Ishrat Afreen

• Name — Ishrat Afreen • Birth Name — Ishrat Jehan • Born — 25 December 1956 • Birthplace — Karachi, Pakistan • Other Names — Ishrat Aafreen • Known for — Part of the feminist movement in Urdu literature • Occupation — Urdu poet, writer

Afreen was born Ishrat Jehan in Karachi into an educated family, the eldest of five children. She was first published at the age of fourteen in the Daily Jang, with the date of that publication given in secondary sources as 31 April 1971. She continued writing and was published in numerous literary magazines across India and Pakistan. She pursued undergraduate studies at Allama Iqbal Government College, Karachi, and later received a master's degree in Urdu literature from the University of Karachi. She also taught at the Aga Khan School and boarding house.

Afreen became assistant editor of the monthly magazine Awaaz, edited by the poet Fahmida Riaz. Alongside her writing, she participated in several radio programmes on Radio Pakistan from 1970 to 1984 that were broadcast nationally and internationally. She later worked under Mirza Jamil on the Noori Nastaliq Urdu script for InPage. Afreen is currently the principal Urdu lecturer for The University of Texas at Austin's Hindi Urdu Flagship Program.

In 1985, Afreen married Syed Perwaiz Jafri, an Indian lawyer, and settled in India. The couple moved to the United States in 1990 and now reside in Houston, Texas. They have three children.

Ishrat Afreen is recorded with the occupation teacher. Recorded as poet, teacher and writer.