Situated in South Asia, Pakistan is a Muslim dominated county. Sixth most populous country in the world, Pakistan is home to some of the world-famous personalities, who through their dedication and hard work have made the country stand tall in the world forum. While talking about famous Pakistani men, the first name that strikes the mind is that of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan and the country’s first Governor General. Popularly known as the Great Leader, Jinnah’s contribution to Pakistan’s politics and society is immeasurable.
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1
Imran Khan(22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan and Former Cricket Captain)
Birthdate: October 5, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Imran Khan is the former Prime Minister of Pakistan who was in office from 2018 to 2022. He is also the founder and chairman of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Before making an entry into politics, Imran Khan was an extremely popular international cricketer who led Pakistan to its first ever Cricket World Cup title in 1992. As a philanthropist, he established Pakistan’s first cancer hospital in Lahore.
2
Wasim Akram(Cricketer)
Birthdate: June 3, 1966
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lahore
Wasim Akram is a Pakistani former cricketer, cricket commentator, and coach. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He is counted amongst the finest exponents of reverse swing bowling. He became a commentator and coach following his retirement as a player. He is a recipient of the Pakistan Government’s Hilal-e-Imtiaz award.
Birthdate: February 28, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bantva, Gujarat, India
Died: July 8, 2016
Abdul Sattar Edhi was a Pakistani ascetic, philanthropist, and humanitarian. He is credited with founding the Edhi Foundation, which operates a volunteer ambulance network as well as several animal shelters, orphanages, homeless shelters, and rehabilitation centres across Pakistan. He was often nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize during his lifetime.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: August 18, 1934
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Dina, Punjab
Famed Indian lyricist, poet, author, screenwriter, and film director Gulzar has been a major figure in Bollywood for over six decades. He started doing odd jobs as a teenager and eventually entered films, where he made a name for himself as a lyricist and screenwriter. He soon started directing films as well. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards.
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Inzamam-ul-Haq(Former Pakistan Cricketer and Captain of Pakistan National Cricket Team)
Birthdate: March 3, 1970
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Multan, Pakistan
Inzamam-ul-Haq is a Pakistani former professional cricketer. During his career, he was the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in one-day internationals. He is also the only Pakistani batsman to score 20,000 runs in the international cricket arena. He captained the Pakistan national cricket team for a few years. He became a coach after retiring.
6
Javed Miandad(Pakistani Cricket Coach, Commentator and Former Cricketer Known for His Unconventional Style of Captaincy and Batting)
Birthdate: June 12, 1957
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
Javed Miandad is a Pakistani former cricketer. During his playing career, he was touted to be the “greatest batsman Pakistan has ever produced.” He also captained his team and was known for his unconventional style of captaincy. He had an unusually long playing career spanning almost two decades. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.
Recommended Lists:Birthdate: December 25, 1876
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
Died: September 11, 1948
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan’s Father of the Nation, was an All-India Muslim League leader who led to the formation of Pakistan in 1947. Educated in England, Jinnah was a barrister and had worked at the Bombay High Court. He had helped pass the 1916 Lucknow Pact, too.
8
Waqar Younis(Pakistani Cricket Coach, Commentator and Former Cricketer)
Birthdate: November 16, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Vehari, Pakistan
Waqar Younis is a Pakistani former cricketer, commentator, and coach. During his playing career, he captained the Pakistan national cricket team. He played as a right-arm fast bowler and is still counted amongst the greatest bowlers to have played the game. He became a coach after his retirement and was once the head coach of the Pakistani cricket team.
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Kumail Nanjiani(Known for His Role in The HBO Comedy Series 'Silicon Valley')
Birthdate: May 2, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
Kumail Nanjiani is a Pakistani-American actor, comedian, and screenwriter. In 2018, Kumail Nanjiani became the first screenwriter of Pakistani origin to be nominated for an Oscar under the Best Original Screenplay category; he received the nomination for the 2017 film The Big Sick. In 2018, he was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world.
