To honour Arfa Karim Randhawa, the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional who passed away at the age of 16 in Lahore on Saturday, Karachi’s Information Technology Media City has been renamed after the young genius, Sindh Information Minister Mohammad Raza Haroon announced on Sunday.
Arfa was a computer prodigy, who in 2004, at the age of nine, became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in the world, a title she kept until 2008.
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.
She received the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of science and technology in 2005, besides the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award.
She has also received President’s Award for Pride of Performance. She was invited to Microsoft Headquarters again in November 2006 as a part of the keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers conference held in Barcelona.
The “Arfa Karim Information Technology Media City” – a project of the Sindh Information Technology Department – is being developed over 200 acres at the Link Road between the Super Highway and the National Highway.
Separately, Sindh Information and Electric Power Minister Shazia
Marri, expressing grief over the demise of Arfa, said that the young
genius’ death is a time of immense sadness.
Extending condolences to Arfa’s family and friends, she said that children like Arfa pave a way for other children and her achievements will remain a beacon for all Pakistani children.
”Arfa has left us with so much to do and think about; her short life was filled with achievements and she has left the messages of hard-work and perseverance,” she added.
“Young Arfa was a positive girl and her mind was focused on using her potential to
prove herself and to do something for her country. She made Pakistan proud with her achievement by becoming the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional and letting the world know that Pakistani kids are no less than anyone in the world.”
Marri said she appeals to all young people of Pakistan to believe in their potential and the ability to do something for themselves and the country just like Arfa did.
Karachi’s IT Media City renamed after departed young genius
