The following is a list of notable Pakistani Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Pakistani American or must have references showing they are Pakistani American and are notable.
Huma Abedin – aide to United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; served as traveling chief of staff during Clinton's campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential electionSaqib Ali – served as delegate to the Maryland House of Delegates, elected in 2006, represented the 39th DistrictAli Sajjad Taj - Mayor, Artesia, CaliforniaTahir Ali – first Pakistani American elected as a National delegate-at-large (R) from Massachusetts, 1992Arif Alikhan – former appointee to the Obama Administration where he served as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development at the United States Department of Homeland Security; former Deputy Mayor of Homeland Security and Public Safety for the City of Los Angeles; visiting Professor of Homeland Security and Counterterrorism at the National Defense University's (NDU) College of International Security Affairs in Washington, DCShamila N. Chaudhary – US government policy adviserSada Cumber – first US envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic ConferenceDr. Gholam Mujtaba – chair of the Pakistan Policy Institute, a think tank dedicated to improve the US-Pakistan relationshipHaroon Saleem – former Mayor of Granite Falls, WashingtonSaghir "Saggy" Tahir – New Hampshire State Representative; the only elected Pakistani American in the Republican Party; re-elected in 2006 for a fourth term to represent Ward 2, District 9 in his home town of ManchesterShirin R. Tahir-Kheli – White House appointee at various senior posts in the executive branch and the State department during five Republican administrationsShaariq Zafar - Special Representative to Muslim Communities, US Department of State.Arsalan Suleman - Acting U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic CooperationEhsan Zaffar - senior U.S. government advisor on civil rightsBusiness and finance
Javed Ahmed – currently lives in London, where his headquarters are based; Chief Executive Officer of Tate & Lyle, a FTSE 250 company which is one of Britain's oldest brandsFarooq Kathwari – Chairman, President and Chief Executive officer of Ethan AllenSyed Moiz Balkhi – Florida-based entrepreneur; founder of WPBeginnerMichael Chowdry (1955–2001) – Forbes 400 businessman; founder of air cargo company Atlas Air, which in 2001 was worth over $1.39 billionTariq Farid – entrepreneur; owner and CEO of Edible ArrangementsNabeel Gareeb – appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of MEMC in 2002; according to CNN he was the 24th highest paid CEO in 2006; according to Forbes he was the 6th highest earning CEO in 2008 in the USAbbas Hashmi – investment banker and founder of Green Card CapitalFred Hassan – Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough from 2003-2009, when the company completed its merger with Merck & CoMansoor Ijaz – businessman; founder and chairman of Crescent Investment Management LLC, a New York investment partnership; commentator on Fox NewsShahid Khan – President of Flex-N-Gate Corp., with $2 billion in annual revenue; in mid-December bought a majority stake of NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars for $760 millionSafi Qureshey – former CEO and co-founder of AST Research, a Fortune 500 company with revenues over 2.5 billion USDAtif Sheikh – finalist for the new World Trade Center design contest hosted by CNN; founded Atex Capital Partners, a combined venture capital firm based in LondonHammad Siddiqi – economist and social commentator; received numerous awards in journalism including the Edward F. Tancready AwardAsad Abidi – Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles; member of the National Academy of EngineeringGul Agha – Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignProfessor Akbar S. Ahmed – US resident Pakistani anthropologist; the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University; producer of the film Journey Into Europe, on Islam in EuropeSaleem H. Ali – environmental researcher and Associate Dean for Graduate studies at the University of Vermont's Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources; writer and contributor to publications such as the International Herald Tribune; has dual American and Pakistani citizenshipTalal Asad – Professor of Anthropology and Religious Studies at CUNYFarooq Azam – Distinguished Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD; researcher in the field of marine microbiologyAyesha Jalal – MacArthur Fellow and Richardson Professor of History at Tufts UniversityAhsan Kareem – Robert M. Moran Professor of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame; member of the National Academy of EngineeringMohammad Aslam Khan Khalil – Professor of Physics at Portland State University; a highly cited researcher in the field of atmospheric physicsDr. Hafeez Malik – Professor of Political Science at Villanova University, in PennsylvaniaDr. Nergis Mavalvala, Kathleen Marble Professor of Astrophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and 2010 MacArthur Fellow; part of the team that made the first direct gravitational wave observationZia Mian – physicistAdil Najam – Professor of Geography and International Relations and Director of the Pardee Center at Boston University; founding editor of popular blog PakistaniatS. Hamid Nawab, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Boston University; co-author of widely used textbook Signals and Systems (1997), published by Prentice Hall (Pearson); researcher in signal processing and machine perception with application to auditory, speech, and neuromuscular systemsDr. Agha Saeed – founder and Chairman of American Muslim Alliance; lecturer at California State University, East BayAnwar Shaikh – Professor of Economics at the graduate faculty of The New School in New York CitySara Suleri – Professor of English at Yale UniversityDr. Bashir Syed – physicist, NASA scientist; authority on renewable energy such as solar and wind energy; distinguished member of NY Academy of SciencesAbdul Jamil Tajik – researcher in clinical medicineMuhammad Suhail Zubairy – Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; holder of the Munnerlyn-Heep Chair in Quantum Optics at the Texas A&M UniversityLiterature and art
Shaila Abdullah – Pakistani women's writer and authorLubna Agha – artistSana Amanat – American comic book editor for Marvel Comics; co-created the first solo series to feature a Muslim female super hero, Ms. Marvel, which gained worldwide media attention, sparking excitement and dialogue about identity and the Muslim-American struggleTahmena Bokhari – college professor in Toronto, social worker, writer and speakerNoon Meem Danish – Pakistani poet of African and Baloch descentZulfikar Ghose – novelist, poet and essayistMohsin Hamid – bestselling author of books such as Moth Smoke and The Reluctant FundamentalistAsma Gull Hasan – award-winning writer; works includes the book Red, White, and Muslim, a biographical view of growing up as an American MuslimMuqeem Khan – first Pakistani in the Hollywood VFX industry, 1996Rohina Malik – playwright, actress and solo performance artistMaliha Masood – award-winning writer in creative non-fiction; author of the travel memoir Zaatar Days, Henna NightsDaniyal Mueenuddin – author of the short-story collection In Other Rooms, Other WondersAbu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi – Muslim author and Islamic teacherSamina Quraeshi – award-winning author, artist and designerImad Rahman – fiction writer whose first short story collection was published in 2004Kamila Shamsie – award-winning novelist of books such as Salt and Saffron and Broken VersesBapsi Sidhwa – Pakistani novelist and playwright of Parsi-Zoroastrian background who now resides in Texas; her novel Cracking India (which described the Partition of British colonial India) was the basis for Deepa Mehta's film EarthShahzia Sikander (born 1969) – Lahore, Pakistan-born American artist who specializes in Pakistani, South Asian and Persian miniature painting; has also created murals, installations, mixed-media works and performance art; 2006 recipient of the MacArthur Fellows Program "genius grant"; lives in New York CityRaees Warsi – award-winning poet; writer and founder of Urdu Markaz New York (Urdu Language Center) in 1989Health and medicine
Dr. Zaheer Ahmad – doctor in internal medicine; founder of the Shifa International HospitalDr. Ayub K. Ommaya – neurosurgeon and expert in traumatic brain injuries; invented the Ommaya reservoir, which is used to provide chemotherapy directly to brain tumorsDr. Azra Raza – cancer researcherDr. Mark S. Humayun - ophthalmologist and inventor of the bionic eye.There are Urdu radio stations in areas with high Pakistani populations. Several cable and satellite providers offer Pakistani channels, including GEO TV, ARY Digital, and PTV. Others have offered Pakistani content for subscription, such as when Pakistan played Australia for the Cricket World Cup in 1999. In July 2005, MTV premiered a spin-off network called MTV Desi which targets South Asian Americans in the US, including Pakistanis. MTV Desi closed operations as part of the shutdown of MTV World in April 2007.