Birthdate: October 13, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Faisalabad
Died: August 16, 1997
Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, also known as the "Shahenshah-e-Qawwali," belonged to the Patiala “gharana” of classical music. He revolutionized Qawwali, even collaborating with Western artists and composing for Hollywood movies such as Dead Man Walking and The Last Temptation of Christ, and many Hindi movies, too.
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Muhammad Iqbal(One of the Most Important Figures in Urdu and Persian Literature)
Birthdate: November 9, 1877
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sialkot, Pakistan
Died: April 21, 1938
Muhammad Iqbal was a Scholar, poet, and politician. Born in British India (present-day Pakistan), Iqbal's poetry in Persian and Urdu languages is regarded as one of the greatest of the modern era. Also an influential politician, Muhammad Iqbal's vision of an independent Muslim state helped inspire the creation of Pakistan where he is recognized as the national poet.
12
Babar Azam(Pakistani International Cricketer)
Birthdate: October 15, 1994
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Babar Azam is a Pakistani international cricketer. Currently, he captains the Pakistan team in all formats. He is regarded as one of the best batsmen in contemporary world cricket. He holds the record for being the fastest to reach 2000 runs in T20Is.
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Jahangir Khan(One of the Greatest Squash Players of All Time)
Birthdate: December 10, 1963
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Though he had to undergo surgical treatment for hernia as a child, Jahangir Khan has begun playing squash by age 8 and later emerged as the greatest squash player not just in Pakistan but in the world, too. The former world number 1 is a 6-time World Champion.
14
Shahid Khan(Business person)
Birthdate: July 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Punjab, Pakistan
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Atif Aslam(Pakistani Singer-Songwriter Known for His Vocal Belting Technique Who Has Had a Successful Career in Bollywood)
Birthdate: March 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wazirabad, Pakistan
Popular Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has been equally successful in both India and Pakistan. Known for his distinctive vocal belting technique of singing, the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz-winning singer has sung Bollywood hits such as Tera Hone Laga Hoon. He is also a trained computer engineer and once aspired to be a cricketer.
16
Shaheen Afridi(Pakistani Professional Cricketer Who Plays as a Fast Bowler)
Birthdate: April 6, 2000
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Shaheen Afridi is a Pakistani cricketer and plays as a fast bowler. He represents the Pakistan national cricket team and also plays for franchise cricket teams like Dhaka Dynamites and Lahore Qalandars. He made his international debut in 2018
Birthdate: January 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Larkana, Pakistan
Died: April 4, 1979
Pakistani barrister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto served as the prime minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977. He had also been the president of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. He founded and chaired the Pakistan People's Party. His reign witnessed the formation of Bangladesh and the signing of the Simla Agreement.
18
Zaheer Abbas(Pakistani Former Cricketer and First Batsman to Score Three Consecutive Centuries in One-Day Internationals)
Birthdate: July 24, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Sialkot, Pakistan
Legendary Pakistani batsman Zaheer Abbas was often called the Asian Bradman. He became the first batsman from Asia to score 100 first-class centuries and the first from Pakistan to score 4,000 and 5,000 runs. He has been named to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and has received the Pride of Performance Award.
19
The Great Gama(Amateur wrestler)
Birthdate: May 22, 1878
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Amritsar
Died: May 22, 1963
A world-renowned Indian pehlwan, or wrestler, Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt competed using the ring name The Great Gama. Also known as Rustam-e-Hind, he remained undefeated over an illustrious career of almost 5 decades and even saved many Hindus during the communal riots at the time of the Partition of India.
20
Junaid Jamshed(Recording artist)
Birthdate: September 3, 1964
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Died: December 7, 2016
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
21
Fawad Khan(Pakistani Actor Known for His Films 'Khuda Kay Liye', 'Khoobsurat' and the TV Series 'Humsafar')
Birthdate: November 29, 1981
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Fawad Khan is a Pakistani actor, model, singer, screenwriter, and producer. A prominent actor known for his contribution to films and TV, Khan has received several prestigious awards, including a Filmfare Award and Lux Style Awards. A well-known philanthropist, Fawad Khan has helped raise funds for many charitable organizations across Pakistan.
