Dr. Ruth Pfau called the Mother Teresa of Pakistan was given a state funeral today. Another humanitarian from Pakistan passed away at the age of 87. The Armed Forces of Pakistan carried her casket, draped in Pakistani flag, to the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Saddar are of Karachi.
After completion of her burial ceremony, she was laid to rest in Karachi’s Gora Qabaristan. Many of the country’s dignitaries participated in the funeral including President Mamnoon Hussain, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair. Each of the dignitaries separately laid floral wreaths to pay their respects to her.
Earlier Announcement of State Funeral and Condolences Offered
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had announced a state funeral for the Mother Teresa of Pakistan. Pakistan has already lost it’s another globally recognized humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi in July last year.
The Prime Minister of the Country, COAS, and people from all walks of life paid their tribute to her services.
The COAS of Pakistan Army said that she would be remembered as the ambassador of humanity for her selfless services to the country.
Imran Khan said that he is saddened to learn of her death and it will be difficult to fill the gap she has left behind.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan said that Dr. Ruth Pfau might have been born in Germany, but her heart always remained in Pakistan.
Who was Dr. Ruth Pfau?
Dr. Ruth Pfau only got recognized to the people of Pakistan when she passed away. Alas, when would we learn to appreciate the efforts of such angels of humanity when they are life. Dr. Ruth Pfau gave 50 precious years of her life to fight the disease of leprosy in the country.
She was born in Germany in 1929. Her home got destroyed in a World War II bombing. She later joined the Daughters of the Heart of Mary. Then, she was sent to Southern Part of India on a visit visa. However, she would give her services confined to the city of Karachi due to visit complications. Later, she would travel to different parts of the country and even to Afghanistan to help rescue patients suffering from leprosy. She would help the people left alone by their families to get back on their feet.
Dr. Ruth Pfau Services for Pakistan
During her time in Pakistan, she single-handedly worked for eradicating the disease of leprosy. Initially, her work would start from the slums of Karachi. However, later she was given access to the newly found Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre. Patients from all over the country, as well as Afghanistan, would visit the clinic to get treatment.
Dr. Ruth Pfau was given the appointment of Federal Advisory to help overcome the disease of Leprosy. She would go to the far off areas of the country to help the patients suffering from the disease of leprosy. She would also coordinate with hospitals to collect and send blood samples to Germany. Pakistan gave her honorary citizenship for her services to the country in 1988. The UN organization WHO declared Pakistan free of leprosy in 1996 due to her efforts.
Awards Given to Dr. Ruth Pfau
Besides the honorary citizenship, she was given the following awards.
- She was given Hilal-i-Pakistan in 1989 by then-President of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan.
- The radio city FM-89 gave her “Woman of the Year” award in 2006.
- In 2010, Pakistan’s then President Asif Ali Zardari bestowed her with Nishan-i-Quad-i-Azam.
- She was awarded Staufer Medal, the highest award given by the Germany’s state Baden-Wurttemberg.
