Farhad Iqbal was born on 10 August 1958 in Badoke Gosaiyan, district Gujranwala. After completing his FSc from Government College Gujranwala, he moved to Lahore in 1976 and graduated from Punjab University, where he became deeply aware of the declining status of the Punjabi language. Along with fellow students, he began advocating for Punjabi at various academic platforms.
Drawn to art and music, he trained in oil painting, watercolor, and calligraphy at Studio G. Abbas in 1980. Later, he shifted to Islamabad and entered the field of graphic design, working with Profile Publishing (1987) and Adage Advertising (1990). His commitment to Punjabi kept growing alongside his professional career.
Farhad began writing Urdu poetry and soon turned toward Punjabi, producing poetry and short stories during his years in Saudi Arabia (1994–2006). He actively participated in literary gatherings of the Pakistani community in Al-Khobar and Dammam.
Upon returning home, he re-engaged with literary circles in Islamabad. He served as Executive Director Art at M Communications (2006) and later at Midas Communication (2010–2021). Since 2021, he has worked as a freelance designer, participating in international design contests.
Farhad is a founding member of Punjabi Parchar (Lahore) and an active part of Punjabi organizations in Islamabad. As Vice President of Punjabi Parchar, he helped organize national and international Punjabi conferences and cultural events, earning recognition as a dedicated Punjabi language activist.
His poetry—spanning ghazal, nazm, and geet—has been published in Pakistan, India, and Canada. His first Punjabi poetry book is nearing publication.
