Parveen Shakir Poetry

Parveen Shakir Poetry.

Brief Life History: Parveen Shakir (Nov 24, 2025 – Dec 26, 2025) was an Urdu poet, teacher and a civil servant of the Government of Pakistan. She was born in Karachi on 24 Nov 1952. Her father’s name was Syed Shakir Hussain Zaidi and her mother’s name was Afzal-un-Nissa.
Parveen Shakir was a highly educated woman. She received M.A. English Literature from the University of Karachi in 1972.   In 1990, she was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Hartford, Connecticut. USA. She obtained MA Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University (USA) in 1991.
In 1976, Parveen Shakir got married Dr. Naseer Ali, with whom she had a son, Syed Murad Ali (Born in 1978). The marriage did not last long and ended in a divorce in 1987.
Her first volume of poetry, Khushboo was inaugurated in Karachi in 1977, which was awarded the Adamjee Award.

She subsequently published other volumes of poetry; Sad-berg (Marsh Marigold), Khud Kalami, Inkaar and Kaf-e-Aina, besides a collection of her newspaper columns, titled Gosha-e-Chashm.  The poetry books are collected in the volume Mah-e-Tamam with the exception of Kaf-e-Aina. She was awarded the Pride of Performance in 1991 for her outstanding contribution to literature.
Initially, she wrote under the pen-name, “Beena”. Parveen Shakir employed mainly two forms of poetry in her work, one being the ghazal, and the other being Azaad shayari (Free verse). The most prominent themes in Perveen Shakir’s poetry are love, feminism, and social stigmas.
She died in Islamabad on 26 Dec 2025 in a car accident while on her way to work. The road on which the accident took place is named after her.

For more details and photos of Perveen Shakir, please visit the website: The Perveen Shakir Trust

Marr Bhi Jaon Tou Kahan Loge Bhula Hee Dain Gay

Grave of Perveen Shakir at Islamabd

A Closer Look at Tombstone at the Grave of Parveen Shakir

Books by Perveen Shakir

With Her Father and Elder Sister

A Documentary on the Life of Perveen Shakir. Please click and see this YouTube video.

Receiving a Trophy. Perveen Shakir receiving a Trophy in an Inter-School Literary Competition.

Perveen Shakir with Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi

Reciting Her Poetry

1976: Marriage Photo of Perveen Shakir

Husband Quote

With Her Son, Syed Murad Ali

At the University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA in 1990. She went there as a Fullbright Scholar.

Perveen Shakir Reciting Her Ghazal in Lahore in 1994 

Perveen Shakir Recites her Ghazal: “Chalne ka Hausla Nahin…..”.  Please click and see this YouTube video.

Parveen Shakir: ‘Haan!  Kay Aaj Mein Nay Bee Zindagi Janam Dee Hai’ . In 1978, Parveen Shakir’s son, Syed Murad Ali, was born.

Abhi Se Mere Rafoogar Kay Haath Thaknay Laggay

Couplet of Parveen Shakir: ‘Uss nay khushboo ki tarah meri pazeerai ki ‘

Couplet of Parveen Shakir: ‘Baat tou such hai magar baat hai ruswai ki’

Couplet of Parveen Shakir: ‘Buss yehi baat hai achi meray harjai ki’

Ghazal of Perveen Shakir: “Koo ba koo phehal gai baat shanasai ki….”

Perveen Shakir Reads Her Ghazal “Koo ba koo phehal gai baat shanasai ki….”

Woh Dilnawaz Lamhay bhi gaye Ruttoun may aaye

Mehdi Hassan Sings Parveen Shakir’s Ghazal: “Koo ba koo phehal gai baat shanasai ki….”. For real enjoyment of this ghazal, start Mehdi Hassan’s video and then scroll up and read the ghazal while listening to Mehdi Hassan.

Ghazal of Parveen Shakir: “Bakht say koi shikayat hai na aflaak say hai…” 

Correction of a Mistake on the Internet about Ghazal of Perveen Shakir

Parveen Shakir Reads Her Ghazal: “Bakht say koi shikayat hai na aflaak say hai…”. For real enjoyment of this ghazal, start this YouTube video and then scroll up and read the ghazal while listening to Parveen Shakir.

Ghazal of Parveen Shakir: ‘Khuli aankhon may sapna jhaankta hai’

Related Pages:
The Perveen Shakir Trust
Urdu Poetry

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