Pakistan has produced many talented singers. But very few of them have done what Momina Mustehsan has done. She is a singer, a songwriter, an engineer, an activist, and a global figure. All at the same time. She made YouTube history with one Coke Studio song. She was named by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential women in the world. And she did all this without ever calling music her main career. This article covers everything about Momina Mustehsan. Her early life, her songs, her awards, her activism, and why she still matters in 2026.
Who is Momina Mustehsan?
Momina Mustehsan is a Pakistani singer and songwriter. She was born on 5 September 1992.
Her mother, Huma Mustehsan, is a doctor. Her father, Kazim Mustehsan, was a brigadier in the Pakistan Army and received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his service.
Growing up in such a family shaped her personality. She is disciplined like a soldier. She is caring like a doctor. And she is creative like a true artist. This combination makes her stand out from most entertainers in Pakistan.
Her family traveled the world during her childhood. Her parents’ careers allowed Momina to live in Paris and New York. These international experiences gave her a broad worldview. She brings that global perspective into everything she does, from her music to her activism.
Early life and education: The engineer who sings
This is where Momina Mustehsan’s story becomes truly remarkable. Most singers focus only on music. Momina chose to do both music and a world-class education.
Momina Mustehsan completed her A-Levels from Lahore Grammar School. She then moved to the United States for further studies and graduated with a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Applied Mathematics from Stony Brook University in 2016. When she graduated, her name was on the Dean’s list.
Think about that for a moment. She was on the Dean’s list at an American university. At the same time, her Coke Studio debut was breaking YouTube records back in Pakistan. She was literally managing two careers at once, and excelling at both.
Stony Brook University later honored her as a 40 Under Forty recipient for her community service and activism.
This is not a typical celebrity story. This is the story of someone who refused to be put in a box. She is an engineer and a singer. A student and a star. A Pakistani and a global citizen.
Music journey: From school choir to Coke Studio legend
Momina Mustehsan did not learn music from a teacher. She taught herself.
Momina Mustehsan was always interested in music. She learned to play violin and sang in public when she was in grade school. She is self-taught and has never had any formal training in music. Her first experience in professional singing was a cover song. She sang Irish singer Damien Rice’s song “The Blower’s Daughter” as her first cover in 2004.
She can play a variety of musical instruments, including violin, guitar, keyboard, and drums.
Playing four different instruments without formal training is extraordinary. It shows her natural musical ability. She did not need a classical teacher. She had talent, curiosity, and dedication.
In 2011, Momina recorded the song “Sajna” for the band Junoon’s 20th anniversary album. The song was written by Ali Azmat and was a bonus track on their album.
Junoon is one of Pakistan’s greatest rock bands. Being part of their 20th anniversary album, even as a teenager, was a major early achievement.
The breakthrough: Pee Jaun and Awari
Before Coke Studio, two songs put Momina on the map.
She first gained attention as co-singer and writer of Farhan Saeed’s single “Pi Jaun.” She later sang “Awari” for the Indian film Ek Villain (2014).
Her debut song “Pee Jaun” was made over a Skype session. She said: “Pee Jaun was made through a pal, Saad Sultan, over a Skype session. I added a bridge melody and wrote some strains for the song. Farhan came on board afterward.”
A hit song made over a Skype call while studying in New York. That is a very modern and very Momina way of doing things.
The Awari song went even further. She recorded the track independently while studying in New York and was unaware it was being selected for the Indian film until after the process had begun. She did not plan it. It just happened because her talent was undeniable.
Coke studio magic: The songs that made history
This is the chapter that changed everything. Momina Mustehsan’s Coke Studio debut in Season 9 is one of the most talked-about moments in Pakistani music history.
Mustehsan teamed with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform “Afreen Afreen,” which had been a hit for Khan’s uncle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The performance became the fastest Pakistani-origin video ever to reach 100 million views on YouTube.
Her first song, “Afreen Afreen,” gained over 2.5 million views in its first day and later surpassed 300 million views on YouTube. The song also made her the second Pakistani artist to cross 100 million views on the platform.
Let that number sink in. 300 million views. That is more than the entire population of Pakistan. People from all over the world listened to Momina Mustehsan sing Afreen Afreen. It became a global sensation.
But she did not stop there. In the same season, she performed two more songs.
She also performed “Main Raasta,” which she co-wrote, and a medley titled “Tera Woh Pyar (Nawazishein Karam)” with Junaid Khan and Asim Azhar. The latter has collectively received over 175 million views.
Three songs in one Coke Studio season. All three became massive hits. This was not luck. This was sheer talent combined with perfect timing.
In Season 10, she returned and recorded “Muntazir,” written by Strings and performed with Danyal Zafar, which received positive reviews and became one of the more widely viewed songs of the season. She also performed the Sufi rock track “Ghoom Taana” alongside the band Irteassh.
Full list of Momina Mustehsan’s top songs
Here is a complete list of her most popular songs across her career:
- Sajna (2011, Junoon 20 album)
- Pee Jaun (2012, with Farhan Saeed)
- Awari (2014, Ek Villain soundtrack)
- Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hay (2016, film soundtrack)
- Afreen Afreen (2016, Coke Studio Season 9, with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan)
- Main Raasta (2016, Coke Studio Season 9)
- Tera Woh Pyar (2016, Coke Studio Season 9, with Junaid Khan and Asim Azhar)
- Muntazir (2017, Coke Studio Season 10, with Danyal Zafar)
- Ghoom Taana (2017, Coke Studio Season 10)
- Aaya Na Tu (2018, with Arjun Kanungo)
- Baari (2019, with Bilal Saeed)
- Alif (2019, TV series title track)
- Uchiyan Deewaran / Baari 2 (2020, with Bilal Saeed)
Each of these songs shows a different side of her voice. She can sing soulful Sufi music and can do modern pop. She can deliver romantic ballads. And she can co-write lyrics that connect deeply with listeners.
