LAHORE/FAISALABAD, Jan 15: The world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Arfa Karim Randhawa, was laid to rest at Chak 4-JB graveyard, Ramdiwali, native town of her elders in Faisalabad district.

Hundreds of people belonging to different walks of life, including government officials, were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered funeral prayers for her at Cavalry Ground, Lahore. Some members of national and provincial assemblies also attended the funeral. Expressing his condolences with the bereaved family, he said Arfa was a glittering star of Pakistan and she made the whole nation proud by ach-leving the prominent place in information technology at a very young age.

On the direction of the chief minister, the Punjab government has decided to name the Lahore Information Technology Park after Arfa Karim. Talking to her father, the chief minister said Arfa won laurels for the nation and the country. He said she also impressed the people older to her and she was an asset to the entire Pakistan. 'Her death at a very young age is tragic and we equally share your grief.

Shahbaz Sharif said he was personally thankful to Bill Gates for taking interest in the treatment of Arfa. 'Now it is duty of every Pakistani youth to come forward in the information technology sector for repaying this national debt of Arfa Karim.' The chief minister announcedthat parents of Arfa would be the chief guests at the function of distribution of free laptops among male and female students by the Punjab government.

Later, two funeral prayers for Arfa were offered in Faisalabad; first at D-Ground of People's Colony and second at the Government High School ground at Chak 2-JB, Ramdiwali.

Faisalabad Commissioner Tahir Husain, MNA Abid Sher Ali, MPAs halling from the Pakistan Muslim LeagueN, traders, industrialists and others also attended the funeral.

DCO Nasim Sadiq has named D Ground after Arfa Karim.

Meanwhile, the concluding ceremony of the Commissioner Kabbadi Tournament was postponed owing to the demise of Arfa.