Pakistan’s living legend, Abdul Sattar Edhi, is unarguably the greatest humanitarian of the country, for his unmatched dedication, commitment and practical work. He is founder & owner of Edhi Foundation, a non-profit welfare organization of Pakistan. It was his personal experiences that caused him to develop a system of services for old, mentally ill and challenged people: when he was just 11 years, old his mother became paralyzed & died after 8 years. This experience motivated Sir Edhi to think for the millions of people who are suffering from different health issues.
Abdul Sattar Edhi is truly an inspiration; an example of true devotion. Despite being the owner of a highly successful organization, Edhi has been leading the simplest of lives. In his childhood, his mother always gave him 2 paisas and directed him to spend one on himself, and the other one on the less fortunate. He never forgot this lesson and made it his inspiration. For the past 45 years, Edhi has spent many sleepless nights monitoring the needs of his fellows. For this, the masses have given him the title, the “Angel of mercy”.
In 1965, Edhi married Bilquis, a nurse who worked at Edhi dispensary. The husband-wife duo shared the common desire for single-minded devotion to the alleviation of human sufferings. They responded to everybody’s call for help, regardless of race, creed or status.
Edhi is always ready to fly anywhere to reach any site of natural calamity or disaster within the shortest possible time. Every time the administration and government has failed to help its people, Edhi has succeeded.
The Edhi Foundation has developed into an organization of ambulances, clinics, maternity homes, mental-health institutions, homes for the physically handicapped, blood banks, orphanages, adoption centers, mortuaries, shelters for runaway children and traumatized women, schools, nursing courses, soup kitchens and a 25-bed cancer hospital. It is the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. The foundation is working round the clock without observing a single holiday.
Abdul Sattar Edhi was honored with many national awards: Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Khidmat Award, Shield of Honor, Silver Jubilee Shield and many others. He is also very well known internationally for his social and welfare work & won many international awards such as Ramon Magsaysay Award, UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize, International Balzan Prize, Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize & Largest Voluntary Ambulance Organization of the World – Guinness Book of World Records.
Now let’s take a moment to pray for the speedy recovery of the greatest person alive. Sir Edhi, we salute you!