Hunza has lost one of its most respected educators and community leaders as Ustad Meher Karim passes away after a prolonged illness. His death has been met with profound grief across the valley, where generations of students, colleagues, and community members remember him as a teacher, mentor, and servant leader.
Meher Karim devoted more than 34 years of his life to education, character building, and community service. He was among the founding members of Ghaimash Primary School, an institution that has since become one of the area’s leading educational centers, producing graduates who now serve in prominent positions across Pakistan and abroad.
Throughout his distinguished teaching career, he also served at Government Boys High School Karimabad, Government Girls High School Karimabad, and Government Middle School Brongshal, where he earned a reputation for academic excellence, discipline, and unwavering dedication to his students.
Thousands of his former students have gone on to become doctors, engineers, teachers, journalists, civil servants, entrepreneurs, and professionals in diverse fields. Many credit their success not only to the knowledge he imparted but also to the values of integrity, perseverance, and service that he instilled throughout their formative years.
Former students fondly recall one of his most memorable pieces of advice:
“Leave these mountains at least once, so that you can see the world from a different perspective.”
For many, those words became a lifelong source of inspiration, encouraging them to broaden their horizons while remaining connected to their roots.
Beyond education, Ustad Meher Karim played a significant role in the social and religious life of Karimabad. As Mukhi of the local Jamatkhana, he served the community with humility, wisdom, and compassion, promoting unity, mutual respect, and volunteerism.
His funeral prayers drew a large gathering that included the Deputy Director of Education Hunza, political and social leaders, senior community members, teachers, students, and residents from across the district—reflecting the immense respect and admiration he commanded throughout his lifetime. He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Ghimish.
For many of his former students, his passing is deeply personal.
“I consider it a privilege to have been among his students. His guidance, kindness, and fatherly encouragement became an enduring part of my educational journey. His lessons extended far beyond the classroom and will continue to shape the lives of those he taught”, posted one of his students on Facebook.
Ustad Meher Karim’s legacy lives on through the countless lives he transformed, the institutions he helped build, and the enduring values he championed.
