In pictures: Meet the famous Pakistan folk singers who spread message of love across the world

Pakistani Sufi musician Sain Zahoor cuts an impressive figure. Dressed in embroidered kurta, beads, tightly bound turban, as well as ghungroos (anklet-bells worn by dancers), he has spent his life singing at Sufi shrines, but now tours the world to give his intensely transcendent performances.

Legendary singer Reshma, who died of throat cancer in Lahore, was one of the most popular folk singers of Pakistan. She first appeared on Pakistan television in the 1960s. She recorded songs for both the Pakistani as well as the Indian film industry. Born in Bikaner in India’s Rajasthan state to a Banjara family around 1947, her tribe had migrated to Karachi shortly after partition. He most popular song was ‘Lambi Judai’ for Indian film

Allan Fakeer is considered one of the top Sindhi Sufi singer in Pakistan. He gained popularity for bringing the Sufi poetry of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai to wider audiences. He was particularly popular for extreme ecstatic style of Sufi dancing along with his singing; with facial expressions to amuse the audience.

Sanam Marvi hails from the small city of Hyderabad, in Sindh. By the age of 7, she began singing with her father, Faqir Ghulam Rasool, during festivals and ceremonies held at shrines throughout Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces. Now a rising star across the subcontinent, Marvi made a breakout performance on Pakistan national television in 2009. Marvi sings in Urdu, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Saraiki.

Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi is a Pakistani award-winning musician and folk singer from Mianwali, Punjab. He was thrown out of his house for wanting to become a singer, against his father's wishes. He is traditionally considered a Saraiki artist, but his music albums are in both Saraiki and Urdu. The Government of Pakistan awarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2019 and he also got the Pride of Performance Award in 1991.

Known as the Queen of Sufi music, Abida Parveen is one of the top Pakistani Sufi singers, composer and musician. She sings mainly ghazals, Thumri, Khyal, Qawwali, Raga (raag), Sufi rock, classical, semi-classical music and her forte, Kafis, a solo genre accompanied by percussion and harmonium. Parveen sings in Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki, Punjabi, Arabic and Persian.

Akhtar Chanal Zehri is a famous Balochi folk singer from Balochistan. He became famous worldwide for his singing in Coke Studio 1 and season 4. In 1973 he brought regional folk to national attention after he was discovered by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC)'s Balochi Radio Station. In 1998, he was also awarded the Pride of Performance by Government of Pakistan.

Arif Lohar is a Punjabi folk singer from Pakistan. He usually sings accompanied by a native musical instrument resembling tongs (called a ‘Chimta’). His folk music is representative of the traditional folk heritage of the Punjab. He is the son of the renowned folk singer Alam Lohar who popularised the Jugni style, which involves storytelling through songs.

Shazia Khushk is a popular folk singer of Sindhi, Balochi Dhatki, Sairaiki, Urdu, Kashmori, Gujrati, Brelvi and Punjabi. She has quit singing and now is religious preacher. Folk music is generally considered to be an expression of life in the communities in which the music was developed and its a great help to historians in discovering the way of life of a people.