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Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday announced a state funeral for Dr Ruth Pfau, a symbol of selflessness and devotion to leprosy patients, who passed away earlier today at the age of 87.
"The entire nation is indebted to Ruth Pfau for her selflessness and unmatched services for eradication of leprosy," PM Abbasi said in a press release.
He added that Dr Pfau, through her dedication and "illustrious toil", had proven that humanity has no boundaries.
President Mamnoon Hussain also paid tribute to the humanitarian, saying that "her great tradition of human service would be kept alive". He further said that she lived in the prayers of all those who were cured from leprosy as a result of her efforts.
Dr Pfau, who was German by birth, had been sent to Pakistan in 1960 by the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, a congregation of nuns that she was a member of, for a medical service for students. After witnessing the plight of leprosy patients, she decided to settle here. She was granted citizenship in 1988.
In 1979, she was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award of the country. In 1989, Dr Ruth was presented the Hilal-i-Pakistan for her services.
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Comments (45) Closed
Aug 10, 2017 06:39pm
apperciated!
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Aug 10, 2017 06:44pm
Great decision, we are all indebted to this great soul. Immense respect for this great lady.
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Aug 10, 2017 06:53pm
Good initiative by the Govt. She desrves State Funeral. Rest in Peace!
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Aug 10, 2017 06:58pm
Well done PM. I also suggest a monument to pay tribute to likes of her and Edhi who did welfare work without any expectation of reward.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:07pm
May she Rest In Peace....
Wish this world would have more people like her!!!
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Aug 10, 2017 07:10pm
A very nice gesture.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:18pm
RIP Dr. Ruth, and thank you for your services to your adopted country. We will miss you dearly.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:26pm
first good and sensible decision for the late Dr.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:31pm
Admirable lady. Rest in heavens.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:40pm
RIP mam. Thank you for your services to humanity and Pakistan. Female Abdul Sattar Edhi
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Aug 10, 2017 07:40pm
Well done Mr. Prime minister.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:41pm
She was symbol of humanity. God bless.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:46pm
A shining example of humanity. RIP>
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Aug 10, 2017 07:47pm
She was a great person who worked for the down-trodden. God grant her eternal
Rest. Amen.
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Aug 10, 2017 07:57pm
Appreciated!
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Aug 10, 2017 08:03pm
RIP...God bliss her soul. We as humans are all indebted to people like Dr Ruth, Edhi and Mother Teresa.
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Aug 10, 2017 08:19pm
good
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Aug 10, 2017 08:19pm
Good
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Aug 10, 2017 08:26pm
To be honest, i feel like i lost my own family member.thoughts and prayers for departed soul.
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Aug 10, 2017 08:54pm
Good initiative by the Govt. Immense respect for this great lady.
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Aug 10, 2017 09:45pm
A welcome decision.
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Aug 10, 2017 09:51pm
great woman- thank you for your services.
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Aug 10, 2017 10:25pm
Edhi died hoping one day the welfare system of the country would be so effective that self sustenance would no longer be an issue. He hoped for Edhi org to become part of the governments welfare mechanism. Dr. Ruth suprisingly hoped for the same yet she had no expectations from corrupt power mongerers. Both are gone and the best the state can do is to hide its negligence behind a state funeral. Tsk tsk.
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Aug 10, 2017 10:32pm
What a soul ,selfless work and dedication .
We all will ever remain indebted to her .
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Aug 10, 2017 10:32pm
I had visited the center a couple of times many year ago with airline crew members (KLM when they still flew in to Karachi) who volunteered during their layovers in Karachi. I was shocked to see the plight of the suffering people and the dedication and total immersion of these volunteers. God bless them All and may Dr. Pfau RIP. Thank you Mr. PM Abbasi.
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Aug 10, 2017 11:00pm
RIP. She will be missed. We need lot of individuals like her.
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Aug 10, 2017 11:46pm
It is only appropriate for Pakistan to highlight the work of this illustrious citizen not only within the country but also on international stage.The world should see that in this day and age of terrorism all around, we provide service of highest order to suffering humanity.
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Aug 10, 2017 11:48pm
Great decision by new PM
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Aug 10, 2017 11:55pm
great lady
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Aug 11, 2017 02:11am
We all bow heads in thankness and honour.....thank you Dr. Pfau.....we as nation obliged....Pakistan govts. Credited to appreciate her time to time.
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Aug 11, 2017 02:59am
Well Done!!!
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Aug 11, 2017 03:00am
Great Job Mr. Prime Minister....Love it!!!
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Aug 11, 2017 03:54am
I salute you Maam for ur every aspect of life, you are a Beacon light for all others. RIP
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Aug 11, 2017 04:31am
Its good decision by PM.
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Aug 11, 2017 04:39am
Dr Ruth Pfau was an asset for Pakistan. We all Pakistanis should give her all the respect that was due to her as a mother figure, as a social worker and as a Pakistani citizen.
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Aug 11, 2017 04:57am
Great decision.
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Aug 11, 2017 04:59am
May you Rest In Peace Dr. Ruth Pfau.
We love you and would pray for you.
Many thanks for what you did to this nation.
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Aug 11, 2017 06:58am
R.I.P Sister Dr Ruth Pfau. Danke Sister. You will forever live for your noble work, such a beautiful soul we are in debt to you forever. Thank you Germany for giving us our mother.
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Aug 11, 2017 08:09am
No gratitude is bigger than what she did for Pakistan and the helpless masses. Wish we can pay Germany back what they did for Pakistan. Great Woman. Love to all German friends and families from Pakistan.
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Aug 11, 2017 08:39am
Thank u mr prime minster. Well deserved for her endless caring n love for our people. May god give her eternal rest
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Aug 11, 2017 09:13am
A major Karachi road should be named in her memory, if not more.
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Aug 11, 2017 09:28am
We are indebted to you Dr Ruth.appreciated Mr.PM
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Aug 11, 2017 11:10am
The very first step from PML-N government ever, which makes all of us proud to be Pakistanis. Dr Ruth had taken Pakistani citizenship and that makes me immensely proud to share the same nationality with her.
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Aug 12, 2017 01:55am
I wish the same respect could have been shown when these personalities were alive.....
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Aug 12, 2017 02:35am
Many Thanks for the dedicated service away from homeland
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