Bill Gates's grief as girl computer genius dies after epileptic fit aged just 16
A teenager who aged nine became the world's youngest Microsoft Certified Professional has died.
Computer genius Arfa Karim Randhawa, 16, from Faisalabad, Pakistan, died on Saturday night after complications resulting from an epileptic stroke.
The Microsoft Certified Professional award is a title given to those who master the company's programs and is often used by adults to further their careers in the tech field.
Young genius: Arfa Karim Randhawa, from Faisalabad, Pakistan, became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of nine in 2005
Her hero: Karim pictured with Microsoft founder Bill Gates (left) in 2006
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After being given the certification, Karim was subsequently invited to visit Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, by the conmpany's founder Bill Gates.
Karim, then ten, met with Gates and other Microsoft executives during the visit, impressing them with her knowledge of programming at such a young age.
According to Geo.TV, after Karim was taken in to hospital, Gates reached out to the family and offered to pay for her medical care. It was reported he also proposed moving Karim to the U.S. for better treatment, although doctors decided it was against her best interests given she was on a ventilator.
Her father, Amjad Karim, revealed that he was saddened to learn of her death and the loss of such a rare talent.
Funeral prayers were offered on Sunday in Lahore before her body was taken to her native village Ram Dewali, Faisalabad, for burial.
A promising future: After earning the MCP title, Karim was subsequently invited to visit Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond, Washington
Dream come true: Karim and Microsoft founder Bill Gates enjoyed a brief meeting during her visit to the U.S. in 2006
Scores of people, including Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, ministers, politicians, friends and Karim's fellow students gathered to support the grieving family during the procession.
According to local reports, Karim went into a coma on December 22 after suffering an epileptic attack and cardiac arrest.
She was admitted to treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Lahore and was on life support at the Intensive Care Unit when she suffered a tracheotomy complication on Saturday evening that resulted in bleeding in her throat.
Despite earlier reports her progress had improved, doctors were unable to save her.
Karim rose to international fame when she became the youngest MCP at the age of nine in 2005.
In her honour: Crowds gather in the streets as Arfa Karim Randhawa's body was taken to her native village Ram Dewali, Faisalabad for burial
Remembrance: Ministers, politicians, friends and fellow students gathered to support the grieving family during a memorial service
Memorial: Youths light candles to pay homage to Arfa Karim during a ceremony in her memory held in Peshawar
As nation.com.pl reports, her father thanked the Microsoft founder for his efforts, and said that his daughter was a spark that 'got attention and love from everyone on the globe.'
The young girl indeed made her country proud, representing Pakistan around the world with her incredible aptitude and skill.
Karim received the Fatimah Jinnah Gold Medal in the field of Science and Technology, presented by the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2005, and was also the recipient of the President’s Award for Pride of Performance.
In November 2006, she was invited by Microsoft to be a part of the keynote session in the Tech-Ed Developers conference in Barcelona. She was the only Pakistani among over 5,000 developers in that conference, themed 'Get ahead of the game'.
A permanent monument is also to be erected in her honour.
The IT Media City in Karachi will be renamed after the computer prodigy, and will now be known as Arfa Karim IT Media City, Karachi, according to local media reports.
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