ISLAMABAD: Arfa Karim, the genius who made history by becoming the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, died 5 years ago on this date, with her anniversary observed on Saturday. Arfa, who was only nine years old when she passed the certification exam, had received several awards for her brilliant work. This included the Pride of Performance, Salam Pakistan Youth and Madar-e-Millat awards. In addition she had also been conferred the degree of Information Technology (IT) engineering by Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 2004. Arfa Karim was a multi-talented youth. She was not only an IT engineer but also a poetess and had literary inclinations. She had also learned to fly a plane and was skilled in delivering lectures. Arfa passed away on January 14, 2012 after hospitalised in a critical condition for weeks. People nationwide held candle-light vigils remembering the young national hero and mourned the loss.