At the age of 9, he shifted to Islamabad where he continued his studies in Saint Pauls School. Atif came back to Lahore in 1995 where he continued his studies in Divisional Public School Model Town. He was selected in his school cricket team as a bowler. He was putting his best efforts to become a professional cricketer. Atif started his HSc in PAF College, Lahore. During his college life he became interested in music. His eldest brother had a collection of more than 8,000 songs in almost all music genres. He developed a habit of listening to all kinds of music at his house. He was a quick learner and soon grasped the control of his voice. Up to this time he was not interested in singing. His passion was to be in the Pakistan cricket team as a fast bowler. He practiced at the nets at Shapes club in Lahore where Imran Khan used to give tips on bowling to him.
One day he was singing with his friends at the college canteen. His friends urged him to participate in the singing competition on Independence Day celebrations at PAF College Lahore and Sargodha in 1998. He performed there and won the competition. After HSc, Atif joined Punjab Institute of Computer Science Gulberg Campus. He was not able to give time to cricket due to his busy study schedule here. His hobby of singing continued with him entering the singing competition of his college. There were a total of 8 participants. The media team entered Atif's name in the competition at the eleventh hour. He won the competition by singing the hit number Duur of Strings. He kept on winning these competitions every semester until he announced that he will no longer participate in them so that someone else can also win the competition. He met Goher at his college. Goher was a talented guitarist. Together they practiced a lot and started doing mini concerts for their friends. Atif used to perform Junoon and Strings songs at these concerts. They started performing in their college, McDonalds and other restaurants as well. Atif recorded the legendary song Aadat at Mekal Hassan's Studio. Mekal injected his professionalism in the song to make it worth listening time after time. Atif formed the band Jal, which means water. The song became popular on different musical websites in Pakistan. The song was also being on aired on major Radio channels of Pakistan like FM 100, FM 105 etc. Video for this song got released in December on Ary The Music and then it was played on almost all the channels. Atif released his first album Jal Pari on 18th July 2004 by Sound Master and IC records. It was declared to be the best selling album of the year within just 5 months of the release.In the meantime Atif also cleared his Bachelors in Computer Science (hons) from University of Central Punjab.
Atif Aslam, after leaving Jal, released a new solo album, Jal Pari (meaning "Mermaid") which was a big hit. Other than Aadat, 'Dil Harey', 'Woh Lamhey', 'Yakeen' became favourites of Pakistani music fans. Though his songs were liked by many, his first solo music video of 'Mahi ve' did not receive much praise. On the other hand Jal, with their album "Aadat" and hit music video "Woh Lamhay" emerged as one of the top bands of Pakistan. As both the Jal, “Aadat”, and Atif’s album, Jalpari, shared certain tracks (such as “Aadat”, “Wo Lamhey”, “Dil Harey”) an unofficial war over rights began which resulted in both sides claiming to possess hard proof to support their respective claims (that, they alone owned the concerned songs). The hype this feud gave to both Atif and the new Jal was extraordinary and split the music fans with the fans of each side backing their respective favourite.


Whilst the drama of lyrics & composition ownership continued in Pakistan, Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt called Atif Aslam to seek his consent to include "Woh Lamhey" in the soundtrack of his new motion picture, Zeher (2005). The song (especially the remix version) became a hit & dominated airplay on almost all major FM stations throughout India for a period of 6-8 months. This pattern of a slow playback song by Atif in the movie, supplemented by a remix version released for radio airplay was to become standard procedure with Atif’s songs on the Indian market.
He recorded a song for the movie Kalyug (2005), entitled Juda Hokey Bhi - a slight variation of the ever famous Aadat song. Like with “Wo Lamhey / Bheegi Yaadein”, a slow version became the theme for the movie and part of the official soundtrack, whilst a remixed version was released to hit the radio stations and desi clubs worldwide.
After recording for Kalyug, an Irani director in Hollywood contacted Atif and within very little time, Atif recorded three songs for that same director’s Hollywood movie, Man Push Cart and was rewarded with a small cameo role in the movie.
Atif re-emerged in the subcontinent with a new track, “Tere Bin” (Without You) for the Bollywood Movie, Bas Ek Pal (2006). The song became a hit in India and Pakistan.

In December 2006, Atif Aslam released his much anticipated debue album called "Doorie"[1] along with the video of the title song "Doorie" in India and Pakistan. Some of the songs in the album include "Hum kis galli", "Maula", "O re piya". One of the most critically-acclaimed tracks was "Kuch Is Tarah". The album was produced in collaboration with Indian lyricists and composers. A month later the video of "Hum kis galli" was released. Like the video of "Doorie", it was shot in India. The album proved to be success. The videos of doorie (remix) and Ehsaas (included in both "jal pari" and "Doorie") were released one after another in the months of march/april.

The Bollywood style of music and videos in "Doorie" has diappointed many of Atif's fans in Pakistan who had been liking Atif for his "Jal Pari" style songs. About this Atif said "Touring internationally made me think that I should take my music global by releasing it worldwide. I collaborated with a lot of people and thought up a plan for a commercial album, which is not my type of music; which is not ATIF. I just wanted to explore that side of the music. When I composed and wrote these songs for Doorie, I kept in mind that this album has to be commercial". He also told that he would soon be releasing an album named Hangami Halaat which would be an original 'atif style' album. Regarding his videos he says "I think that was a requirement because the Indian audience can never accept my 'Mahi Vey' video or my 'Rangoun Mein' video. They have a different concept about a pop or a rock icon. He has to be a heart throb. Girls here can't sit on motor bikes, in India girls ride them. It's a different culture altogether. They (my indian videos) are for an international audience."

Meri Kahani is the third album by Pakistani pop singer Atif Aslam. The Album officially released in 8 2008,which is reported leaked on Internet before release. Like his earlier albums this one also got huge response and is the most selling album in Pakistan at this moment.The album earlier named "hungami halaat". The album has total 12 tracks and all of them are fresh and not included in his earlier works.

Controversies began surrounding Atif from the beginning of his solo career. Many of Atif's critics accused him of stealing songs from former band mate Gohar Mumtaz. Both Atif and Gohar laid claim on songs like "Aadat", "Dil Harey", "Woh Lamhey" and "Zindagi". Still no one knows whose creations actually these songs are. Aadat was eventually released on both Atif's Jal Pari and on Jals album ironically named Aadat. Atif has been accused by many of his pakistani fans of spreading himself too thinly and due to the release of his commercial album (Doorie) which resulted in him releasing another album Hungaami Halaat within a few months of Doorie's release.

• Best song, Best Composition, Best Lyrics "Aadat"- 2nd Jazz Indus Music Awards (Pakistan)
• Best playback singer, Best debut singer - Sahara Sangeet Awards (India)
• Best Song, Best Lyricist, Best Composition - ARY Music Awards (Pakistan)
• Most Wanted Male - The Musik Awards (Pakistan)
• Best Pop Star Of The Year in Filmazia Awards (Pakistan)
• Best album of the year "Doorie" - 2007 LUX style awards (Pakistan).
• Received Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Star-of-Excellence) from the Pakistan government.
• Best stylish musician of 2007 - MTV Pakistan style awards.
• Most Stylish Singer in Music-Mtv lycra Awards 2007