Music

Iqbal Bano (born 1928 in Delhi – died 21 April 2009 in Lahore) was a Pakistani singer who specialized in ghazal. She is popularly known by her honorific title Malika-e-Ghazal (The Queen of Ghazal) in both Pakistan and India. She was known for her semi-classical Urdu ghazal songs and classical thumris, but also sang easy-listening numbers in the 1950s films. In 1974, she became the recipient of the Pride of Performance award.

Throughout her musical career she also appeared on Pakistan Television programs in addition to conducting concerts. By 1970s, Iqbal Bano had achieved fame as a popular artist and her stature had grown in the Pakistani cultural community as an accomplished ghazal singer. According to BBC News website, “Few singers of classical music matched the brilliance of her voice and her command over musical notes”.