Shabnam spent her early life in Lahore, Pakistan, and received a master's degree in Urdu literature.

She received a Master of Arts degree in Urdu literature from Oriental College, Lahore.

[1] After finishing her studies, she joined Queen's Mary College, Lahore as a professor of Urdu language and literature.

[1] Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf gave his condolences to the family in a message expressing his grief over her death.

Some of her other published poetry collections were Shabzaad (1987), Izteraab (1994), Taqreeb Kuch Tau (2003) and Musafat Raigan Thi (2008).