World’s youngest Microsoft professional Arfa Karim passes away

The youngest Microsoft professional, Arfa Karim passes away at the age of 16 in a Lahore hospital on Saturday.

Arfa fell desperately ill last month and doctors say she has suffered brain damage, leaving her in a coma at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Lahore. She was suffering from idiopathic epilepsy seizures which led to brain damage.

The medical experts say the epilepsy can be caused by various infectious and non-infectious diseases but in idiopathic epilepsy no underlying disease of the brain or body can be identified in the early or short investigations.

Born in 1995, Arfa was invited to the Microsoft headquarters in the US by Bill Gates for being the world’s youngest MCP. Gates had also offered to conduct the child legend’s treatment in the US, but the doctors advised against transporting her to the US due to the risk involved. However, the doctors at the CMH continued her treatment in consultation with specialists in the United States. 

Arfa had earned the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of science and technology and the Salam Pakistan Youth Award in 2005 for her achievements. Arfa is also the youngest recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance. 

Arfa also earned her first flight certificate by flying a plane at a flying club in Dubai at the age of 10, and was invited by Microsoft in 2006 to be a keynote speaker at the Tech-Ed Developers Conference, where she was the only Pakistani among over 5,000 developers.

Arfa became the youngest Microsoft professional after completing her MCP in 2004 at the age of only 9. Upon completing her course, Microsoft owner Bill Gates invited her to visit the company’s headquarters in the US. Software Development Division Vice President Somasegar also acknowledged her achievement. 

Arfa was studying at the Lahore Grammar School`s Paragon Campus for her A Levels. She also received numerous awards and gold medals from private and government institutions for her achievement.

Her funeral was held at Cavalry Ground Lahore on Sunday. May ALLAH bless her soul in peace.