List of people from Karachi

This is a list of notable people from the city of Karachi in Pakistan, also known as Karachiites:

Karachi

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.

Armed forces

• Vice Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan - governor
• Muhammad Mahmood Alam
• Mirza Aslam Beg - four-star general
• Moinuddin Haider - lieutenant general, governor
• Pervez Musharraf - former President and Army Chief of Pakistan
• Ft. Lt. Rashid Minhas Shaheed - only PAF recipient of Nishan-e-Haider
• Marium Mukhtiar Pakistan's first female martyred fighter pilot in the line of duty.

Art and literature

• Minocher K. Spencer Parsi author and spiritual healer from Karachi (born October 4, 1888 Pune, India)
• Jamiluddin Aali - poet, columnist, critic (born 1926 in Delhi)
• Mohammad Abdul Ahed - architect, educator, painter (1919-2001)
• Manzoor Ahmad - philosopher (born 1934)
• Obaidullah Aleem - journalist, poet (1939-1998)
• Ahmed Ali - novelist, poet, critic, translator, diplomat and scholar (1910 in New Delhi - 1994 in Karachi)
• Nasim Amrohvi - Urdu poet, philosopher, and lexicographer (1908-1987)
• Qaem Amrohvi - poet, philosopher (1919 Amroha, India - 1990 Karachi)
• Rais Amrohvi - journalist, poet, psychoanalyst (1914-1988)
• Iftikhar Arif - poet, critic, author (born 1943)
• Hasan Askari - philosopher, author, critic (1919-1978)
• Zamir Ali Badayuni - critic (1941-2003)
• Fatima Surayya Bajia - drama writer (born 1930)
• Tabish Dehlvi - poet (1911-2004)
• Jon Elia - Arsalan Kachaliya's favorite poet, philosopher (1931-2002)
• Aslam Farrukhi - writer, critic, linguist (born 1923)
• Farman Fatehpuri - researcher, poet, critic, linguist (1926-2013)
• Dilawar Figar - humorous poet, scholar (1929 Badaun, UP - 1998 Karachi)
• Zaib-un-Nissa Hamidullah - first female columnist of Pakistan (1921-2000)
• Maulvi Abdul Haq - father of modern Urdu (1872-1961)
• Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee - Urdu poet, writer, journalist, broadcaster, translator, critic, researcher, linguist and lexicographer
• Hameed Haroon - journalist, activist
• Sibte Hassan - author, columnist, activist (1916-1986)
• Zahida Hina - columnist, author, poet (born 1946)
• Ashfaq Hussain - Urdu poet and television personality in Canada for Asian Television Network (born 1951)
• Intizar Hussain - linguist, novelist, critic (born 1923)
• Ibn-e-Insha - poet, writer and humorist (1927 Phillaur, Punjab, British India - 1978 London, England)
• Ibn-e-Safi - novelist, story writer (1928 Nara, district of Allahabad, UP, British India - 1980 Karachi)
• Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah - writer, activist (1915-2000)
• Farhat Ishtiaq - writer, author and screenwriter (born June 23, 1980)
• Siddiq Ismail - religious Hamd and Naat reciter (born 1954)
• Qamar Jalalvi - poet (1887 Jalali, Aligarh, India - 1968 Karachi)
• Jameel Jalibi - scholar, critic, linguist, former VC KU (born 1929)
• Abul Khair Kashfi - critic, linguist, author, scholar (1932 Kanpur, British India - 2008 Karachi)
• Khalique Ibrahim Khalique - journalist, poet, critic (1926-2006)
• Ghulam Mustafa Khan - writer, critic, linguist, researcher, scholar, educationist (1912-2005)
• Josh Malihabadi - poet, linguist, scholar (1894-1982)
• Anwar Maqsood - drama writer, anchor, actor (born 1935 Hyderabad State)
• Haseena Moin - playwright, drama writer
• Zehra Nigah - poet
• Pirzada Qasim - poet, author, educationist (born 1943)
• Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi - author, historian, educationist (1903-1981)
• Fahmida Riaz - writer, poet, activist (born 1946 Meerut, UP, British India)
• Sadequain - painter, calligraphist (1930 Amroha, British India - 1987 Karachi)
• Hakeem Muhammad Said - pioneer of Eastern medicine, philanthropist (1993-1994)
• Abul Lais Siddiqui - critic, linguist, author, scholar
• Shaukat Siddiqui - novelist, fiction writer (1923-2006)
• Raees Warsi - journalist, author, poet, founder of Urdu Markaz New York (born 1963)
• Mushtaq Ahmed Yousfi - author, humorist (born 1923)
• Mustafa Zaidi - poet (1930-1970)
• Kashan Admani - musician

