French Ambassador to Pakistan Martine Dorance confers the award to Marvi Memon

State minister and chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon was awarded the prestigious French National Order of Merit by the French Embassy on Friday.

French Ambassador to Pakistan Martine Dorance conferred the award to Memon in a ceremony held in Islamabad.

?The National Order of Merit is an order of the State awarded by the President of the French Republic, which was launched in 1963 by the President Charles de Gaulle to reward French and foreign nationals for their distinguished achievements,? a press release stated.

The award was initiated by French general De Gaulle in 1959 and is given to distinguished French citizens as well as foreign individuals in recognition of their achievements.

?It is indeed my profound privilege to be conferred with the distinction of?[the award] and a matter of great honour to accept this venerated medal in the presence of my family, friends and colleagues tonight,? Marvi said in her speech.