Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz

Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz, also known as Jehan Ara Shah Nawaz (7 April 1896 – 27 November 1979), was a prominent activist and politician in Punjab, active before and after the independence of Pakistan.

Family background and education Jahanara Shahnawaz belonged to the prominent Arain Mian family of Baghbanpura in Lahore. Her father Sir Muhammad Shafi was a prominent lawyer and politician.

She was educated at Queen Mary College, Lahore. A dedicated member of the All India Muslim League, she was also a leading advocate for women's rights. She was the daughter of Sir Muhammad Shafi and the wife of Mian Muhammad Shahnawaz whom she married in 1911.

In 1937, she was elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Medical Relief and Public Health. Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan intervened, and the Muslim Personal Law of Shariat of 1948 was passed; it legally recognized a woman's right to inherit property, including agricultural land, which had not been recognized during the British Raj. She was also associated with the education and orphanage committees of the Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam, in Lahore, and with several hospitals, as well as maternity and child welfare committees. She also wrote for women's and literary magazines.

Jahanara Shahnawaz worked for the economic independence of Pakistan. She was of the view that the foreign policy of Pakistan should be based on trade among nations and not aid.