Huma Khawaja

Artist Profile

Huma Khawaja is a Pakistani pop vocalist and songwriter known for her distinctive voice, 1990s pop work, and her widely remembered rendition of “Dil Ki Lagi.” She first became prominent as the vocalist of the all-female Pakistani band Symphony and later developed a successful solo music career.

Early Musical Journey

Huma Khawaja emerged on Pakistan's music scene in the early 1990s. She became the vocalist of Symphony, an all-female band formed in Karachi with Samra Raza Mir, Shazia Ovais and Adeela Suleman. The group became part of Pakistan's early pop and music-video culture.

Symphony released music during the 1990s, with tracks such as “Main Teri Aur Tu Mera” and “Kaisi Dooriyan.” The group eventually disbanded as its members moved toward different careers.

Breakthrough With Dil Ki Lagi

Huma's biggest early breakthrough came with her rendition of “Dil Ki Lagi,” originally associated with Pakistani pop icon Nazia Hassan.

Huma performed the song with guitarist Aamir Zaki, and her version became particularly popular around Valentine's Day. The performance helped establish her as a recognisable voice in Pakistan's pop scene.

The song remains one of the most important highlights of her career and is still strongly associated with her name.

Tribute to Nazia Hassan

Nazia Hassan was an important musical inspiration for Huma. During her career, Huma worked on several songs as a tribute to Nazia's music.

She has also spoken about being encouraged by Zohaib Hassan, Nazia's brother, who believed that Huma was among the artists capable of doing justice to Nazia's voice.

Solo Career

After Symphony, Huma developed her career as a solo artist.

Her debut solo album Laaj was released in 2003. She followed it with Souled Out in 2007, establishing a substantial catalogue of Pakistani pop songs.

Her catalogue includes songs such as:

• Laaj
• Yaar Sajan Da
• Naina
• Nachna Mein Nachna
• Rabba
• Mausam
• Zindagi
• Duniya
• Pakistan
• Tarana (Pashto)
• Kashmakash
• Dooriyan
• Saathiya

Albums

Symphony – 1996

Huma's early work with Symphony is preserved in the band's 1996 self-titled album, which includes several of the group's notable 1990s songs.

Laaj – 2003

Laaj was Huma's first major solo album and helped establish her identity beyond Symphony.

Souled Out – 2007

Her second full-length studio album, Souled Out, expanded her catalogue and included a variety of Urdu, Punjabi and regional-language material, including “Tarana (Pashto).”

Music Style

Huma Khawaja is primarily associated with Pakistani pop music. Her music reflects the melodic pop sound that became particularly influential in Pakistan during the 1990s and 2000s.

She has continued to favour the type of music that naturally suits her voice rather than simply following current trends. In a 2023 interview, she explained that she wanted to continue making music that resonated with her rather than changing genres simply because they were popular.

Singing Type

• Pakistani Pop
• Contemporary Pop
• Romantic Pop
• South Asian Pop
• Regional/Folk-influenced Music

Languages

Huma Khawaja has performed in Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto. Her catalogue includes Urdu and Punjabi songs as well as the Pashto track “Tarana (Pashto).”

Career Break and Return

After establishing herself in Pakistan's music industry, Huma spent many years working as a first-class cabin crew member for Emirates Airlines and was based in Dubai.

Her aviation career kept her away from regular music activity for an extended period. She continued recording and working on music when possible, including completing albums during short visits to Karachi.

She eventually returned permanently to Karachi and decided to make music her primary professional focus again.

Comeback to Music

Huma's return to the Pakistani music scene became particularly visible with her 2023 single “Malang.”

The song marked her return after a long period away from regular professional music releases. Dawn described it as a lighthearted pop track reminiscent of the classic Pakistani pop sound associated with her earlier career.

Sun Sajna

In 2024, Huma released “Sun Sajna.” Her official YouTube channel credits her as the performer and composer, with lyrics by Irfan Saleem and audio production by Ali Mustafa.

The song represents her continued return to original contemporary music after her long career break.

Recent Music

Huma remained active with new releases in 2024 and 2026.

Her recent catalogue includes:

• Malang – 2023
• Faslon Ko Takalluf – 2023
• Sun Sajna – 2024
• Yaariyan – 2024
• Meherban – 2026

Apple Music lists “Meherban” as her latest release, dated April 6, 2026.

Meherban – 2026

“Meherban” is one of Huma Khawaja's latest releases and marks her continued activity in the Pakistani music industry in 2026. It is currently listed among her latest releases on major music platforms.