Ruth Pfau

Ruth Pfau, a German nun and physician who devoted her life to the treatment and eradication of leprosy in Pakistan has died at the age of 87.

In a statement released by the Office of the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a state funeral is being planned for Pfau who is widely regarded as ‘Pakistan’s Mother Teresa’.

Salwa Zainab, the spokeswoman at Pfau’s office also disclosed that the funeral service for Pfau whom she described as a beacon of hope for underprivileged people, will be held on August 19 in Karachi, where she died on Thursday.

Zainab added that Pfau played a tremendous role in efforts by the nation of Pakistan and the World Health Organization to bring leprosy, the disease which had ravaged the Asian country since the 1950s under control.