Parveen Shakir started writing at an early age initially under the pen name of Beena and published her first volume of poetry Khushbu [Fragrance] to great acclaim in 1976.[2] She subsequently published other volumes of poetry - all well-received - including Inkaar [Refusal] Sad-barg [Marsh Marigold] Khud Kalami [Conversing with the Self] and Kaf-e-Aa'ina [The Edge of the Mirror] besides a collection of her newspaper columns titled Gosha-e-Chashm [The Sight Corner] and was awarded one of Pakistan's highest honours the Pride of Performance for her outstanding contribution to literature.