The president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has conferred one of his country's major award on a Co Clare nun for her service to education and inter-faith harmony there, writes PATSY McGARRY.
The Sitara Quaid-e-Azam (Order of the Great Leader) award, for outstanding services to Pakistan in a significant field of activity, has been presented to Sr Berchmans Conway of the Jesus and Mary congregation.
She has spent 58 years teaching. Among her famous students was Benazir Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan who was assassinated in December 2007.
Sr Berchmans joined the Jesus and Mary congregation in 1951 and went to Pakistan at the age of 24.
Her passion has been for teaching English, although she has also taught mathematics. She has taught girls in Lahore, Murree and Karachi.
In 2011 she celebrated her diamond jubilee. At present Sr Berchmans Conway is principal at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi.