Human rights activist, poet, and educationist Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra passed away on Monday. Her niece Amina Kamal told Dawn that Dr. Arfa died in Lahore at the age of 83.
Amina Kamal said that Dr. Arfa will be buried tomorrow in her family graveyard at Cavalry Ground Lahore, and the funeral prayer timing will be announced later.
The Pakistan Peoples Party said on social media that President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of the educationist.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا معروف ماہرِ تعلیم، دانشور اور ادیبہ ڈاکٹر عارفہ سیدہ زہرا کے انتقال پر گہرے رنج و غم کا اظہار۔
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 10, 2025
ڈاکٹر عارفہ سیدہ زہرا کی وفات پاکستان کے علمی و ادبی حلقوں کے لیے ایک ناقابلِ تلافی نقصان ہے: صدر زرداری
ڈاکٹر عارفہ سیدہ زہرا نے اپنی زندگی علم، تحقیق…
Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra’s death is an irreplaceable loss for Pakistan’s academic and literary circles. She dedicated her life to knowledge, research, and serving humanity.
President Zardari said she set a shining example and added that her scholarly work and efforts to promote the national language will always be remembered. He expressed heartfelt condolences to her family, students, and the academic community.
Dr. Arfa Zehra was known for her deep knowledge of Urdu literature and language and remained active in teaching for over 50 years. She was also a member of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and served as its chairperson in 2006.
Born and raised in Lahore, Dr. Arfa earned a BA with honors from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), an MA in Urdu from Government College University Lahore, and an MA in Asian Studies and a PhD in History from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
She served as a teacher and principal at LCWU and later taught at LUMS, National College of Arts (NCA), and the School of Public Policy, Government of Pakistan. She was also a professor of history at Forman Christian College Lahore but resigned last year due to health issues.
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