Arfa, 16, had an epileptic attack on December 22 and had been in a coma since. Brought to the Combined Military Hospital in Lahore, Arfa showed encouraging signs as recently as a day before she lost the battle for life. As the nation mourned the loss of the young genius, her family took her coffin draped in the national flag to bury her in her ancestral town of Faisalabad.
“We have recently approved a commemorative stamp for her, which will also promote a soft image of Pakistan globally and send out a positive message to the world,” Gilani told reporters on Sunday in Lahore, where he had gone to meet Arfa’s bereaved family.
He said that he understood the real value of what Pakistan had lost since he was the information technology minister and Arfa was a genius of that field. He said that they were considering establishing an institute that will be run by Arfa’s parents.
The Sindh and Punjab government have already announced that information technology parks will be named in Arfa’s memory.
Names for civilian awards are announced on August 14 every year while an award ceremony is held on March 23 at the President’s House in Islamabad. Arfa, who completed her MCP course at the phenomenally young age of nine, was already a recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance and the government’s Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal. She had also been given the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award.
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We can,t forget you Arfa because you are our first Microsoft Certified Professional Youngest girl. we love you always
@Umer:
I strongly agree with youstrong text
I am indeed saddened by Arfa's death but realistically she doesn't belong in category of "highest civilian award" just because of "Microsoft cerfitication" even at an early age.
People like "Edhi" who have spent all their lives in serving the poor nation of ours are the true receipients of "highest civilian award" strong text
thank god she is not a bhutto : )
I was depressed when i heard about her not been well her death took my breath away.. i love her as i have daughters the same age.. .. and she surely is an example for all..
but why cant we recognize people when they are alive so they can excel more.. we Pakistanis are only appreciative of efforts made by people after they pass away..
Sad but true...
i believe all these leaders are just playing to the gallery...trying to find common ground through a non-controversial lil hero (of sorts)
btw, her father is an ex army man, right? hmm....that i think explains a kid receiving an award that is also given to martyrs, those who die with their boots on!! whats the criteria again??
i like Arfa, but i am not sure if i like this over the top treatment, with provincial and federal government trying to outdo each other...yes! she did something extraordinary, but govt has already acknowledged that with Salaam Pakistan Youth Award (2005) and President's Award for Pride of Performance.. Move on!! give scholarship to the deserving living ones! name the scholarship after arfa, if you must
@dirty democracy:
How? Please explain.
This is Pakistan.
But seriously, has she really done so much to deserve the 'highest civilian award'? In other words people like Edhi who have life time achievement of saving lives and caring for widows and orphans are in the same category as Arfa. May be Edhi Sahib should return the medal.
We are a laughing stock in the world...every day.
"highest civilian award"? Seriously?
I live in UAE with my family and kids. I have a daughter of 9 years studying and used to cite Arfa Kareem’s name as a role model to follow as what wonders a Pakistani child can do. The news of her sudden death really saddened all of us, felt as if lost some family member has been lost. Giving her a highest civilian award will corroborate Arfa's name as role model.
As much as I appreciate what Arfa accomplished, and am saddened by the tragedy of her death, I think this is getting ridiculous. People are free to idolize whom they choose. Arfa represented what Pakistanis could achieve. But are we really so desperate that we need to give our "highest civilian award" to someone who hasn't achieved much OVERALL? Compare her achievements to those of people in other countries--to those who've spent their entire lives in worthy, intelligent and noble causes, and have received lesser awards. We should celebrate Arfa's life and mourn her death. But these shenanigans cheapen the award and more importantly they don't do justice to the life of that young girl. There are many "Microsoft Certified Professionals," but there will be only one Arfa. Let's remember her for being a human being and not a poster-girl for some sensationalized bs. She achieved much in so little time. I am sorry for the loss that her parents feel. May God let her rest in peace. As for Pakistanis, use this lesson to build better hospitals. Then maybe in the future deaths like this won't happen.
Well deserved.