22
Hasnat Khan(Heart & Lung Surgeon Known for His Romantic Relationship with Diana, Princess of Wales From 1995 to 1997)
Birthdate: April 1, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Jhelum, Pakistan
Better known as former lover of Princess Diana, British-Pakistani cardiac surgeon Hasnat Khan was once described by the late princess as “Mr Wonderful.” He had first met Diana at the Royal Brompton Hospital, where the princess had gone to visit a friend. Hasnat is a distant relative of Imran Khan.
23
Shahid Afridi(Former Pakistani Cricketer)
Birthdate: March 1, 1977
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Khyber Agency, Pakistan
Shahid Afridi is a former Pakistani cricketer. An all-rounder with an aggressive batting style, he is widely considered one of the most destructive cricketers. He held the fastest ODI century record for 17 years before it was broken. He still holds the record for having hit the most sixes in the history of ODI cricket.
24
Ali Zafar(Pakistani Singer-Actor Who Has Had a Successfull Career in Bollywood With Films 'Tere Bin Laden', 'Chashme Baddoor')
Birthdate: May 18, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar has been quite successful in Bollywood and has even earned a Filmfare nomination. Best known for his performance in the film Dear Zindagi, the actor had begun his career with Pakistani TV serials. A philanthropist, too, he has his own charitable foundation.
25
Shoaib Akhtar(Pakistani Former Cricketer and Commentator)
Birthdate: August 13, 1975
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
Shoaib Akhtar is a Pakistani former cricketer. A fast bowler, he was the first one to be recorded bowling at 100 miles per hour, a feat that earned him the nickname “Rawalpindi Express.” He is a controversial figure. He retired from international cricket in 2011. He now runs a YouTube channel and has appeared in a few TV shows.
Birthdate: May 11, 1912
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Samrala
Died: January 18, 1955
Saadat Hasan Manto was a Pakistani playwright, writer, and author. Best remembered for his 22 collections of short stories, Manto was renowned for writing about the bitter truths of society. Not surprisingly, he was tried for obscenity on six occasions but was never convicted. Considered one of the 20th century's finest Urdu-language writers, Manto is the subject of two movies.
Birthdate: October 1, 1895
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Karnal
Died: October 17, 1951
Born to a landowner, Liaquat Ali Khan received an elite education at Oxford. The lawyer-turned-politician was Pakistan’s first prime minister. The place where he was assassinated by an Afghan, the Company Bagh, was later renamed Liaquat Bagh, and years later, witnessed the assassination of prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
28
Abdul Qadeer Khan(Nuclear Physicist, Metallurgical Engineer)
Birthdate: April 1, 1936
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Died: October 10, 2021
Pakistani engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan was a major figure in the development of his country’s nuclear plans. His research also focused on uranium enrichment. He was later apparently involved in transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, among other countries, but was pardoned by then-president Pervez Musharraf.
29
Ahad Raza Mir(Actor who earned recognition with the television series Sammi (2017))
Birthdate: September 29, 1993
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Birthdate: January 29, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sahiwal
Died: November 21, 1996
Abdus Salam was a Pakistani theoretical physicist who became the first Pakistani to be honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics. He was also the second person from an Islamic country to receive any Nobel Prize. He won the award in 1979 for his work concerning the electroweak unification theory. Salam played a major role in popularizing physics in Pakistan.
31
Farhan Saeed(Pakistani Singer Actor and Former Lead Singer of the Rock Band 'Jal')
Birthdate: September 14, 1984
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Farhan Saeed is a Pakistani actor, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and music video director. He is best known as the former lead singer of the popular pop rock band Jal. He first achieved popularity in 2016 when he played Taimoor Arshad in the successful Pakistani television series, Udaari. Farhan Saeed is the recipient of several Hum Awards.
