Renowned human rights activist, poet, and educationist Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra passed away in Lahore on Monday at the age of 83. Her niece, Ameena Kamal, confirmed the news to Dawn, stating that Dr Zehra will be laid to rest in her family graveyard at Cavalry Ground, Lahore, with funeral details to be announced later.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over her passing, calling it an “irreparable loss for Pakistan’s academic and literary circles.” He praised Dr Zehra for dedicating her life to the pursuit of knowledge, research, and the promotion of Urdu language and national values. “Her scholarly contributions and tireless efforts for education and social reform will always be remembered,” the president stated in his condolence message.
Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra was celebrated for her vast knowledge of Urdu literature, her advocacy for women’s rights, and her lifelong commitment to education. Over a career spanning more than five decades, she served as a teacher, mentor, and inspiration to generations of students.
She held several key positions, including Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in 2006, and taught at leading institutions such as Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), LUMS, National College of Arts (NCA), and the Forman Christian College (FCC), where she served as a meritorious professor of history until her resignation last year due to health concerns.
Dr Zehra’s academic journey began in Lahore, where she earned her BA (Honours) from LCWU and MA in Urdu from Government College University (GCU). She later pursued an MA in Asian Studies and PhD in History from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA.
A distinguished intellectual and poet, Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra leaves behind a profound legacy of scholarship, advocacy for women’s empowerment, and devotion to education — values that will continue to inspire Pakistan’s academic and cultural community.
