The Mian (ur|{{Nastaliq|میاں) is a Pakistani Punjabi noble Arain family who were the owner of Ishaqpura region, the territory where the Mughal Empire wanted to build a Garden named as Shalimar in Lahore.
The Baghbanpura family members ware considered authoritative by the Mughals for their services for the community. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan gave the larger extended family the title of 'Mian'. Mian Muhammad Yousaf, then family head, gifted his ancestral land to the emperor in lieu of a garden. The project was finished by 1642 AD and emperor Shah Jahan granted the area back to the same family appointing them as the custodians of the site and Shalimar Gardens, Lahore. Since that day to General Ayub Khan's martial law, the Shalimar Garden was under the care of the same family. With passage of time, their extended family also adopted the title 'Mian'. By the 20th century, off-shoots of Arain tribe associated with Mian Family also adopted Mian as their surname, now commonly referred to as 'Mian Baradari' (community or sub-tribe) in general.
The Mian Arain family has been residing in Baghbanpura, Lahore since the 10th century.[1]
The British favoured the ‘Mian family’ for their "hard work, frugality and sense of discipline". Subsequent development of towns and cities and increasing urbanisation resulted in their additional value. Many of them used the profession of law and some of them used journalism to enter politics.[2]