Arfa Karim was Pakistan’s first female computer scientist, who helped develop the country’s pioneering software industry. More than anything, she wanted to get more women interested in science. This blog will tell you more about Afra Karim and her cause of death. So, keep reading to learn more!
Who was Arfa Karim?
Arfa Karim was a Pakistani child prodigy who became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) at the age of nine. She was born in Faisalabad, Pakistan on February 2, 1995, and died on January 14, 2012, aged 16.
Karim started using computers at the age of four. When she was six years old, she began attending the Lahore Grammar School where she studied computer science. In 2004, at the age of nine, she became the youngest MCP after passing the Microsoft Certification Exam 70-290 in Lahore. The following year, she was invited to visit Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington by Bill Gates. In 2006, she was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance by General Pervez Musharraf.
Karim continued her studies and later enrolled at Punjab University where she was studying for a bachelor’s degree in computer science when she died suddenly on January 14, 2012 due to an epileptic seizure.
The impact Arfa Karim had on Pakistan
Arfa Karim was a Pakistani computer prodigy who, at the age of nine, became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional. She was also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Pride of Performance.
Karim was born in Faisalabad on February 2, 1995. Her father, Amjad Karim, is a businessman and her mother, Farah Karim, is a housewife. She has two brothers and one sister.
Karim’s parents encouraged her to pursue her interests in computers and she started attending Lahore Grammar School at the age of six. In 2004, she went to the United States to participate in the TechnoKids Computer Curriculum International Competition and won first prize.
Upon her return to Pakistan, Karim was invited to meet with then-President Pervez Musharraf. In 2006, she represented Pakistan at the Technolympics in Greece and won a gold medal. That same year, she was invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In 2007, Karim received the President’s Award for Pride of Performance – becoming the youngest person ever to receive the award. The following year, she met with Bill Gates and spoke at TEDxTeen – an event organized by TED for teenagers.
Record-breaking achievement
In 2005, she was invited to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington, USA. There she met with Bill Gates, the co-founder and then-chairman of Microsoft. In 2006, she was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance by General Pervez Musharraf, the President of Pakistan.
Karim’s achievement is all the more remarkable because she came from a humble background and had little formal education. She was born in a small town in Punjab Province, Pakistan and her parents were not well off. In fact, her father worked as a labourer in Saudi Arabia to support his family.
Despite these circumstances, Karim had a natural aptitude for computers and quickly learned how to use them. When she was just six years old, she started attendig computer classes at a local centre. It wasn’t long before she had mastered various programming languages and software applications.
Her talent was soon recognised by the Pakistani media and she started appearing on television shows and giving interviews about her extraordinary skills. This led to her being invited to meet Bill Gates when he came to Pakistan in 2005.
During their meeting, Gates praised Karim for her achievement and predicted that she would “go very far”. He also gave her a signed copy of his book Business @ the Speed
Arfa Karim’s cause of death.
Arfa Karim died of cardiac arrest on January 14, 2012, at the age of 16. She had been in a coma for nine days after suffering a brain hemorrhage following an electric shock.
Gates later described Karim as “a great role model” for young women interested in careers in technology.
Karim’s death came as a shock to the global tech community and highlights the need for better access to quality medical care for young people in developing countries.
Conclusion
Arfa Karim Randhawa was a Pakistani child prodigy who, in 2004 at the age of nine, became the youngest Microsoft Certified, Professional. Arfa achieved this feat after she developed an interest in computers and taught herself how to program. Arfa’s parents put her in touch with a local computer training institute where she received formal instruction and certification. After becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional, Arfa gave talks about her experiences as a child prodigy and encouraged other children to follow their dreams. Sadly, Arfa passed away in 2012 at the age of 16 due to complications from an epileptic seizure. She was survived by her father and mother.
If you’re looking to learn about other subjects, the Noon app is a great option. With over 10,000 lectures available offline, it’s easy to find something that interests you. And since you can also learn from teachers all around the world, there’s no reason not to give it a try. So what are you waiting for? Download the Noon app now and start learning!