KARACHI, Aug 15: Bibi Begum Qureshi, who had the distinction of being one of the first few women in the subcontinent to acquire high academic and professional excellence, died at Edhi Home on Tuesday midnight. She was 89.

Dr Qureshi held a doctorate in agriculture economics and taught at three foreign universities for many years. She was also said to have taught former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan in Ghana.

“She came to live at the Edhi Home multiple times. It’s extremely unfortunate that such a great lady died at a shelter home for destitute women. She was so upset with her relatives that she often told the staff they should also take care of her body when she died,” said Anwar Kazmi representing the Edhi Foundation.

The organisation was undecided about the place of her burial and her body was kept in the Edhi mortuary in Sohrab Goth, he said.“Her relatives have also forwarded a request to perform the last rites. But we will take a decision on Thursday,” he said.

Born in Muradabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Dr Qureshi got her bachelors and masters degrees from the Aligarh Muslim University after receiving education from Gokuldas Girls College and Partab Singh High School.

She did her MLitt and PhD from the Trinity College of University of Dublin in 1960. She faced financial constraints and at times had to borrow money, but she continued to pursue higher studies.

After completing her studies, Dr Qureshi returned to Pakistan and taught at the Government College for Women in Rawalpindi for about five years. She also taught at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, the University of Lusaka, Zambia, and the University of Nairobi, Kenya.