Urdu poetry (Urdu: اردو شاعری Urdu Shayari) is a rich tradition of poetry and has many different types and forms. Borrowing much from the Persian language, it is today an important part of Pakistani and North Indian culture.

Like other languages, the history of Urdu poetry shares origins and influences with other linguistic traditions within the Urdu-Hindi-Hindustani mix. Literary figures as far back as Kabir (1440–1518 CE) and even Amir Khusro (1253-1325 CE) inspired later Urdu poets, and served as intellectual and linguistic sources. Meer, Dard, Ghalib, Anis, Dabeer, Iqbal, Zauq, Josh, Jigar, Faiz, Firaq and Syed Shmad Shah (Ahmad Faraz) are among the greatest poets of Urdu. The tradition is centered in the subcontinent. Following the Partition of India in 1947, it found major poets and scholars residing primarily in modern Pakistan. Mushairas (or poetic expositions) are today held in metropolitan areas worldwide.

The principal forms of Urdu poetry are:

The principal collection forms of Urdu poetry are:

Ahmad Faraz (Urdu: احمد فراز, born Syed Ahmad Shah Urdu: سید احمد شاہ; on January 12, 1931 in Kohat,) was a Pakistani Urdu poet. He was considered one of the great modern Urdu poets of the last century. 'Faraz' is his pseudonym (takhalus) in Urdu. Faraz died in Islamabad on August 25, 2008.

Faraz has been compared with Faiz Ahmad Faiz, holds a unique position as one of the best poets of current times, with a fine but simple style of writing. Even common people can easily understand his poetry. Ethnically a Hindkowan, Ahmed Faraz studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University. He later became lecturer at the Peshawar University. He was awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Imtiaz and after his death Hilal-e-Pakistan by the government.

Faraz was born in Kohat, Pakistan to Syed Muhammad Shah Barq. His brother is Syed Masood Kausar. In an interview with Rediff he recalls how his father, once bought clothes for him on Eid. He didn't like the clothes meant for him, but preferred the ones meant for his elder brother. This lead him to write his first couplet:

Anwar Masood (Urdu: انور مسعود) born on November 8, 1935 in Gujrat, Pakistan, is a Pakistani poet well known for his comic poetry, however, his works include other genres as well. He writes in Punjabi, Urdu and Persian language.

He was born in Gujrat, but his family moved to Lahore in 1941. He got his basic education there. Later his family moved back to Gujrat again and he studied in Public School Gujrat. He completed his secondary education there. He achieved B.A. degree from Zamidara College Gujrat. He obtained his master degree in Persian from Oriental College Lahore in 1961 and got a gold medal. He started teaching in Government Islamia High School in Kunjah. He has been teaching as a lecturer in different colleges in Punjab from 1962 to 1996 and he was also visiting faculty of Government College University and renowned department of humanities in Pakistan. He retired in 1996.

Professor Anwar Masood is a multilingual poet of Urdu and Punjabi. His most popular poetry is Punjabi. His poetry gives the message of the original and pure culture of Punjab. Anwar Masood is the only Punjabi poet who is popular among the masses. The way he has described the different aspects of life in his poetry have never been described before. Some of his poems have become so that wherever he went people desire to listen them again and again. The most popular of them are Anar Kali Diyan Shana, Aj Kee Pakaeay, Banyan, Juma Bazaar, jehlam da pul, Umree and many more. Anwar Masood is an international level poet. He has performed in many international communities and is popular worldwide.

Faiz Ahmad Faiz (Urdu: فیض احمد فیض; February 13, 1911 – November 20, 1984) MBE, NI, was an influential left-wing intellectual, revolutionary poet, and one of the most famous poets of the Urdu language from State of Pakistan. A rising figure and notable member of the Progressive Writers' Movement (PWM), Faiz was an avowed Marxist-communist, long associated member of Russian-backed Communist Party and was a recipient of Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union in 1962. Despite being repeatedly accused of atheism by the political and military establishment, Faiz's poetry suggested his complicated relationship with religion in general and Islam in particular. He was, nevertheless, inspired by South Asia's Sufi traditions.

Faiz was controversially named and linked by Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan's government for hatching the conspiracy (see Rawalpindi conspiracy case) against Ali Khan's government, being Plot's central leader which was supported by left-wing military sponsor Major-General Akbar Khan. Having been arrested by Military police, Faiz among with others received a maximum sentence by JAG branch, although his sentence was commuted after the assassination Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951.

Dr. Faiz Ahmad (1946 – November 12, 1986) (Persian: داکتر فیض احمد‎) was the founding leader of the Afghanistan Liberation Organization (ALO), a Marxist-Leninist organization established in Kabul.

Ahmad was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He attended primary and secondary schools in Kandahar before coming to Kabul to enter Naderia High School where he became involved in the far-left movement after reading some works of Marx and Lenin.

Akram Yari, a leader of the Maoist movement in Afghanistan, was Ahmad's teacher in Naderia High School; he deeply influenced Ahmad. [1] Yari was leader of Progressive Youth Organization (PYO), a Maoist organization which was formed on October 6, 1965. Later, Ahmad broke with PYO and formed the Revolutionary Group of People of Afghanistan.

After graduating from high school, Ahmad entered the Medical Faculty of Kabul University. It was in those years that he established the Revolutionary Group of People of Afghanistan which was later named Afghanistan Liberation Organization (ALO).