Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) is one of the oldest crops in the world, an autogamous, diploid species and one of the most common grain legume crops. A limited genetic base that needs to be expanded to provide greater production stability is one of the most common problems in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to characterize the germplasm to be used as parents in a breeding program and strategies for disease management, as well as to look at genetic variation for several morphological features, genotypic and phenotypic correlation values and coefficients between these traits. This study evaluated 40 lentil genotypes to assess genetic variation, correlation of key morphological traits, and Fusarium wilt resistance. Significant genotypic variability (p < 0.05) was observed in plant height (40.7–63.1 cm), number of pods per plant (125–591), and yield per plant (95.0–735.3 kg/ha). Genotypic correlations indicated that plant stand, number of pods, and chlorophyll content had a strong positive relationship with yield (r = 0.802, p < 0.01), while plant height showed a negative correlation (r = − 0.248, p < 0.05). Screening identified three Fusarium-resistant genotypes (AARIL-306, AARIL-302, and L-11). These findings provide crucial insights for developing high-yielding, disease-resistant lentil cultivars, ensuring sustainable production.