Khalid Ahmed is counted among the poets who introduced Urdu Ghazal to new trends, giving a new definition to progressivism. Born in Lucknow on 5th June, 1944 Khalid moved to Pakistan after partition. He matriculated from Muslim Model High School Lahore in 1957 and then did his B.Sc. from Dayal Singh College. After obtaining a Master's degree in Physics from Government College, Lahore, he started working as an Information Officer at the Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Later, from the same department, he retired from the post of Deputy Controller. He also wrote a column in the daily ‘Imroz’, titled, ‘Lamha-Lamha’. He was also associated with the literary magazine ‘Funun’. He was both a playwright and an essayist but became known among the masses owing to his beautiful poetry.
A brother to personalities such as Khadija Mastur, Hajira Masrur, and Tausif Ahmad, Khalid belonged to a learned family of academic and literary background. Famous Urdu poet Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi was their family friend, and a huge influence on Khalid Ahmad’s personality and poetry. Khalid also published the monthly ‘Bayaz’ for many years.
Books written by him include, ‘Daraz Palkon ke Saaye Saaye’, ‘Ek Mutthi Havaa’, ‘Pahli Sada Parinde Ki’, ‘Hatheliyon par Charagh’, ‘Tashbib’, ‘Jadeed-Tar Pakistani Adab’, and ‘Jal-Ghar’. He has also written dramas for Radio and songs for television while regularly frequenting the literary gatherings that took place in the city. He has also been awarded with numerous awards like the Tamgha-e-Husn-e-Kaarkardagi from the Pakistan government, for his literary contributions. Khalid Ahmed passed away in Lahore on March 19, 2013 due to lung cancer.