LAHORE: Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, one of Pakistan’s most respected scholars, human rights activists, and educationists, passed away in Lahore on Monday at the age of 83, her family confirmed.
Her niece, Ameena Kamal, told Dawn that Dr Zehra would be buried in her family graveyard in Lahore’s Cavalry Ground.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “profound grief” over her passing, describing it as “an irreparable loss for Pakistan’s academic and literary circles.”
In a message shared by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on X, Zardari said Dr Zehra had “dedicated her life to knowledge, research, and service to humanity,” calling her “a shining example of intellectual excellence.”
He added that her “scholarly contributions and efforts for the promotion of the national language will always be remembered.”
A Lifetime of Scholarship and Service
Dr Zehra, widely recognised for her command of Urdu literature and South Asian history, spent over five decades in teaching and public service. She served as Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in 2006 and remained an influential voice for women’s rights and education reform in Pakistan.
Born and raised in Lahore, she completed her BA (Honours) from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and a Master’s in Urdu from Government College University, Lahore. She later earned an MA in Asian Studies and a PhD in History from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA.
Educator, Reformer, and Cultural Voice
Throughout her career, Dr Zehra held academic and leadership roles at some of Pakistan’s most prominent institutions, including LCWU, the National College of Arts (NCA), the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and the Government’s School of Public Policy.
She most recently served as Meritorious Professor of History at Forman Christian College University (FCCU), a position she resigned from last year due to health concerns.
Dr Zehra’s career combined scholarship with activism — her lectures, essays, and public engagements often focused on language identity, women’s empowerment, and civic ethics in Pakistani society.
Tributes poured in from academics, writers, and students across Pakistan. Many described her as a “moral compass” of the country’s educational landscape — a scholar who bridged classical thought with modern discourse.
Her passing marks the end of an era for Pakistan’s intellectual and literary community, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship deeply rooted in human dignity, social justice, and cultural enlightenment.