Bankers

• Agha Hasan Abedi - banker and founder of the now-defunct Bank of Credit and Commerce International
• Shaukat Aziz - former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Ishrat Hussain - former Governor State Bank of Pakistan and incumbent Dean of Institute of Business Administration

Businessmen

• Abdul Razzak Yaqoob, Chairman of the ARY Group
• Agha Hasan Abedi - banker, founder of BCCI
• Bashir Ali Mohammad, Gul Ahmed Group
• Hussain Haqqani - leading Urdu debater, National College, Karachi; Ambassador of Pakistan to U.S.A.
• Jahangir Siddiqui, owner of JS Group
• Javed Jabbar - orator, politician, Senator
• Malik Riaz - Pakistani business tycoon who is the founder of Bahria Town.
• Monis Rahman - Founder & CEO of Naseeb Networks
• Rafiq M. Habib - Group chairman of the renowned ‘House of Habib’, chairman of Habib Insurance Company Ltd.
• Raza Rabbani - English debater, politician, Senator
• Sadruddin Hashwani - Founder and chairman of Hashoo Group.
• Safi Qureshi - co-founder and CEO of AST Research; born and educated in Karachi; now based in the US
• Sikandar Sultan - Managing Director of Shan Food Industries

Debaters and orators

• Hussain Haqqani - leading Urdu debater, National College, Karachi; Ambassador of Pakistan to U.S.A.
• Javed Jabbar - orator, politician, Senator
• Raza Rabbani - English debater, politician, Senator

Economists

• Ishrat Hussain - former Governor State Bank of Pakistan
• Akhtar Hameed Khan - pioneer of microcredit and microfinance in Pakistan, founder of Orangi Pilot Project
• Nawab Haider Naqvi - former Director PIDE
• Anwar Shaikh - Marxist economist, and professor
• Muhammad Shoaib - Finance Minister; Executive Director World Bank; father of Nafisa Sadik

Education

• Anita Ghulam Ali - educationist
• Nasim Amrohvi
• Moinuddin Aqeel - author, critic, linguist, scholar
• Bernadette Louise Dean - former Principal of Kinnaird College, Lahore
• Mary Emily - recipient of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for services to education
• Aslam Farrukhi - author, poet, critic, linguist, scholar
• Farman Fatehpuri - real name Syed Dildar Ali; author, critic, linguist, scholar
• Khalida Ghous - human rights activist, scholar
• Yolande Henderson - high school teacher
• Jameel Jalibi - linguist, scholar
• Abul Khair Kashfi - author, critic, linguist, scholar
• Matin Ahmed Khan - academic, marketing expert and management educator, Dean and Director of the Institute of Business Administration
• Ghulam Mustafa Khan - author, critic, linguist, scholar, Sufi
• Anthony Theodore Lobo - founder of many schools
• Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi - VC Karachi University, author, historian, scholar
• Ata ur Rahman - Chairman HEC, scientist
• Hakim Saeed - VC Hamdard University
• Abul Lais Siddiqui - author, critic, linguist, scholar
• Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui - Chancellor, Karachi University
• Raziuddin Siddiqui - physicist, mathematician, scholar
• Shahid Aziz Siddiqi - former Federal Secretary and Vice Chancellor, Ziauddin University
• Norma Fernandes - former Headmistress (Kindergarten/Junior Section) of the Karachi Grammar School

Journalists

• Cyril Almeida
• Mujahid Barelvi
• Ardeshir Cowasjee
• Ian Fyfe, sports journalist
• Kamran Khan
• Daniele Mastrogiacomo - Italian journalist born in Karachi

Law and judiciary

• Justice Syed Sajjad Ali Shah - CJS, Chief Justice of Sindh High Court from Karachi.
• Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed - Chief Justice Sind High Court and Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan
• Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius
• Mohammad Haleem - former Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Makhdoom Ali Khan - former Attorney General of Pakistan
• Naimatullah Khan - advocate
• Justice Ajmal Mian - former Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Justice Dorab Patel
• Nazim Hussain Siddiqui - former Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Justice Haziqul Khairi - former Chief Justice Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan
• Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui - former Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Justice Rana Bhagwandas - former acting Chief Justice of Pakistan
• Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid - former Chief Justice Sindh High Court and Justice Pakistan Supreme Court of Pakistan
• Khalid Jawed Khan Attorney General for Pakistan

