Government Fatima Jinnah College for Women is an autonomous women's college in Chuna Mandi, Lahore, Punjab. [1] [2] Before establishment of the college, it was a haveli and was known as Dhyan Singh Haveli, or Asif Jah Haveli. [3] [4]
The building of the college is 400 years old and was built by Abu'l-Hasan Asaf Khan, the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. [5] It was also used by Dhian Singh, a wazir of the Sikh Empire. [3] After the British defeated the Sikh Empire, the building was taken over and used as the office of assistant commissioner. [4]
In 1864, the haveli was used by the Government College, Lahore and the Oriental College, Lahore for the preliminary classes. [6] [7] In 1871, the Government College, Lahore was shifted to a new building and the haveli was converted into Dhiyan Singh School which was renamed in 1947 as City Muslim League High School. [6]
In 1986, it was converted into a college named after Fatima Jinnah, Government Fatima Jinnah College for Women, by then Punjab Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif. [5]