Aaya Na Tu: Her first original single
After years of performing other artists’ compositions, Momina stepped forward with her own original single.
In 2018, Mustehsan released the single “Aaya Na Tu” with Indian singer Arjun Kanungo. The track was released under Universal Music India. The video was shot in Bangkok, and Mustehsan said the song addressed “rejection, pain, and the burden of true love.” Upon release, it trended on YouTube and gained over 70 million views.
The two artists couldn’t easily travel to each other’s countries. Mustehsan said, “I’ve never looked at India as a different market or a different set of people, because I believe that we have so much in common.”
This cross-border collaboration showed maturity and vision. Instead of seeing political borders, she saw a shared culture and a shared love for music. That message resonated with millions of fans on both sides.
If you enjoy watching talented Pakistani actresses, you will also love our list of Top Dramas of Sanam Saeed Mirza That You Must Watch Right Now for your next binge-watching session.
Baari and Baari 2: The romantic hits
In 2019, Momina sang the title song “Alif” for the TV series Alif. People loved her vocals on this track. The year ended with her song “Baari” with Bilal Saeed. This romantic music video was very popular, getting over 90 million views. Its sequel, “Uchiyan Deewaran (Baari 2)”, released in December 2020, also received positive feedback.
The singer’s track “Uchiyan Deewaran (Baari 2)” topped the Official Asian Top 40 Charts in November 2020.
Topping the Asian charts is a massive achievement. It means her music reached listeners across the entire continent, not just in Pakistan. This shows the international pull of her voice and artistry.
BBC 100 Women and Forbes 30 under 30: Global recognition
The world took notice of Momina Mustehsan long before many Pakistanis realized how globally significant she had become.
In 2017, the BBC named her one of the 100 most influential women. The following year, Forbes featured her among its “30 Under 30” Asia list along with nine other Pakistani individuals.
These are two of the most prestigious recognitions in the world. The BBC 100 Women list includes leaders, scientists, activists, and artists from across the globe. Being on that list at age 25 is extraordinary.
The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list recognizes the most talented young people across the continent. Momina made it there as a singer, songwriter, and activist. Not just as a celebrity.
Her Twitter bio reflects her priorities: “BBC 100 Women 2017, SBU 40 Under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018.”
She carries these achievements with quiet confidence. She does not shout about them and lets the work speak.
Activism and social work: More than just a singer
What truly separates Momina Mustehsan from most Pakistani celebrities is her commitment to real change.
She has been working on a program called “iCity” for girls in Pakistan with the government. The program sets up institutes across Pakistan to equip girls with programming and coding skills. She said: “These women, who might not be allowed to leave their houses otherwise, are given the skill set so that they can stay in their houses if they can’t get out, but still want to be contributing members of society.”
This initiative is deeply meaningful in the Pakistani context. Millions of girls across rural Pakistan are unable to leave their homes due to cultural restrictions. Momina found a way to bring education and skills to them digitally. This is not just charity. This is smart, practical change.
Momina Mustehsan cares deeply about helping others. She supports many charities and organizations that work for the well-being of women in Pakistan. She often speaks about the importance of education for girls and equal rights for women. Momina has also openly talked about mental illness and depression. In 2017, she shared her own experience of overcoming depression. She has used her voice to speak out on global issues.
Speaking about depression publicly in Pakistan takes real courage. Mental health is still a taboo topic in many Pakistani households. By sharing her own struggles, Momina helped thousands of young Pakistanis feel less alone. She used her fame for a purpose bigger than herself.
Momina Mustehsan is also planning a distance education program for children in rural Pakistan and supports the polio campaign. She has also helped collect funds for Edhi by being part of a Coke campaign.
Brand endorsements and public presence
Momina Mustehsan is also one of Pakistan’s most sought-after brand ambassadors.
She is a popular choice for brands to endorse their products. Momina Mustehsan became a goodwill ambassador for the cricket team, Islamabad United. She is also a brand ambassador for Sprite and L’Oréal hair color. In 2017, she represented Pakistan at a L’Oréal business event in Spain.
Representing Pakistan at an international brand event in Spain is significant. It shows that global companies trust her to carry their brand on a world stage. This also confirms her position as one of Pakistan’s most recognizable faces internationally.
She has also been featured on the cover of OK! Pakistan Magazine.
The engineer behind the artist
One of the most interesting and underreported aspects of Momina Mustehsan is her engineering background. She does not hide it. She celebrates it.
Momina Mustehsan has consistently stated that music is not a career choice but an extension of her creative side.
This is a refreshing and honest position. In a world where everyone wants to be a full-time celebrity, Momina insists that she is an engineer first. Music is her creative outlet, not her profession. And yet, her “hobby” has produced some of the most-viewed Pakistani music videos in history. Imagine what would happen if she called it a career.
Mustehsan received no formal training in music. Everything she achieved, she built with natural talent, hard work, and passion. That makes her story even more inspiring for young Pakistanis.
