Bold, outspoken, politically active, even piloting the country’s national airline fleet or its fighter jets. Time and again Pakistani women have proved that they are equal to their male counterparts. Benazir Bhutto, Asma Jehangir, Captain Ayesha Rabia Jehangir, Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Ambreen Gul … These are just some of the many women pioneers Pakistan has produced. And joining this list of powerful women are two Lahore-based cousins- Zebunissa Bangash and Haniya Aslam.   

Better known to their fans as Zeb and Haniya, they are Pakistan’s first all-female rock band. Clad in jeans and armed with guitars, when the cousins hit the stage, they bring with them a fresh blend of cheery cosmopolitan music; that’s been described as a fusion of South Asian American folk, pop and jazz.   

Zeb and Haniya began writing songs during their undergraduate study in the US. What started off as a hobby led the duo to create their first album Chup. And after the success of Chup, Zeb and Haniya have been giving live performances, not just for their Pakistani fans, but also for the global South Asian diaspora. And we are featuring them in our second edition of South Asia Beat. Click on the link below to listen to some of the best numbers by Zeb and Haniya. You can also catch more details of their performances on their website and also on their Facebook page