Renowned educationist, human rights activist Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra passes away

Lahore (Web Desk): Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, a towering figure in Pakistan’s academic and social reform landscape, passed away on Monday in Lahore.

Born and raised in Lahore, she completed her undergraduate studies with honours at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU). She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Urdu from Government College University, Lahore, followed by an MA in Asian Studies and a PhD in History from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.

Dr Zehra had a distinguished career in education, serving as both teacher and principal at LCWU. 
She also contributed to the academic community at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), the National College of Arts, and the School of Public Policy, Government of Pakistan.

For many years, she was a respected professor of history at Forman Christian College in Lahore, a position she relinquished last year due to health reasons.

Her work extended beyond teaching, as she held a UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage, focusing on safeguarding Pakistan’s intellectual and literary heritage.

Dr Zehra was widely recognized for her expertise in Urdu literature and language, dedicating more than fifty years to teaching.

She also played a key role in advocating for women’s rights, serving as a member of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and chairing the commission in 2006.

Dr Arfa Sayeda's death marks the end of a remarkable era in Pakistan’s educational and cultural spheres, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over her death describing it as an “irreparable loss for Pakistan’s academic and literary circles.”

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۔

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…

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 10, 2025

In a post on a social media platform X, he praised her lifelong dedication to scholarship, research, and service to humanity, noting that she had set a “shining example” and that her contributions to promoting the national language would be remembered forever.

The president also offered condolences to her family, students, and colleagues.