Performing arts

Actors and comedians

• Moin Akhter - TV, film and stage actor, comedian and host
• Somy Ali, actress and activist
• Jamshed Ansari - comedian
• Hina Dilpazeer - actress, TV host, model
• Mehwish Hayat - actress, model
• Urwa Hocane - actress
• Adeel Hussain - model, actress
• Talat Hussain - television actor, director
• Adnan Jaffar - television, film actor
• Ather Shah Khan Jaidi Writer comedian
• Syed Kamal - film actor
• Kaveeta - actress
• Aiza Khan - actress, model
• Rauf Lala - comedian, actor
• Margaret Lockwood - film and stage actress (1916-1990)
• Anwar Maqsood - drama writer, anchor, actor
• Nadeem - film actor
• Kumail Nanjiani - comedian
• Salim Nasir - comedian, actor
• Nirala (real name Muzaffar Hussain) - comedian
• Izhar Qazi - film and TV actor
• Zainab Qayyum - model, actress, TV host
• Humayun Saeed - actor, model and producer
• Sangeeta - actress, filmmaker, director
• Ayaz Samoo - comedian, actor
• Zhalay Sarhadi - model, actress
• Saud Qasmi - actor
• Sami Shah - comedian, writer
• Umer Sharif - comic actor
• Iqbal Theba - Pakistani-American television actor
• Angela Thorne - English actress
• Syra Yousuf - model, actress
• Zafar Karachiwala, Indian actor, ancestors from Karachi

Singers, musicians and music & directors

• Salma Agha - singer
• Alamgir - pop singer
• Sajjad Ali - singer
• Waqar Ali - singer and musician
• Faraz Anwar - guitarist
• Iqbal Bano - ghazal singer
• Nisar Bazmi - composer
• Munni Begum - singer
• Ali Haider - singer
• Mehdi Hassan - ghazal singer
• Nazia Hassan - first female pop singer of Pakistan
• Zohaib Hassan - singer
• Mehreen Jabbar - Pakistani film director
• Ahmed Jahanzeb - singer
• Junaid Jamshed - former singer
• S. B. John - singer
• Faisal Kapadia - singer
• Bilal Maqsood - composer
• Habib Wali Mohammad - singer
• Sohail Rana - composer
• Shehzad Roy - singer
• Ahmed Rushdi - singer
• Ramesh Sippy Indian film director and producer from Karachi.
• Syed Ali Raza Usama - Pakistani film and drama director
• Lenny Zakatek - English pop and rock star

Dancers

• Sheema Kermani social activist, theater director and exponent of Bharatnatyam dance.

Philanthropists and social workers

• Somy Ali - activist, filmmaker, and former actress and model
• Ansar Burney - human rights activist and founder of the Ansar Burney Trust
• Abdul Sattar Edhi - philanthropist and founder of the Edhi Foundation
• Bilquis Edhi - philanthropist, founder of the Bilquis Edhi Foundation, wife of Abdul Sattar Edhi
• Ruth Lewis - awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz for managing Darul Sukun, a home for the disabled
• Fatima Lodhi - social worker, founder of Dark is Divine, first anti-colorism campaign from Pakistan
• Fahmida Riaz
• Hakim Said - scholar, philanthropist, former Governor of Sindh
• Nafis Sadik - United Nations

Politicians and bureaucrats

• Lal Krishna Advani - Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party in India
• Abdul Sattar Afghani - ex-Mayor Karachi Metropolitan City
• Shaukat Aziz - former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Pakistan
• Benazir Bhutto - former Prime Minister
• Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim - Governor, Law Minister, Attorney General
• Imran Farooq - co-founder of MQM
• Syed Munawar Hasan - former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami
• Altaf Hussain - founder and Chairman of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)
• Fatima Jinnah - sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Madar-i-Millet
• Muhammad Ali Jinnah - founder of Pakistan
• Syed Mustafa Kamal - former Nazim (Mayor) of Karachi
• Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan - incumbent Governor of Sindh (2002 to present)
• Naimatullah Khan - former Mayor of Karachi city
• Shahryar Khan - former Foreign Secretary and former Chairman of the Cricket Board in Pakistan
• Jamshed Nusserwanjee Mehta - Mayor of Karachi
• Pervez Musharraf - General (Retd.), former Army Chief, military dictator and President of Pakistan
• Farooq Sattar - parliamentary leader of the MQM
• Ahmad Noorani Siddiqi - leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan; founder of the World Islamic Mission
• Azeem Ahmed Tariq - former chairman of MQM
• Harchandrai Vishandas - former mayor of Karachi (during 1900s)
• Ali Zaidi - Pakistan Tahreek e insaaf
• Asif Ali Zardari - former president of Pakistan
• Bilawal Bhutto Zardari - Chairman of Pakistan People's Party
• Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar sixth Prime Minister of Pakistan, former Pakistani ambassador to Turkey
• Hussain Haroon Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations
• Ghulam Akbar Lasi - Pakistani politician

