In 1963, Behnam transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Arts and Culture and 1964 she returned to Pakistan with an appointment to teach Persian in Lahore at the Iranian Cultural Center.[27] Returning to school while simultaneously working, she completed bachelor's degree in 1967[28] and then earned a master's degree in literature from the University of Punjab in Lahore.[6][8] Upon receipt of her bachelor's, Behnam was promoted to director of the Cultural Center,[29] becoming the first Iranian woman appointed as a cultural attaché.[6] During this time frame, there was considerable unrest in Pakistan as well as two wars: the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and Pakistani Civil War in 1971.