KARACHI – The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Tariq Bajwa and the German ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler unveiled Rs 50 commemorative coin in recognition of meritorious services rendered by Dr Ruth Katherina Martha Pfau at the SBP Headquarters in Karachi.
The SBP with the approval from the federal government has issued a commemorative coin of Rs50 which will be available for public issuance across the country through SBP Banking Service Corporation offices from May 9, 2018.
Dr Pfau was an emblem of devotion, commitment and service to Pakistan. Her untiring efforts brought leprosy under control and Pakistan became the first country in Asia to earn this status. Dr.Pfau’s contribution to the society was gratefully acknowledged by the people and state during her lifetime.
She was awarded Hilal-e- Imtiaz, Nishan-e-Quaid –i-Azam and Hilal-e-Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion governor SBP said that Dr Ruth Pfau dedicated her life for amelioration of lepers’ lot in Pakistan. “With her efforts Pakistan became the first country in the region to control the disease”, said the SBP governor adding, “no amount of awards and recognition can we repay her extraordinary services for the country.”
The issuing of the commemorative coin is something of a unique nature which in the past have been issued only for great people like Quaide-Azam, Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Fatima Jinnah, and Abdul Sattar Edhi, he added.
Martin Kobler in his speech thanked the SBP and the government of Pakistan for recognizing Dr Pfau’s services to the country. He said that she was a real ambassador of Germany and a real source of connection between the two countries.
The ceremony was attended by Rainer Schmiedchen, Consul General of Germany in Karachi and Mervyn F.Lobo, CEO Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre Karachi, among other dignitaries.
The metal composition, shape, dimension and design of Rs50 commemorative coin are as under:
Metal composition: Cupro-Nickel, Copper 75% & Nickel 25%
Dimension: 30.0 mm
Weight: 13.5 grams