Religious leaders

• Talib Jauhari - religious scholar
• Aga Khan III - Imam Sultan Mohammed Shah - 48th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, President League of Nations, President All India Muslim League and GCSI, GCMG
• Muhammad Ilyas Qadri - founder of Dawat-e-Islami
• Muhammad Muslehuddin Siddiqui
• Godrej Sidhwa A Parsi Zoroastrian priest
• Taqi Usmani - religious scholar

Saints

• Abdullah Shah Ghazi was an eighth-century (c. 720) mystic Sufi, whose shrine is located in the Clifton, Karachi.

Scientists

• Salimuzzaman Siddiqui - chemist
• Abdul Qadeer Khan - metallurgist and founder of Pakistan's nuclear programme
• Atta ur Rahman - chemist
• Raziuddin Siddiqui - astrophysicist and mathematician
• Ziauddin Ahmed
• Muhammad Ali Shah - orthopaedic surgeon
• M. Shahid Qureshi - astrophysicist and mathematician
• Pervez Hoodbhoy - nuclear physicist
• Ahmed Mohiuddin - zoologist
• Muhammad Qudrat-i-Khuda

Sportspersons

Badminton players

• Palwasha Bashir
• Mahoor Shahzad

Cricketers

• Nain Abidi
• Shahid Afridi - world record holder for the fastest ODI century
• Afzaal Ahmed
• Sarfraz Ahmed
• Tanvir Ahmed
• Tauseef Ahmed
• Mansoor Akhtar
• Manzoor Akhtar
• Fawad Alam
• Anwar Ali
• Basit Ali
• Liaqat Ali
• Saad Ali
• Saeed Anwar
• Atiq-uz-Zaman
• Sikandar Bakht
• Wasim Bari
• Philip Bonham-Carter
• Anil Dalpat - first Hindu to play for the country
• Rusi Dinshaw
• Antao D'Souza
• Shahzaib Hasan
• Afaq Hussain
• Asif Iqbal
• Faisal Iqbal
• Saleem Jaffar
• Jalal-ud-Din - in 1982, took the first hat-trick in an ODI
• Abdul Kadir
• Asim Kamal
• Danish Kaneria - second Hindu to play for the country
• Saleem Karim
• Javeria Khan
• Mohsin Khan
• Moin Khan
• Rashid Khan
• Tabish Khan
• Khalid Latif
• Rashid Latif
• Shahid Mahmood
• Khurram Manzoor
• Wallis Mathias
• Anwar Miandad
• Javed Miandad
• Hanif Mohammad - first Pakistani batsman to score a triple century
• Mushtaq Mohammad
• Shoaib Mohammad
• Asif Mujtaba
• Urooj Mumtaz - former cricketer, commentator, dentist
• Nasim-ul-Ghani
• Naumanullah
• Iqbal Qasim
• Rumman Raees
• Haroon Rasheed
• Hasan Raza
• Rameez Raja Jnr
• Mohammad Sami
• Asad Shafiq
• Owais Shah (born 1978) - English cricketer
• Saud Shakeel
• Saleem Yousuf

Footballer

• Hajra Khan - captain of the Pakistan women's national football team

Hockey players

• Sohail Abbas
• Mansoor Ahmed
• Jack Britto (Olympian)
• Hanif Khan
• Shahid Ali Khan
• Hassan Sardar
• Islahuddin Siddique

Sprinters

• John Permal, He was the fastest man in Pakistan
• Naseem Hameed

Swimmer

• Mumtaz Ahmed - olympian

Historical personalities

• Mai Kolachi incumbent name of Karachi is derived from this fisher woman.

Miscellaneous

• Bashir Ahmad
• Tazeen Ahmad
• Chaudhry Muhammad Ali
• Jacqueline Maria Dias, professor of nursing
• Jacob Harris, first-class cricketer and sports coach
• Lady Abdullah Haroon
• Agha Hilaly
• Aamir Liaquat Hussain
• Siddiq Ismail
• Farahnaz Ispahani
• Shadab Kabir
• Asim Kamal
• Jahangir Khan
• Yousuf Ludhianvi
• Iskander Mirza
• Asif Mujtaba
• Abdur Rab Nishtar
• Arman Sabir
• Behroze Sabzwari
• Benny Mario Travas
• Kamal Warsi
• Irfan Yusuf

See also

• List of Muhajir people
• List of Pakistanis