A young playback singer from Pakistan
By Kuldeep Kaur Kang

SHAZIA MANZOOR, born in 1975 in Lahore, is the youngest playback singer of the country. The only daughter of her parents, she is a graduate in Punjabi from Lahore University and has been singing for films for the last five years.

She has received a national award, Nigar Award, Bolan Award, a Graduate Award and a Role of Honour Award from the college management during her graduation. Her first film song was Misri Ki Dali for the film Chand Babu under the direction of Umar Sharief and the music director was Wajahat Attre. She has lent her voice to about 100-120 film songs. Shazia has also done shows for the National Council of Art.

"Music to me is God-gifted as nobody in my family has ever ever tried to sing. I use to sing in college and took part in a music competition for amateurs — Music Challenge. The competition was open to all and was organised at three levels — inter-city level, Punjab level and the national level.

It is from there that I got recognition", she asserts proudly. She says that she underwent at Bakshi Wazir Sahib Academy under Iftihar Husain only for three or four months, otherwise it’s her own effort, riyaz, blessings of Allah and cooperation and encouragement from her parents that has helped her to reach the top.