Muhammad Hameed Shahid is a well-known Urdu novelist, novelist and critic. He was born on March 23, 1957 in Pindi Gheeb District, Attock (Punjab), Pakistan. His father, Ghulam Muhammad, was known in his area as a knowledgeable socio-political figure. He had set up a library at home which attracted Muhammad Hameed Shahid to study. He is a relative of Awan Ajmal and his grandfather Hafiz Ghulam Nabi left his village Chakki in 1947 and settled in Pindi Gheeb. Muhammad Hameed Shahid received his early education from Pindi Gheeb, while after matriculation he went to Lyallpur Agricultural University (Faisalabad) where he graduated in Agriculture. After excelling in horticulture, he wanted to change his academic priorities and enrolled in Punjab University, Lahore, but his father's serious illness and subsequent death broke the chain and he began his career as a banker.
Thirty-two years of working life as a banker. During this time, he traveled from city to city, saw rural life up close and visited many countries. He regularly lectured at the Bank's Staff College on topics such as credit, recovery, accounting, risk management and online banking. He also gave special lectures on these topics in other banks, financial institutions and universities.
Muhammad Hameed Shahid's literary career began at the university. He was the editor of Kisht-e-Nau magazine of Agricultural University Faisalabad. His first novel was also written at the same time. He also wrote the first book, Paikar-e-Jamil, during his university days. His first collection of short-stories was “Band Ankhon Se Pare”, which were followed by three others, namely “Janm Jahannam”, “Marg Zaar”, and “Aadmi”. “Mohammad Hameed Shahid Ke Pachas Afsane" has been selected by well-known veteran writer and poet Dr. Tauseef Tabassum while selected fictions written in the background of Mohammad Hameed Shahid's 9/11 have been compiled by Ghalib Nishtar under the name "Wahshat Mein Muhabbat". His novel "Mitti Adam Khati Hai" was published and became popular.
Criticism of fiction is another area of Muhammad Hameed Shahid's priorities. Apart from “adabi tanazuat”, “Urdu afsana : soorat o Mani”, “Urdu fiction : naye mubahis”, “Saadat hasan manto : jaadui haqeeqat aur aaj ka afsana”, too are prominent works. He has also written on Urdu Nazm, titled “Rashid, Meeraji, Faiz”, and "Samandar O Samandar" containing translations of international poetry are also very well known.
In recognition of Muhammad Hameed Shahid's literary services, the Government of Pakistan announced the Presidential Civil Award “Tamgha-e-Imtiyaz” for him on Pakistan's National Day on August 14, 2016, which was presented by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on March 23, 2017. He also received the Literature Excellence Award for his book Wahshat Mein Muhabbat.
