Munir Niazi


Munir Niazi, was a Pakistani poet. He mostly wrote in the Punjabi and Urdu languages and also wrote for newspapers, magazines and radio. In 1960, he established a publication institute, Al-Misal. He was later associated with Pakistan Television, Lahore and lived in Lahore till his death.

Early life and career

Munir Niazi was born on 09 April 1923 in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, British India to a Punjabi speaking family of Niazi Pathans. He was initially educated at Khanpur. After the partition of India in 1947, he migrated and settled in Sahiwal, where he passed his matriculation examination. He earned an intermediate degree from Govt. Sadiq Egerton College, Bahawalpur and a B.A. degree from Dayal Singh College, Lahore. Munir Niazi launched a weekly, Seven Colours, from Sahiwal in 1949. Some of his poetry was used in films and these film songs became popular super-hits among the Pakistani public which established him as one of the foremost movie songwriters of Pakistan in the 1960s. For example, the film song in film Shaheed, Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai Aur Hum Hain Dosto and many others.

Popular poetry

Film songSingersSong lyrics byMusic byFilm and year
"Jis Ne Mere Dil Ko Dard Diya"Mehdi HassanMunir NiaziHasan Latif LilakSusral
"Jaa Apni Hasraton Pe Aansoo Baha Ke Sau Jaa"Noor JehanMunir NiaziHasan Latif LilakSusral
"Uss Bewafa Ka Shehar Hai Aur Hum Hain Dosto"Naseem BegumMunir NiaziRashid AttreShaheed
"Kaisay Kaisay Loag Hamare Jee Ko Jalanay Aa Jaatain Hain"Mehdi HassanMunir NiaziHasan Latif LilakTere Shehar Mein
"Zinda Rahein Tau Kaya Hai Jau Mar Jaaen Hum Tau Kaya"Naheed AkhtarMunir NiaziM AshrafKharidar

Death and legacy

Munir Niazi died of respiratory illness on 26 December 2006 in Lahore, Pakistan.
On his 86th birth anniversary, a book titled 'Munir Niazi Ki Baatain, Yadain' was launched to honor him at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture at Lahore. This book has interviews of the late Munir Niazi and opinion columns about him.

Awards and recognition