humanitarian News in Pakistan

Death Of Abdul Sattar Edhi, An irreparable loss to Pakistan, The Story of a Great Philanthropist The death of great humanitarian of Pakistan is an irreparable loss to the country. The great philanthropist, Abdul Sattar Edhi, left the world on 8th July, 2016 at the age of 88. He was under treatment in Karachi hospital due to prolonged illness and his health condition become critical on 7th July and he died from renal failure. He was such a great person, who refused the offer of Ex-President Asif Ali Zardari to have treatment abroad, by saying he should be treated in Pakistani government hospital. Edhi’s words were in fact a slap on the face of corrupt leaders, who claimed that they are sincere and well-wishers of Pakistan but are hypocrite and prefer foreign countries for medical treatments. Abdul Sattar has done great work for the poor people. He offered his relentless service for humanity since 6 decades and received Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1986 for his public service. The social activist rendered his service for the Pakistani nation and had built a great social network to serve the mass. He founded Pakistan’s largest welfare charitable organization “Edhi Foundation” which offered 1,500 ambulances for 24-hour emergency services. He provided shelter to homeless orphans, olds and abandoned infants. Also known as “Father Teresa” of Pakistan, Edhi was born in 1st January 1928 in a village Bantva, Gujarat, India. When he was 11 years old his mother become ill due to paralysis stroke, he took special care of her mother but she died when Edhi was 19 years old. His care for his mother persuaded him to serve humanity. He migrated to Karachi, Pakistan at the time of partition in 1947. He married to Bilquis, a nurse who worked at the Edhi dispensary, in 1965 and they had four children, two daughters and two sons. Abdul Sattar Edhi worked hard and become a commission agent selling cloth in the wholesale market in Karachi. Later, he founded a free dispensary for poor people with help from his community. He also established Edhi Trust, later known as ‘Bilqis Edhi Trust’ with five thousand rupees. He established this welfare trust to guard the homeless people, including children, infants and old ones. Later he started expanding his welfare service with the help of donations he received. Now Edhi Foundation is the world's largest social welfare organization owning over 20,000 abandoned infants, rehabilitated over 50,000 orphans and has trained over 40,000 nurses. Edhi Foundation is also running more than 330 welfare centres in rural and urban areas of Pakistan and offering food, homes, shelters for women and children and clinics for the mentally handicapped. Mr.Edih was a Simple and humble man whose demise mourn the nation.