1966 is considered to be the first pop song of Pakistan. The 1980s saw 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 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, 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. 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. Zia's regime sought to implement a conservative Islamic agenda, which came with strict bans and restrictions on musical expression across the country.

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Radio from Pakistan

Music only, no news or talk. Stations that play the local tradition come first, then the most listened. They play in the corner of the page.

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