Arfa Karim - The Pride of Pakistan. By: Hiba Mazhar.

             (Corporate and Technology)

Arfa Karim came, performed and conquered. Her credits and achievements are too many to count. She brought together her capabilities and showed that miracles were possible anywhere, any place at any time. Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft, passed on positive remarks about Pakistan altogether after meeting with Arfa. She got lucky enough to ace the honor of receiving the World’s Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional when she was only 9 years old (2004). Bill Gates personally invited her to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in the USA. He was so much impressed by this girl that he immediately ordered his HR team to hire people from Pakistan. He never regretted that decision for we have so much young talent in our country. It is just that we are only hesitant to organize and identify our strengths.

                                  

Afra Karim is a shining example for the youth as well as all the elders currently living in Pakistan. She was given the Fatima Jinnah Gold Medal  which she received from our former Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz. She was also honored with the Salaam Pakistan Youth Award in 2005. Besides, Arfa won the Presidential Award for the Pride of Performance. As I mentioned earlier, the awards and appreciations are just too many to count.

Being the normal yet extra-ordinary little girl, she was a certified pilot as well as equally adept in Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle products. She could present complex technical concepts easily. She was the teacher of hundreds of people, and was particularly interested in finishing up digital divide within her own country. She loved Pakistan and wanted recognition for her country. She would go out and bring in more respect for the citizens to brag about.

People! The question is whether we can fulfill her dream or not? Does this nation owe some respect to all the efforts carried out by Arfa or not? Unfortunately, she remained at (ICU) CMH after suffering from an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest. After consistent fighting for her life for the next 26 days, she left us thinking, tearful, and with the gift of believing in ourselves. It is time that we take a stand and make the world realize. Our worth. Our capabilities. We are capable to make a difference in this world. All alone by our own selves. With just a little effort and realization at our end. STAND UP, PAKISTAN! :)

-Author: Hiba Mazhar.