Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, a human rights activist, poet and education expert, died on Monday.

The author’s niece, Ameena Kamal, confirmed to Dawn that Zehra had passed in Lahore at age 83.

“Dr Arfa will be buried in her family graveyard, Cavalry Ground, Lahore, tomorrow, and the time of her funeral will be announced at a later time,” Kamal said.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed “profound grief” over the educationist’s passing, the PPP posted on the social media platform X.

“The demise of Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra is an irreparable loss for Pakistan’s academic and literary circles,” he said, adding that the intellectual had dedicated her life to knowledge, research, and service to humanity.

He said she had “set a shining example”, adding, “Her scholarly contributions and efforts for the promotion of the national language will always be remembered.”

Zardari expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the deceased’s family, students, and academic community.

Dr Zehra was recognised for her knowledge of Urdu literature and language and served as a teacher for over 50 years. She had also been a member of the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and served as its chairperson in 2006.

Born and brought up in Lahore, she completed her Bachelor of Arts (BA) with honours from Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Urdu from Government College University in Lahore, as well as an MA in Asian Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History from the University of Hawaii in Manoa.

She also served as a teacher and principal at LCWU as well as the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), National College of Arts, and School of Public Policy, Government of Pakistan. In addition, she was a meritorious professor of history at the Forman Christian College in Lahore, resigning last year due to health issues.