Pakistan is marking the birthday of Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi today (August 19), celebrating a voice that helped define the country’s folk music.
Born in 1951 in Isakhel, Mianwali, the singer, poet and performer turns 74.
Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi’s 74th birthday: a lifelong devotion to folk music
Starting out on Radio Pakistan Bahawalpur in 1972, Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi quickly won listeners with raw, heartfelt songs in Saraiki and other Lahnda varieties.
Early TV spots, including Neelam Ghar (1973), widened his reach.
In 1977 he recorded four studio albums in one session, releases that became nationwide bestsellers and turned him into a household name.
Esakhelvi carried his sound abroad with his first UK tour in 1980.
His cassettes and later CDs traveled across South Asia, the Gulf and the diaspora, often becoming the soundtrack for long haul truckers and roadside diners.
On Coke Studio, he introduced a new generation to classics.
Such as “Ni Oothaan Waale,” “Pyaar Naal,” and later “Sab Maya Hai,” blending tradition with a modern studio sound.
Awards followed. He received the Pride of Performance (1991) and, later, the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (2019).
Similarly, he is also listed by Guinness World Records (1994) for the highest number of audio albums released.
Reflecting a vast catalogue recorded in multiple languages and styles, from folk ballads to Sufi kalam by poets such as Mian Muhammad Bakhsh and Bulleh Shah.
Fans and broadcasters marked the day with playlists and tributes.
Noting how his simple stage craft, a shawl over the shoulder, a steady tanpura drone, and unhurried phrasing, kept the focus on words and melody.
Younger artists continue to cover his work, proving the songs can live comfortably on streaming playlists as well as at village melas.
For Pakistan’s culture sector, the moment is also a reminder that folk music thrives when it is archived, taught and performed.
Esakhelvi’s journey from home recordings to global stages shows how regional voices can carry national identity.
On his 74th, the message is easy to hear that the roots still matter, and they still move people.
