As a child, Zareef held the Sufi saint Khawja Habibullah Ataar in great esteem, and still visits his mausoleum regularly to pay obeisance.
He received guidance from his teachers and noted writer - especially Sattar Shahid - and eventually found himself uttering lines expressing personal feelings and thoughts on stage.
Hakeem Manzoor, an eminent Urdu writer, introduced Zareef to the great beauty of verse and the profoundness of literature.
While serving in the cultural unit of the Department of Information he remained active in organizing public shows, dramas, mushairas and features.
Much of the poetry portrays social evils, and Zareef aims to raise public awareness in order to address these issues.