List of Pakistani women writers

This is a list of women writers who were born in Pakistan or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A

• Annie Ali Khan (1980 – 21 July 2018), Pakistani writer and journalist
• Shaila Abdullah (born 1971), Pakistani-American short story writer, novelist
• Ishrat Afreen (born 1956), Pakistani-American poet, women's rights activist, educator
• Moniza Alvi (born 1954), Pakistani-British poet
• Altaf Fatima (1927–2018), Pakistani novelist
• Afzal Tauseef (May 18 1936 – December 30 2014), writer, columnist and journalist

B

• Fatima Surayya Bajia (1930–2016), novelist, playwright
• Bano Qudsia (1928-2017) novelist, playwright
• Fatima Bhutto (born 1982), poet, memorist, novelist
• Shahbano Bilgrami, poet, novelist, editor
• Razia Butt (1924–2012), novelist, autobiographer

C

• Zeenat Abdullah Channa, (1919–1974), Short story writer, essayist

D

• Tehmina Durrani (born 1953), autobiographical novelist, author of the widely translated My Feudal Lord

F

• Bushra Farrukh (born 1957), poet
• Samira Fazal (born 1976), playwright, screenwriter

H

• Yasmeen Hameed, since 1988, poet, educator
• Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah (1921–2000), Indian-born Pakistani journalist, columnist, non-fiction writer, women's rights activist
• Shahida Hassan, since the mid-1990s, poet
• Zahida Hina, since 1962, essayist, journalist, columnist, short story writer, novelist
• Shahrukh Husain (born 1950), novelist, non-fiction writer, living in London
• Fahmida Hussain (born 1948), literary scholar, non-fiction writer
• Hseena Moin top Writer حسینہ معین) (20 November 1941 – 26 March 2021) was a Pakistani dramatist, playwright and scriptwriter.

I

• Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah (1915–2000), politician, essayist, autobiographer
• Saba Imtiaz, journalist, author, screenwriter
• Farhat Ishtiaq (born 1980), novelist, screenwriter, author of Humsafar

J

• Ayesha Jalal, Pakistani-American educator, historian, since 1990: non-fiction writer

K

• Manmeet Kaur (fl 2000s), Sikh journalist
• Uzma Aslam Khan (born 1969), Pakistani novelist
• Rukhsana Khan (born 1962), Pakistani-Canadian children's writer
• Maki Kureishi (1927–1995), poet

L

• Yasmeen Lari (born c.1941), architect, non-fiction writer

M

• Muniba Mazari
• Shazia Mirza (British Comedian and Writer) Columnist for The Guardian

N

• Asma Nabeel (fl 2000s), screenwriter, poet
• Kishwar Naheed (born 1940), poet, feminist
• Badam Natawan, (1924–1988), novelist, prose writer
• Sarwat Nazir, contemporary novelist, playwright, screenwriter, author of Main Abdul Qadir Hoon (2010)
• Amina Nazli (1914–1996), writer, editor, feminist
• Zehra Nigah, since 1950s, poet, screenwriter
• Nemrah Ahmed Khan, (born 1990), writer, novelist
• Najeeba Arif, (born 1964), writer, novelist, poet

R

• Bushra Rahman (1944–2022), politician, novelist
• Samina Raja (1961–2012), poet, translator, educator
• Fahmida Riaz (1946–2018), poet, translator, feminist

S

• Afia Salam (fl 1980s), journalist
• Sehba Sarwar, contemporary novelist, short story writer, author of Black Wings (2004)
• Sara Shagufta (died 1984), poet
• Bina Shah, since 2001, short story writer, novelist, columnist
• Qaisra Shahraz, since 2001, novelist, short story writer, living in Britain
• Parveen Shakir (1952–1994), poet, educator
• Kamila Shamsie (born 1973), English-language novelist
• Muneeza Shamsie, essayist, anthologist, literary writer
• Bapsi Sidhwa (1938–2024), English-language novelist, living in the United States
• Noorul Huda Shah (born 1957), playwright, novelist, Short story writer and Dramatist
• Salma Shaheen (born 1954), poet, writer, researcher and novelist
• Salma Awan (born 1943), novelist, short story writer, columnist and travelogue author

T

• Naseem Thebo, (1948–2012), story writer

U

• Umera Ahmad (born 1976), short story writer, novelist, playwright, author of Pir-e-Kamil

Y

• Malala Yousafzai (born 1997), Nobel Peace Prize winner, female education activist, memoirist

Z

• Sumaira Zareen (1944–1977), story writer
• Zaitoon Bano (18 June 1938 — 14 September 2021), fiction writer, poet

See also

• List of women writers