Hassan began singing during the 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on Pakistan Television (PTV) as a child artist.
Her professional music career started at the age of fifteen when she provided the lead vocals for the 1980 song "Aap Jaisa Koi" for the Bollywood film Qurbani.
She met film director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom.
Khan later requested that Hassan audition with Biddu, a London-based Indian music composer.
Biddu then signed her up for "Aap Jaisa Koi", the song he composed for Qurbani.
The song was a huge success in India, and despite her being a Pakistani, Hassan gained overnight fame there.
In 1981, Hassan won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for the song.

After Qurbani became a big hit, she collaborated with Biddu on numerous other projects.
In 1981, she became the first playback singer to release an album.
Her first album was Disco Deewane.
The album broke sales records in Pakistan and India and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia.
This album became a mega-hit and Hassan became an established pop singer in Pakistan.
The album also had vocals by her brother Zohaib Hassan.

After the release of Disco Deewane, Biddu offered Zohaib and her a chance to act in a movie, but they refused and chose singing.
Hassan's second album Star/Boom Boom, for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, was released in 1982.
The soundtrack of the album was used in the 1982 film Star.
The film did not succeed at the box office, but the album was successful and increased the popularity of Hassan and Zohaib in Pakistan and India.
Her third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1984.
It was the first album in Pakistan to feature music videos, which were made in London by David Rose and Kathy Rose.
The album became one of the most popular in Asia. "
Ankhien Milane Wale" was a popular song from the album.
After the release of Young Tarang, she returned to singing for Bollywood movies as a playback singer.
Her fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987.
Aa Haan was the most popular song of the album.

At the end of 1980, she had become the most popular pop singer of Pakistan and India.
In 1988, she and her brother Zohaib appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung.
In the following year, she and Zohaib hosted the groundbreaking show Music '89.
The show was produced by Shoaib Mansoor.
It was the first-ever all pop-music stage show to be aired on television.
The show launched the careers of many new rising bands and singers and became popular in Pakistan.
She hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.

In 1991, Hassan and her brother Zohaib recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera.
Before the album's release, she and Zohaib announced that it would be their last album.
The album was released in 1992.
It was not as successful as her previous albums and received only average reaction.
After the album's release, she left her singing career to focus on her personal life.
Biddu composed a song, "Made in India" and he wanted Nazia to sing it.
But the retired Hassan refused to sing a song that might offend Pakistan.
The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai.
Hassan began singing during the 1970s, when she appeared on several television shows on Pakistan Television (PTV) as a child artist. Her professional music career started at the age of fifteen when she provided the lead vocals for the 1980 song "Aap Jaisa Koi" for the Bollywood film Qurbani. She met film director Feroz Khan at a party in the United Kingdom. Khan later requested that Hassan audition with Biddu, a London-based Indian music composer. Biddu then signed her up for "Aap Jaisa Koi", the song he composed for Qurbani. The song was a huge success in India, and despite her being a Pakistani, Hassan gained overnight fame there. In 1981, Hassan won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback for the song. 
After Qurbani became a big hit, she collaborated with Biddu on numerous other projects. In 1981, she became the first playback singer to release an album. Her first album was Disco Deewane. The album broke sales records in Pakistan and India and even topped the charts in the West Indies, Latin America and Russia. This album became a mega-hit and Hassan became an established pop singer in Pakistan. The album also had vocals by her brother Zohaib Hassan.
After the release of Disco Deewane, Biddu offered Zohaib and her a chance to act in a movie, but they refused and chose singing. Hassan's second album Star/Boom Boom, for which she was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer, was released in 1982. The soundtrack of the album was used in the 1982 film Star. The film did not succeed at the box office, but the album was successful and increased the popularity of Hassan and Zohaib in Pakistan and India. Her third album, Young Tarang, was released in 1984. It was the first album in Pakistan to feature music videos, which were made in London by David Rose and Kathy Rose. The album became one of the most popular in Asia. "Ankhien Milane Wale" was a popular song from the album. After the release of Young Tarang, she returned to singing for Bollywood movies as a playback singer. Her fourth album, Hotline was released in 1987. Aa Haan was the most popular song of the album.
At the end of 1980, she had become the most popular pop singer of Pakistan and India. In 1988, she and her brother Zohaib appeared with music maestro Sohail Rana in his television program, Sung Sung. In the following year, she and Zohaib hosted the groundbreaking show Music '89. The show was produced by Shoaib Mansoor. It was the first-ever all pop-music stage show to be aired on television. The show launched the careers of many new rising bands and singers and became popular in Pakistan. She hosted another show, Dhanak on PTV in the same year, 1989.
In 1991, Hassan and her brother Zohaib recorded her fifth album, Camera Camera. Before the album's release, she and Zohaib announced that it would be their last album. The album was released in 1992. It was not as successful as her previous albums and received only average reaction. After the album's release, she left her singing career to focus on her personal life. Biddu composed a song, "Made in India" and he wanted Nazia to sing it. But the retired Hassan refused to sing a song that might offend Pakistan. The song was then offered to Alisha Chinai.
Nazia Hassan