Recognition

Born in England to an Indian father {a jeweler to royalty} and an English mother, then growing up in India, Laila Shahzada moved to newly created Pakistan during partition. She was one of the first women painters in Pakistan to gain international recognition, with exhibitions around the world including Pakistan, London, Paris, Tokyo, Monte Carlo and New York. Her honors include the Pride of Performance, Pakistan's highest civil award by the government, and the "Key to the City" of New York -- the first and only Pakistani to receive this award.

She was also recently featured on a stamp by the Pakistan Post.