Dr Ruth Pfau to be accorded state funeral on August 19

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday confirmed to accord a state funeral for Dr. Ruth Pfau, who served leprosy patients selflessly with devotion, on Saturday August 19, 2017.

This was confirmed by a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior in pursuance of an announcement by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

‘In pursuance of announcement by Prime Minister of Pakistan, State Funeral shall be accorded to Sister Ruth Katharina Martha Pfau,” said the notification.

“The national flag of Pakistan shall fly at half-mast on Saturday, 19 August 2017.”

READ MORE: Ray of hope to lepers, Dr Ruth Pfau passes away in Karachi

Last week, PM Abbasi had announced state funeral for Dr Ruth Pfau in recognition of the services rendered by her for Pakistan.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had written to the federal government seeking permission for a state funeral for Pfau.

The leprosy doctor passed away at the age of 88 in Karachi on August 10. The German nun lost her battle with life while she was undergoing a surgery at the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre.

Dubbed as Pakistani ‘Mother Teresa’ for her compassion towards lepers, Dr Ruth Pfau came to Pakistan from Germany in 1960 and dedicated her rest of life to serve people suffering from leprosy.

Pfau was recognised globally for her services and received numerous degrees and awards. She led the country to be declared by the World Health Organization as first Asian country to have controlled leprosy in 1996.

She was awarded Hilal-i-Imtiaz, second highest civilian award of the country in 1979, and later granted Pakistani citizenship in 1988.

The funeral mass will be held on Sunday, August 19, 2017 at 11A.M at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. She will be laid to rest in the Christian Cemetery (Gora Qabrastan).