Pakistan is the sixth most populous nation in the world. This article features some of such famous people who belong or relate in some way to this nation. From Muhammad Ali Jinnah to Shahid Afridi there are many Pakistani who have worldwide fame.
The country has some extra genius and talented people like Shahid Afridi, Irfa Kareem, Wasim Akram , Madam Noor Jahan, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. But, today we discuss some most popular personalities who are currently working in their fields OR their work is alive allthough they’re no more like Eidhi. Below is a list of Top 10 most popular Pakistani people of all time. The list is based on popularity, fan following and achievements, both in positive or negative.
Top 10 Most Popular Pakistani People of all time.
10. Reema Khan
One of the most popular Pakistani actors, multi talented Reema Khan. No doubt if we call her Pakistani Madhuri Dixit. Known by her screen name Reema, this Lollywood film actress, director and producer ranked 8th among the most popular Pakistanis. She has appeared in more than 200 films since making her debut in 1990.
9. Noor Jehan
Malika-e-Tarannum, Noor Jehan is history’s most popular singer. Born as Allah Rakhi Wasai, Noorjehan was a Pakistani playback singer and actress who worked first in British India and then in the cinema of Pakistan.
Noor Jehan is thought to be one of the most prolific singers of all time. She is also considered to be the first female Pakistani film director.
8. Shoaib Akhtar
The former Pakistani cricketer who is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in modern cricket. Known as “Pindi Express”. Shoaib Akhtar was born in a small town near Rawalpindi, Punjab. He is one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. Akhtar has a number of fast bowling records. He has bowled at speeds of 161.3kph, 160kph 3x, 159kph and 158.4kph.
The fastest three were against New Zealand in 2002 and the other three were against Sri Lanka in 2002 also. He was the first bowler in the history of cricket to have been recorded to bowl over 100 mph, though there were suggestions that others may have achieved the feat prior to the speed being recorded.
7. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, the worldwide famous Pakistani cricketer, regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. He was a genuine left arm fast bowler who could bowl with significant pace and left-handed batsman who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International (ODI) matches. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket with 881 and is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler, Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of ODI wickets with 502.
He is considered to be one of the founders and perhaps the finest exponent of reverse swing bowling. Akram had a very special talent to move the ball both ways in one delivery which is called ” double swing of Wasim Akram”. No one in cricket history has done it so far.
6. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
A musician, composer and music director, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan no doubt one of the most famous personality of Pakistan. According to The New York Times; He is the greatest Sufi singer in the Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi languages, and one of the greatest qawwali singers in history.
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is often referred to as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” (the King of Kings of Qawwali). LA Weekly described him as the 4th greatest singer of all time.
5. Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan
Abdul Qadeer Khan, also respectfully known by some in Pakistan as Mohsin-e-Pakistan. Dr. A. Q. Khan, was a Pakistani nuclear scientist and a metallurgical engineer, colloquially regarded as the founder of HEU based Gas-centrifuge uranium enrichment program for Pakistan’s integrated atomic bomb project. He was one of Pakistan’s top scientists, and was involved in the country’s various scientific programs until his dismissal.
4. Dr. Israr Ahmad
An Islamic theologian, philosopher, and Islamic scholar, Dr. Israr Ahmad is at No. 4 in our list of most popular Pakistani people. The founder of Tanzeem-e-Islami, Dr. Israr Ahmad wrote about 60 books about Islam and Pakistan. As of 2017, twenty nine books have been translated into several other languages, including in English.
As of 2022, he is most followed Islamic scholar on Internet.
3. Shahid Khan Afridi
All time popular cricketer worldwide. The former Pakistani cricketer, Sahibzada Muhammad Shahid Khan Afridi is 3rd in list. He is most famous for his aggressive batting style. He holds the record for the fastest ODI century which he made in his first international innings, as well as scoring 32 runs in a single over.
He also holds the distinction of having hit the most number of sixes in the history of ODI cricket. He also hold the record of longest sixer in cricket history. He is the only cricketer who slapped 400 sixes in the cricket history. He has huge fan club around the world.
2. Abdul Sattar Edhi
The second most popular Pakistani is Abdul Sattar Edhi or Maulana Edhi. He was a prominent Pakistani philanthropist, social activist, public figure and an humanitarian. He was the founder and head of the Edhi Foundation. Together with his wife, Bilquis Edhi, he received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service.
He was also the recipient of the Lenin Peace Prize and the Balzan Prize. In 2006, Institute of Business Administration Pakistan conferred an honoris causa degree of Doctor of Social Service Management for his services. In September 2010, Edhi was also awarded an honorary degree of Doctorate by the University of Bedfordshire.In 1985 Edhi received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz from the Government of Pakistan.
1. Imran Khan
The 22th Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former cricket star leading a country at a crossroads, is one of the most influential people by Time 100. Imran Khan is the 11th most popular foreign politician and the 81st most popular public figure; According to the latest YouGov polling, survey results.
Imran Khan has been declared “Man of the Year” from the Muslim world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, an independent research entity affiliated with an international Islamic non-governmental, independent institute headquartered in Jordan.
The Pakistani politician, celebrity, and former cricketer. He played international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. He was Pakistan’s most successful cricket captain, leading his country to victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup. After retiring from cricket he entered politics. In 1996, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (“Movement for Justice”) political party was established and Khan became its chairman.
Besides his political activism, Khan is also a philanthropist, cricket commentator, Chancellor of the University of Bradford and Founding Chairman of Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. Through worldwide fundraising, he founded Namal College, Mianwali in 2008.