# Naheed Akhtar

Naheed Akhtar (also spelled Nahid Akhtar; born 26 September 1956) is a Pakistani playback singer. She is tagged as the "Nightingale of Pakistan". She was the top Lollywood playback singer during the second half of the 1970s and 80s. She is one of the most popular and successful singers of Pakistan. She won 3 Nigar Awards and a Pride of Performance in 2007.

## Early life and family

Akhtar was born on September 26, 1956, in Multan, Punjab. She has 3 sisters and 4 brothers. A sister of hers, Hameeda Akhtar, was also a singer.

## Singing career

Nahid's career began in 1970 when she sang a duet with Khalid Asghar in "Raag Malhar" at Radio Pakistan Multan. She has recorded songs in a range of styles, including Pakistani film music, pop, Ghazal, traditional Pakistani classical music, Punjabi folk songs, Qawwalis, Naat & Hamds and others. She was first discovered for films in the mid-1970s by veteran music director M. Ashraf who pursued her to sing in films. She had no well-known person as ustad (teacher) to train her musically but music director M. Ashraf played a key role in grooming her talent. Her inaugural film "Nanha Farishta" was released in 1974 and in the same year she sang songs in film Shama (1974). Initially it was said in the film circles that she was introduced to fill the vacuum of Runa Laila who had migrated to Bangladesh. But later people realized that she had her own original singing style. She was active in the Pakistani film industry all the way through the 1980s. As a playback singer, Naheed has given her voice to 590 songs in 436 Urdu and Punjabi films.

## Personal life

Nahid left singing in 1986. Later, she married a journalist Asif Ali Pota in 1994. Both had a daughter and a son together. Pota died of cardiac arrest in 2017.

## Later appearances

Naheed Akhtar made an appearance on stage in 2013, after repeated requests of the management of a TV show, where active and popular singers like Shabnam Majeed and Saima Jahan sang her songs to pay tribute to her. She stays busy with her family and children, and as of 2016, is not actively pursuing a singing career.

## Popular songs

A list of Nahid's popular songs includes:

### Film

| Song | Year | Film | Music composer | Poet | Notes |
| Aisay Mousam Mein Chup Kyun Ho | 1974 | Shama | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Kisi Mehrban Nay Aa Kay Meri Zindagi Saja Di | 1974 | Shama | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Lal Lal Honto Peh, Piya Tera Naam Hay | 1975 | Dil Nasheen | M. Ashraf | Masroor Anwar | |
| Main Ho Gei Dildar Ki, Honay Lagi Chubban Pyar Ki | 1975 | Teray Meray Sapnay | Kamal Ahmed | Younis Hamdad | |
| Allah Hi Allah Kia Karo Dukh Na Kisi Ko Dia Karo | 1975 | Pehchan | Nisar Bazmi | Masroor Anwar | |
| Tut Turo Tara Tara | 1975 | Mohabbat Zindagi Hai | M. Ashraf | Masroor Anwar | |
| Likh Di Ham Nay, Aaj Ki Sham, Aap Ki Khatir, Aap Kay Naam | 1975 | Neik Parveen | A. Hameed | Riaz ur Rehman Saghar | |
| Yeh Dunya Rahay Na Rahay Meray Hamdam | 1975 | Mera Naam Hay Mohabbat | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | co-singer with Mehdi Hassan |
| Dekha Jo Mera Jalwa To Dil Tham Lo Gay | 1976 | Talash | Nisar Bazmi | Masroor Anwar | |
| Bijli Bhari Hay Meray Ang Ang Mein | 1976 | Koshish | M. Ashraf | | |
| Pyar To Ik Din Hona Tha, Hona Tha, Ho Geya | 1976 | Kharidar | M. Ashraf | Kaleem Usmani | co-singer with A. Nayyar |
| Teray Siva Dunya Mein Kuch Bhi Nahin | 1976 | Shabana | M. Ashraf | Taslim Fazli | |
| Jis Tarf Ankhon Uthaun, Teri Tasvira Hay | 1976 | Surraya Bhopali | Nashad | Saifuddin Saif | co-singer with Mehdi Hassan |
| Sathi Mujay Mil Geya, Mil Geya Mil Geya, Rasmon Ko Toren Gay | 1977 | Jasoos | Tafu | Fayyaz Hashmi | |
| Baant Raha Tha Jab Khuda, Sare Jahan Ki Naimten | 1978 | Nazrana | M. Ashraf | Qateel Shafai | |
| Sahalie Ni Piar, Pyar Meinu Hoya | 1985 | Mehndi | Wajahat Attre | | co-singer with Noor Jehan |

### Television

* Main Noo Soda Water
* Aati Hai Pawan Jaati hai Pawan
* Hamara Parcham Ye Piyara Parcham
* Kabhi Bindiya Hanse
* Shabe Gham Mujh Se Mil Kar
* Tumse Ulfat Ke
* Jahan Tera Naqsh e Qadam Dekhtay Hein
* Chaap Tilak Sab Chheen Li
* Do Nain Kanwal
* Zinda Rahein To kiya Hai

### Radio

* Phir Chiraghe Lala Se Roshin Hue, (Kalam e Iqbal)
* Ik Kiran Muskhurati Huyi Ik Kiran,

## Television programmes

Television programmes List :
| Name | Produced By | Year |
| Lok Tamasha (PTV) | Uxi Mufti and Tufail Niazi | 1972 |
| Sukhanwar (PTV) | Akhtar Waqar Azeem (Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)) | 1972 |
| Sangat (PTV) | Rafique Ahmed Warraich | 1973 |
| Sur Sangeet (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1978 |
| Sukhan Fahem (PTV) | | 1978 |
| Mauseeqar (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1979 |
| Meena Bazar | | 1979 |
| PTV Awards | | 1980 |
| Meri Pasand (PTV) | Khawaja Najam ul Hasan | 1982 |
| PTV Awards | | 1983 |
| Neelam Ghar (PTV) | | 1983 |
| Rim Jhim (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1984 |
| Jal Tarang (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1985 |
| Sur Bahaar (PTV) | Farrukh Bashir | 1986 |

## Awards and honors

Awards and honors list :
| Award name | Category | Film | Year |
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Shama | 1974 |
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Pehchan | 1975 |
| Nigar Film Awards | Best Singer | Humse Hai Zamana | 1985 |
| Alami Urdu Conference New Delhi (India) | Best Ghazal Singer Award | | |
| PTV Award | Best Singer | Sur Bahaar (Musical programme) | 1997 |
| Melody Queen Noor Jehan Award | Music | PBC | 2006 |
| Lux Style Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | | 2007 |
| Pride of Performance Award | Arts | | 2007 |
| PTV Lifetime Achievement Award | Music | | 2010 |
| Kemal-e-Fun Medal | Music | Lifetime Achievement | 2013 |