Laid to rest: the woman who rid Pakistan of leprosy

A state funeral of Pakistani Mother Teresa - Dr Ruth Pfau was held here at St Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday. Dr Pfau, who passed away at the age of 87 earlier this month, was German doctor who devoted her whole life for leprosy patients in Pakistan and is one of the founders of Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center (MALC). A 19-gun salute was offered during the funeral proceedings, with contingents of all three Armed Forces of Pakistan present on the occasion. Dr Ruth breathed her last after a protracted illness earlier this month. Born in Germany, Dr Ruth came to Pakistan in 1960s and was granted Pakistani citizenship in 1988.
Armed forces personnel carried the coffin of Dr Pfau into St Patrick's Cathedral in Saddar area for funeral services. The casket was draped in the national flag and covered with rose petals. Later, the coffin was brought to Gora Qabaristan where she was laid to rest with full state honour. The burial ceremony was attended by many state dignitaries including President Mamnoon Hussain, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, who laid floral wreaths on her grave.
Consul General of the German Consulate and Dr Adeeb Rizvi, Head of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation also attended Dr Ruth's funeral. Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, speaking to media paid homage to Dr Ruth and her lifelong services to the underserved and underprivileged of the country. Akhtar said Dr Ruth's mission to serve humanity was exemplary, and urged the government of Pakistan to continue her mission by allocating budget to fund her cause to end leprosy and other diseases in the country.
Following the state funeral, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced renaming of Civil Hospital Karachi after Dr Ruth Pfau. "Dr Pfau was the pride of Sindh and the pride of Pakistan," Shah said, directing the chief secretary to issue a notification regarding the change of the hospital's name to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital. In 1979, she was awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award of the country. In 1989, Dr Pfau was presented the Hilal-i-Pakistan for her services. Due to Dr Pfau's efforts, Pakistan was declared a leprosy-free country in 1996 by the World Health Organization.