The building was originally built as a residence by two famous Sikh brothers, Mohan Singh and Sohan Singh. This became the presidency of Pakistan around early 1970's. the rooms are steeped in history; personalities like Mr Chaudhry Fazal Elahi, President Zia-ul-Haq and Benazir Bhutto have walked in the corridors of the building.
Ex. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated his gift for the nation's daughters and their families on August 6, 1998. The University is unique in the fact that the Punjab Government funds it. The Government of Punjab is very supportive of the University thereby furthering the cause of women education and empowerment.
Classes were initiated at FJWU on December 28, 1998 and the first session of students graduated in September 2001. Students have been coming from all over the country as far as Balochistan, southern most Punjab, and Sindh. From 1998 to 2006 more than 2300 students have been awarded degree and effectively employed in various organisations within and outside the country.
FJWU strives to advance learning to the highest levels attainable through research, teaching and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of its female students in particular and society in general. It provides an environment which enables students to develop their academic, moral, physical, professional and spiritual potential.
Another particularly unique detail related to FJWU is that all the high offices of the University including administrative and management sections are headed by women. Women are working in all capacities at all levels of management and governance.
Currently the University is offering degrees in 15 Undergraduate, 13 Graduate and 7 Ph.D. Programs. Two undergraduate degrees included in 1999 are highly competitive - the Bachelors of Computer Arts (BCA) is the only being offered in the country and the Bachelors of Software is an Engineering degree.
In all these programs qualified professionals from the market are invited to teach and conduct workshops on campus to keep students in touch with the requirements and latest needs of the market. Courses currently being taught by the University are highly market oriented and are regularly updated.
Multidisciplinary approach is encouraged to widen the scope of learning. Students have a wide- ranging choice of areas to tailor their degree according to their own unique needs and options. This is inline with international academic norms. At the same time we ensure that our own academic standards and demands are fully met.
Research thesis is requirement for qualifying for any degree at FJWU. The topics of research are related to our needs and concerns and some are linked to industry.
Ph.D. is offered in the areas that have a strong graduate faculty. Women scholars are required to do sixty credit of course work to be registered formally for the Ph.D. degree. The requirements of the Higher Education Commission for Ph.D. are followed and endorsed to make this an academically sound program.
The women friendly nature of the university is revealed in its day-care center that is managed by trained medical staff. This facility is open to the staff, faculty and students. They can concentrate on their work without neglecting their other familial responsibilities. The Continuing Education Program(CEP) is another endeavor to facilitate women to come back to higher education at their own pace and need.
FJWU runs regular workshops and courses for the professional development of its staff and faculty. This facility is also extended to the female faculty of other universities. A Faculty Retreat is planned every summer to discuss academic and co-curricular issues in an informal environment. This helps the faculty to unwind and plan for the approaching academic year in relaxed conditions. There is an annual review of faculty research to encourage women professionals to become active part of the academic research culture participation in international and national conferences, for presenting papers and conducting workshops, is facilitated and encouraged.
Fatima Jinnah Women University's Placement Office equips students with prerequisites of jobs through conducting seminars like Career Counselling. Graduates are optimally prepared for the job market since, along with intensive course work; they also have to fulfil the mandatory requirement of the award of degree including internship and community work. This is why FJWU graduates are working in leading multinationals, NGOS and government organisations and donor agencies/institutions such as International Monetary Fund, State Bank of Pakistan, Islamic Relief Fund, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, Pakistan Air Force etc.
In view of the internationalisation of higher education, universities are reaching out to share knowledge, expertise and other human resources across international borders and continents. Ph.D. students of FJWU were sent to UK (Institute of Education, University of London). Further many foreign faculty members have conducted different courses at FJWU.
In order to build functional and mutual beneficial relations with international institutions, FJWU has established a Center for Collaboration and Linkages (CCL) that has enabled it to sign MOUs with eight renowned Universities of America, Canada, Philippines and UK. This is a newly created facility that supervises the management of events being held at FJWU. Foreign faculty from all over the world comes to FJWU for short/ long term visits/ teaching.
In collaboration with USAID and Internews International, FJWU has recently established a Campus Radio, which started its transmission on February 23, 2006. It is the first women's radio station in Pakistan, managed by women university and went live on air on the eve of 59th anniversary of Pakistan's Independence.