About
Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq was born on 14 February 1948 in the village of Jhandial, Tehsil Fateh Jang, District Attock (formerly Campbellpur). He grew up in an environment steeped in learning and literature. His grandfather, Maulana Ghulam Muhammad, was a renowned scholar and religious intellectual of the region. His father, Hafiz Muhammad Zahoor-ul-Haq Zahoor, was a poet in Persian and Urdu and the author of several books in both languages. Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq studied Persian literature at home under the guidance of his grandfather and father.
He passed his matriculation examination from Government High School, Pindi Gheb, and completed his graduation from Government College Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi. At college he secured first position, earned a place on the Roll of Honour, and served as editor of the college magazine. On an inter-provincial scholarship, he obtained an MA in Economics from the University of Dhaka. After returning, he taught at a college for some time, then passed the competitive examination and joined the Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service. He held several senior positions, served as Military Accountant General of Pakistan, and later as Additional Secretary, Military Finance in the Ministry of Finance. He retired in Grade 22 as Additional Auditor General of Pakistan.
Alongside his professional career, Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq remained actively engaged in academic pursuits. In compliance with his father’s wishes, he passed MA Arabic examination from the University of the Punjab as a private candidate. He learned Uzbek language from Afghan Uzbeks and undertook several scholarly and literary journeys across Central Asia. He undertook higher studies in Economics at Naples, Italy.
His inclination toward poetry began in childhood. In 1982, his first collection of poetry, Deewar-e-Aab, was published and received the country’s most prestigious literary award of the time, the Adamjee Award. Then followed his second poetry collection, Ghadr, and third, Pari-Zaad. His fourth collection, Pani Pe Bichha Takht, earned him Allama Iqbal Award. His fifth poetry collection, Ay Aasman Neechay Utar, was published in 2023. He is regarded as a trend-setting poet of the modern Urdu ghazal.
He began writing columns in 1992 and has been contributing to all major national newspapers of Pakistan. For many years now, he has been associated with the daily Dunya. He has also written English-language columns for The Nation and Bangladesh Today.
His three prose works, Talkh Nawai, Meri Wafaat, and Aashiq Mast Jalali, have been published. His book Samandar, Jazeeray aur Judaiyaan, based on his love for his grandchildren and memories of village life, received widespread acclaim.
His novel for children, Tiklu kay Kaarnamay, received Jameel Jalibi Award in 2025. This novel is the first of its kind in Urdu. It has been illustrated by Fatima Amar Shahid and includes a glossary of difficult words at the end. Through a fresh and engaging narrative, the novel introduces children to various countries of the world as well as cities of Pakistan.
In 2008, Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq was awarded the Presidential Pride of Performance.
He has undertaken numerous official and private tours to many countries, including Italy, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Somalia, India, Mexico, China, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Singapore, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Morocco, and Spain.
Muhammad Izhar-ul-Haq has two daughters and three sons. He lives with his wife, Zahida Shaheen, in Islamabad and at times in Australia.