Birthdate: July 27, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Humayun Saeed is a Pakistani actor and producer, counted amongst the highest-paid TV actors in the country. He has a bachelor’s degree in commerce and worked in a garments company before becoming an actor. He has appeared in numerous TV shows and a handful of films. He is a co-founder of the media production house Six Sigma Plus.
33
Hanif Mohammad(Pakistani Cricketer)
Birthdate: December 21, 1934
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Junagadh, Gujarat, India
Died: August 11, 2016
Known as the Little Master of Pakistan, Hanif Mohammad was perhaps the first international star of Pakistani cricket. He also scripted history by becoming the first Pakistani cricketer with a Test cricket triple hundred. While his brothers played cricket, too, his mother was a national badminton champion.
34
Prince Aly Khan(Pakistani Diplomat and the Third Husband of Actress Rita Hayworth)
Birthdate: June 13, 1911
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Turin, Italy
Died: May 12, 1960
Son of All-India Muslim League president Aga Khan III, Aly Khan was known for his numerous affairs and his marriage to Hollywood star Rita Hayworth. The socialite and race-horse owner was stripped of his inheritance, as Aga Khan’s will mentioned Aly’s son Karim as his successor.
35
Arshad Nadeem(Pakistani Javelin Thrower)
Birthdate: January 2, 1997
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mian Channu, Khanewal, Punjab, Pakistan
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
36
Mohammad Amir(Former Pakistani Cricketer and Bowler for the Pakistan National Cricket Team)
Birthdate: April 13, 1992
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gujar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan
Mohammad Amir is a Pakistani cricketer. He made his first-class debut in 2008 and ODI and test debuts the following year. His career came to a standstill following a spot-fixing scandal. He later returned to cricket but could never touch the heights of glory. He announced his retirement in 2020. He is married to a British citizen.
37
Imran Abbas(One of the Most Famous Pakistani Television Actors)
Birthdate: October 15, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistani actor, producer and former-model Imran Abbas commenced his showbiz career with modelling. He has featured in several Pakistani television serials, telefilms and films and gained attention starring in Pakistani television serials like Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan and Khuda Aur Muhabbat. His Bollywood debut happened with the film Creature 3Dthat earned him Filmfare Award nomination for Best Male Debut category.
38
Misbah-ul-Haq(Former Pakistani Cricket Coach and Former International Cricketer)
Birthdate: May 28, 1974
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mianwali, Pakistan
Misbah-ul-Haq is a former Pakistani cricketer and coach. He captained the Pakistani teams in test cricket and One Day Internationals (ODIs). He was a middle-order batsman best known for his composed playing though he was also capable of being an aggressive big shot player when required. He holds the record for the fastest fifty in test cricket.
39
Abul A'la Maududi(Philosopher)
Birthdate: September 25, 1903
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Aurangabad, India
Died: September 22, 1979
Islamic scholar and philosopher Abul A'la Maududi was born into an elite Aurangabad family. He grew up to be fundamentalist who believed Islam should be free of Western influences and launched the Jamaʿat-i Islami. Though an important figure in Pakistani politics, he was also imprisoned for a while for opposing the government.
Birthdate: 1983 AD
Birthplace: Muridke, Pakistan
Died: April 16, 1995
Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani boy who brought to light the prevalence of bonded labor in Pakistan. Iqbal escaped his slavery, studied at the Bonded Labour Liberation Front, and helped liberate more than 3,000 Pakistani children from bonded labor. He was fatally shot at the age of 12. His life inspired the creation of many organizations like We Charity.
41
Younis Khan(Pakistani Professional Cricket Coach and Former Cricketer and Captain of the Pakistan National Cricket Team)
Birthdate: November 29, 1977
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mardan, Pakistan
Apart from leading the Pakistani cricket team as its captain, cricketer/coach Younus Khan has also made quite a few records, including those of the most runs and most centuries by a Pakistani cricketer Test cricket. He was once banned for infighting, along with Mohammad Yousuf, but came back stronger than ever.
