Nation Mourns the Passing of Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra Legacy

Legendary Scholar and Activist Passes at 83

Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra, the esteemed educationist, human rights advocate, and Urdu scholar, breathed her last in Lahore at age 83. Her niece confirmed the sad news, revealing the distinguished academic will be buried in the family graveyard at Cavalry Ground, Lahore. The demise of this intellectual giant has created a vacuum in Pakistan’s academic and literary spheres that will be difficult to fill.

A Lifetime Dedicated to Education and Empowerment

Dr. Zehra’s illustrious career spanned decades of service to academia and social causes. She shaped young minds as Principal of Government College for Women in Gulberg and later shared her wisdom as Professor Emeritus at Forman Christian College. Holding a PhD in History from the University of Hawaiʻi, the polyglot scholar mastered seven languages, using her linguistic prowess to bridge cultural divides. Her contributions to Urdu literature and historical scholarship remain unparalleled in Pakistan’s intellectual landscape.

National Leaders Pay Tribute to an Icon

President Asif Ali Zardari led the nation in mourning, describing Dr. Zehra’s passing as an “irreplaceable loss” to Pakistan’s cultural and educational heritage. Beyond her academic achievements, Dr. Zehra will be remembered for her passionate advocacy of women’s rights and tireless efforts to promote Urdu as a vehicle for national identity. Her legacy continues through the countless students she mentored and the progressive values she championed throughout her remarkable life.