In Lahore, Nadeem began his career as a human rights and social activist. During the reign of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, he was imprisoned three times for political activism: in 1969, 1970, and 1979. He was compelled to leave the country in 1980 and relocated to London, where he worked for Amnesty International from 1980 to 1988, then in Hong Kong from 1991 to 1993, and then in Los Angeles.

Nadeem has directed and written plays for theatres as well as a number of television programs, most of which have aired on PTV. His plays are mostly written in Urdu and Punjabi. He has adapted a few English plays. Nadeem writes for newspapers such as The Express Tribune.

Nadeem directed and scripted two television serials for Pakistan Television Corporation in 1995, one of which was Neelay Hath. One of them is the political drama Zard Dopehar, which aired on PTV and starred Shujaat Hashmi and Samina Peerzada.

Uraan, the other show, aired on PTV the same year and was immensely successful. It concentrated on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) culture and management. It was largely shot at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, although it was also shot in Kathmandu, London, Nairobi, New York City, and Paris. Faryal Gohar played a senior flight purser and Shakeel played a PIA aircraft captain.

During the 2000s, Nadeem wrote the hit comedy television series Janjaal Pura for PTV. Tariq Jamil directed the series, which stars Savera Nadeem, Mehmood Aslam, and Naseem Vicky.

The Alhamra Arts Council held the launch of Selected Plays, which was published by Oxford University Press (OUP) with the assistance of Ajoka, on August 23, 2008. The collection includes seven of his best-known plays: Teesri Dastak, Barri, Aik Thi Nani, Kala Meda Bhes, Dukhini, Bulha, and Burqavaganza.

The book was also launched on August 25, 2008, at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, with the assistance of the Pakistan Academy of Letters. His Urdu and Punjabi plays have been included in two publications.

In 2012, Nadeem wrote the play Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh, which was directed by Madeeha Gauhar and premiered on December 14, 2012, at the Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore by the Ajoka Theatre group. The drama was highly welcomed by audiences and is based on the life of Saadat Hassan Manto. Naseem Abbas portrayed Manto. The play premiered in January 2013 at the Akshara Theatre in New Delhi, India. It was scheduled to be performed at New Delhi’s National School of Drama (NSD), but it was cancelled due to security concerns. Ajoka played Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh at Nishtar Hall in Peshawar in February 2013.

Nadeem began writing the script for the television series Main Manto, based on the life of Saadat Hasan Manto, in 2013. The series is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, and the principal actor is Sarmad Khoosat, who is accompanied by Mahira Khan and Saba Qamar. The film received critical appreciation in Pakistan.