42
Jon Elia(Linguist, Philosopher, Poet, Literary critic)
Birthdate: December 14, 1931
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Amroha
Died: November 8, 2002
Jon Elia was a poet, biographer, philosopher, and scholar. Best remembered for his unconventional ways, Elia is widely regarded as one of the most important modern Urdu poets. Apart from writing in Urdu, Jon Elia was also fluent in several other languages including Sanskrit, Hebrew, English, and Persian.
43
Yash Chopra(Film director, Screenwriter, Film producer, Artist)
Birthdate: September 27, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Died: October 21, 2012
The man who revolutionized the Bollywood romantic film genre, Yash Chopra was a legendary filmmaker who gave Hindi cinema some of its most cult films, such as Kabhi Kabhie, Deewar, Darr, and Lamhe. The Padma Bhushan winner was also honored by the Swiss government for popularizing the country through his films.
44
Kanishka(King)
Birthdate: 0078 AD
Birthplace: Peshawar, Pakistan
Died: 0144 AD
45
Mohammad Asif(Pakistani Former Cricketer Who Played for the Pakistani National Cricket Team Between 2005 and 2010)
Birthdate: December 20, 1982
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan
Mohammad Asif is a Pakistani former cricketer. He played for the Pakistani national cricket team between 2005 and 2010. At the peak of his career, he was counted amongst the top test bowlers. He became involved in a drug controversy that ruined his cricket career. He then tried to enter films but wasn’t successful.
46
Faiz Ahmad Faiz(Pakistani Poet)
Birthdate: February 13, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Narowal, Pakistan
Died: November 20, 1984
Faiz Ahmad Faiz was a Pakistani author and poet whose work remains influential in Pakistan. An avowed Marxist, Faiz was honored with the prestigious Lenin Peace Prize in 1962. In 1976, his work earned him the Lotus Prize for Literature. Faiz Ahmad Faiz's literary work was honoured posthumously by the Pakistan Government by conferring upon him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 1990.
47
Jansher Khan(Pakistani Former World No. 1 Professional Squash Player)
Birthdate: June 15, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Peshawar, Pakistan
Often tagged as the fastest man in squash, Pakistani squash star Jansher Khan was once world number 1. He did, however, find himself in the middle of many controversies, stemming from his arguments with the press and critics. Interestingly, he has begun playing squash at age 11.
Birthdate: November 2, 1877
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
Died: July 11, 1957
Though born into a family of imams, Aga Khan III surprisingly had an elite Western education, with him attending Eton and Cambridge. He took over as the imam of Shi'a Isma'ili Muslims at 7 and grew up to form the All-India Muslim League. His disinherited his son Prince Aly Khan.
49
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan(Political & Spiritual Leader and Founder of the 'Khudai Khidmatgar' Resistance Movement against British Colonial Rule in India)
Birthdate: February 6, 1890
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Utmānzai, Pakistan
Died: January 20, 1988
Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a Pashtun independence activist who opposed the British rule in India. A spiritual and political leader, Khan called for Hindu-Muslim unity in India and opposed the partition of India. Khan is still revered by many in India and Pakistan for his pacifist ideology. Many places in India are named in his honor.
50
Azhar Ali(Pakistani Former International Cricketer)
Birthdate: February 19, 1985
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Azhar Ali is a Pakistani professional cricket player and former captain of the national team in One Day International and Test cricket. In 2016, he became the first ever batsman to score a triple century in a day and night Test cricket. The same year, Azhar Ali also became the first Pakistani player to score two double-hundreds in a year.
Others who have greatly contributed to the country’s political, military and cultural sphere include, Pervez Musharraf, Asif Ali Zardari, Ayub Khan, Naimatullah Khan and so on. Abdul Sattar Edhi is a prominent Pakistani philanthropist, social activist and humanitarian who founded the Edhi Foundation. A recipient of Lenin Peace Prize, he is one of the most respected individuals in Pakistan. In the field of sports too, Pakistani men made their worth count in the world forum be it legendary cricketer Imran Khan, Rawalpindi express, Shoaib Akhtar, Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram or eight times World Squash Champion Jansher Khan. In this section, we provide the life and works of famous Pakistani Men.