Salman Ahmad – founder and member of Junoon; lives in New York; a UN Goodwill AmbassadorNadia Ali – Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and former frontwoman of iiO; known for the song "Rapture"; one of the prominent vocalists of electronic dance music; has collaborated with DJs Armin van Buuren, John Creamer & Stephane K and BTSomy Ali – of Iraqi and Pakistani descent; former Bollywood actress; now model and journalistMahnoor Baloch – Pakistani actress and model; made her Hollywood debut in TornMunni Begum – born Nadira; ghazal singer from Pakistan; based in Chicago, IllinoisBohemia – Pakistani American rapper from San Francisco; his music has been widely played in the American clubbing scene; has a large underground following and is widely recognized as the pioneer of Desi hip hopMr. Capone-E – Sureno rapper; born Fahd Azam in Karachi, Pakistan; immigrated to San Gabriel Valley in Los AngelesSyma Chowdhry – award-winning television host, reporter, producer, news writer, model and actressNargis Fakhri – actress and modelShayan Farooqi – model; Mr. Pakistan World 2013Sameer Asad Gardezi – Pakistani-American screenwriter for film and television best known for his work on Modern FamilyGQ – born Gregory J. Qaiyum, American actorFareed Haque – guitarist of Pakistani and Chilean descentMehr Hassan – Indian father, Pakistani mother; actress, model and classical dancerZurain Imam – born in Chittagong, Bangladesh; US-Pakistani print and broadcast fashion journalistSaeeda Imtiaz – Pakistani-American actress; KaptaanMehreen Jabbar director of Ramchand PakistaniJAQ – born Jeffery Ameen Qaiyum; American professional b-boyChristel Khalil – of mixed Pakistani and African American descent; played Lily Winters on the CBS soap opera The Young and the RestlessZaigham Khan – Pakistani American VJ, host, dancer, and actorLazarus – Pakistani American physician and rapper from Detroit.Asieh Namdar – born in Karachi, Pakistan to Iranian parentsKumail Nanjiani – Pakistani born American actor and comedian, Franklin & BashKamran Pasha – Hollywood screenwriter and director; wrote the Showtime hit series Sleeper CellMunaf Rayani – guitarist for the Texan post-rock band Explosions in the SkyHameed Shaukat – producer of House of Cards Season 4Aamina Sheikh – actress and model best known for portraying the main leads in films Seedlings, Armaan and JoshSadia Shepard – filmmakerFaran Tahir – actor; born in the US but was raised in PakistanThomas Umer Tevana – actorIqbal Theba – starred in numerous American sitcoms but most famous for playing Principal Figgins on the show GleeDilshad Vadsaria – of Portuguese and Pakistani descent; television actress, GreekZeeshan Zaidi – lead singer and guitarist for The CommutersNaureen Zaim – half Pakistani, half Irish; model, actress and athleteAatka Feroz – Miss Pakistan World 2014; originally from Lahore and lives in Lombard, Illinois; was only 19 years old when she won the title, making her the youngest title winner everAyesha Gilani – Ayesha Gilani, from Lahore, Pakistan; now lives in Washington DC; Miss Pakistan World 2009Mariyah Moten – born in Karachi, Pakistan; now living in Houston Texas; Pakistan's first Miss Pakistan Bikini; was exposed to the biggest entertainment controversy; third runner-up in the Miss Pakistan World pageantShanzay Hayat – Shanzay Hayat, from Waziristan, Pakistan now living in New York City, became Pakistan's 11th Miss Pakistan World 2013.Zanib Naveed – 12th Miss Pakistan World; from New York stateNatasha Paracha – born in Islamabad, Pakistan; now living in New York City; Pakistan's 6th Miss Pakistan World, in 2008Annie Rupani – 10th Miss Pakistan World, 2010; from Houston, TexasShayan Farooqi – Mr. Pakistan World 2013; from Houston, TexasSaman Hasnain – born in Lahore, Pakistan, now living in San Francisco; Pakistan's second Mrs. Pakistan World, 2008Mariam Mohammad – Mrs. Pakistan World 2014; from SeattleMisbah Yasin- Iqbal – Mrs. Pakistan World 2007/2008; from Houston, TexasCommander Muhammad Muzzafar F. Khan – first Pakistani-American to take command of an operational aviation squadron in the US Navy; commands the Sea Control "Topcats" SquadronSergeant Wasim Khan – of the United States Army; first Pakistani-American to receive the Purple Heart after his heroic actions in Operation Iraqi FreedomNur B. Ali – racecar driver who drives in the ARCA Series for Cunningham Motorsports; the first Pakistani to become a racing driver; former two-time Southwest Formula Mazda Series Champion (2001 and 2002)Hasan Habib – professional poker playerGibran Hamdan – first person of Pakistani descent to play in the NFLNasir Javed – American cricketerFarhan Zaidi – General Manager, Los Angeles DodgersRashid Zia – American cricketer; represented the United States in the ICC trophy in 2001Jubair Ahmad – sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2012 for supporting designated foreign terrorist organization Lashkar-e-TaibaFarooque Ahmed – sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2011 for plotting to bomb Washington MetroSyed Haris Ahmed – sentenced to 13 years in prison and 30 years of supervised release for supporting terrorismMohammed Junaid Babar – sentenced for helping July 7, 2005 London bombings accused Mohammad Sidique KhanIyman Faris – sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2003 for supporting Al-qaedaSyed Rizwan Farook – with Tashfeen Malik, a perpetrator of the 2015 San Bernardino attackSyed Fahad Hashmi – sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 for aiding al-QaedaHamid Hayat – convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison for attending an al-Qaeda terrorist training camp in Pakistan and lying about it to the FBIDavid Headley – pleaded guilty to helping Lashkar-e-Taiba carry out 2008 Mumbai attacksSamir Khan – editor of Al-Qaeda web magazine Inspire, killed along with Anwar al-Awlaki in a drone strike in YemenTashfeen Malik – with Syed Rizwan Farook, a perpetrator of the 2015 San Bernardino attackUzair Paracha – sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2006 for providing support to al-QaedaFaisal Shahzad – convicted Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan operative sentenced to life in prison for 2010 Times Square car bombing attemptAafia Siddiqui – Pakistani Al-Qaeda operative, currently serving an 86-year sentenceAsia Siddiqui – arrested for April 2015 New York City pressure cooker bomb plotShahawar Matin Siraj – Islamist sentenced to 30 years in prison for plotting to plant a bomb in the 34th Street – Herald Square station of the New York City SubwayNadir Soofi – one of the two perpetrators of Curtis Culwell Center attackAhmad Adaya (1927–2006) – American Muslim real estate tycoon and philanthropist; founding partner of prominent California real estate company, IDS Real Estate GroupFaisal Alam – gay Pakistani-American who founded the Al-Fatiha Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the cause of gay, lesbian and transgender MuslimsMohammed Salman Hamdani (1978-2001) – Muslim Pakistani American medical student who was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks while rescuing victims of the World Trade CenterRiffat Hassan – theologian and Islamic feminist scholar of the Qur'anJilani Humayun – arms trader arrested in New York in 2007Arsalan Iftikhar – American international human rights lawyer headquartered in the metropolitan Washington, DC area; founder of TheMuslimGuy; Contributing Editor for Islamica magazineYasmin Aga Khan – American-Pakistani philanthropistSky Metalwala, a child missing from the Seattle area. since 2011Abdul Malik Mujahid – American Muslim religious leader, activist, film producer, non-profit entrepreneurAasiya Zubair – network executive 
