ISLAMABAD: Renowned educationist, scholar, and human rights activist Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra passed away, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of academic brilliance and social advocacy.
She was among Pakistan’s most respected intellectuals, having devoted her life to education, literature, and the promotion of human rights.
Dr Arfa earned her doctorate in history from the University of Hawaii, USA, after being awarded the prestigious East-West Centre Fellowship.
She also holds a master’s degree in South Asian studies, with her academic specialisation in intellectual history and South Asian social issues.
Her distinguished teaching and research career spanned more than 45 years, during which she inspired generations of students.
Alongside her academic pursuits, Dr Arfa was a strong advocate for gender equality and human development, dedicating her life to the cause of women’s empowerment and equal rights.
She served as the Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, Government of Pakistan, where she played a pivotal role in policy reforms aimed at improving the lives of women across the country.
Her scholarship and activism extended beyond academia; she was an influential public speaker and represented Pakistan at global forums, including the United Nations and the Brookings Institution in the United States.
Dr Arfa was also a professor in the Department of History at Forman Christian College (FCC), Lahore, and had previously served as the principal of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU).
Over the years, she taught at several prestigious institutions, including the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and the National School of Public Policy.
In addition to her academic contributions, Dr Arfa was deeply committed to preserving and promoting the Urdu language and literature, often calling for a “literary revolution” among Pakistan’s youth.
She was known for her deep appreciation of Ghalib and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and frequently addressed forums on the cultural and historical richness of Urdu.
A recipient of the University of Hawaii Distinguished Alumni Award (2016), Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra’s passing marks the end of an era in Pakistan’s intellectual and human rights landscape.
Her students, colleagues, and admirers remember her as a voice of compassion, integrity, and enlightenment, a woman who combined intellect with empathy and scholarship with social purpose.
The president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, expressed “deep grief” over her passing, calling this “an irreparable loss to Pakistan’s academic & literary community.” According to the official statement, the president “prayed for her soul and offered condolences to the bereaved family.”
Prominent intellectuals, academicians, and media personalities also paid a rich tribute to her services.
Journalist and writer Nasim Zehra said that the news of Dr Zehra’s demise was “Heartbreaking” and wrote that “the world has lost a truly exceptional human being and intellectual”.
“May she rest in peace,” she prayed.
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