An extraordinary Pakistani girl, who became the world’s youngest IT expert, died from despite being offered help from Micros
oft.
Arfa Karim, whose talents were recognised at the age of 9, suffered an epileptic fit and a cardiac arrest in December.
She spent almost four weeks in a coma before dying from complications.
The 16-year-old became a Microsoft Professional after flying through a series of company exams aimed for developers and consultants.
The extraordinary feat caught the attention of Microsoft, who invited the youngster to the company’s headquarters inSeattle, where she met chairman Bill Gates.
It was during the meeting that she discussed her idea for a self navigating car.
Microsoft offered to help the Arfa and arranged for American doctors to offer advice to consultants treating her at a hospital inLahore.
The firm also offered the girl to be flown to theUSfor treatment if her condition improved enough for her to travel.
Arfa’s death has come as a shock to both the government and the media. President Asif Ali Zardari and his prime minister said they had held prayers for her.
Dawn newspaper said, “Arfa’s talent is a testament to the unexplored, unrecognised abilities that lie within millions ofPakistan’s young people – potential that needs to be tapped.”
