Opinion: Abdul Sattar Edhi, an angel for mankind

Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Foundation operates the world largest free treatment home, women’s accommodation and a free treatment center for the mentally ill persons. He worked hard throughout his life not for any kind of personal convenience but only to serve victims of disaster.

Abdul Sattar Edhi was one of the famous and noble personality in Pakistan and in all over the world. He was born on 1st January 1928 in a little town of India Bantva, and now his foundation is one of the largest charity center which run world’s major ambulance.

Abdul Sattar Edhi started his life as sales man of cloths in the wholesale market in the biggest city Karachi. He started his Edhi trust center as establishing a small free dispensary and by make a small welfare trust. He conceptualized, created and sustained a welfare network that covered the length and breadth of a nation where every other institution was falling. A man who, without education, influence and power, worked ceaselessly to convert a third world country into a welfare state.

Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Foundation operates the world largest free treatment home, women’s accommodation and a free treatment center for the mentally ill persons. He was honored with many awards like Silver Jubilee Shield, Social worker of the Sub-continent, Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan Civic Award, and Shield of honors by the Pakistan Army, Khidmat Award. He got married with a nurse Balquis who works on his own welfare trust. Bilquis also helped her husband in his work and run a small maternity home free for the adoption and abandoned babies in Karachi. His name is also in Guinness World Records, after his foundation entered in the book, in 1997, as the “largest volunteer ambulance organisation”. He also showed a true example of patriotism and paragon of virtue.

Abdul Sattar Edhi was and will be an inspiration to all humanity. He was a role model and leader. The work he did for mankind is unparalleled. He started the Edhi Foundation with just five thousand rupees. Edhi’s mother died when he was 19. His personal experience made him think of thousands and millions, suffering like his mother, around with nobody to look after them. Edhi was a full-time humanitarian worker, organizer, and mobilizer. This was the level of his dedication to the welfare work he gave the idea to establish and promote dignity and provide human rights beyond any discrimination and prejudice.

Abdul Sattar Edhi played a vital role in every society. He was the ray of light for the people living in those areas where poverty rate is high and there is no medical set up and emergency votes, following his ambition we can help needed people, control illiteracy and discrimination and provide shelter to homeless child. Programs for development in the social sector stay a long way behind mainly because of financial constraints. Special efforts are, therefore, needed to mobilize community resources to initiate and develop programs for the welfare of the weak and the disadvantaged members of the society. Then we can make a better, peaceful and secure Pakistan.