Even a single word uttered by Abdul Sattar Edhi used to make an enormous impact on people; that was the stature of Pakistan’s greatest philanthropist.
Who was Abdul Sattar Edhi?
Abdul Sattar Edhi was an award-winning humanitarian and philanthropist. He was known as “Angel of Mercy” and “Pakistan’s Father Teresa” for social work he has done through Edhi welfare foundation. The foundation built six decades ago, and now it is overseen by his wife, Bilquis Edhi.
Edhi was born on February 28th, 1928 in a small village of Bantva near Joona Garh in the Gujarat district of then British-ruled India but moved to Karachi shortly after Pakistan was formed.
Edhi was deeply affected by the death of his mother when he was 19. He never finished school but later said that the world of suffering became his tutor.
Later on, He noticed many Pakistanis lacked medicine, education, living, and other essentials for life, and he made the mission of his life to help peoples. In 1951, he established the Edhi Foundation which funded solely by private donations.
By the time of his death on 8th July 2016, Edhi was registered as guardian of approximately 20,000 children.
It was also announced that State Bank of Pakistan would issue commemorative coin of 50 rupees to honor memories of Edhi and his selfless efforts.
What is the Edhi Foundation? What is the Motive Behind?
The Edhi Foundation is currently the largest welfare organization in Pakistan. It has rescued more than 20,000 abandoned babies and rehabilitated around 50,000 orphans and trained more than 40,000 nurses.
The foundation also runs the world largest ambulance service. Now 1,500 vehicles are operating under Edhi Foundation.
Edhi Air Ambulance consists of one helicopter and two fixed-wing crafts.
The Welfare Centres of the Foundation are located in all the big cities and towns of Pakistan.
Edhi Home also called “Apna Ghar” (Our Home) is a home for the mentally ill destitute, for orphans and runaways. There are 13 such homes in the country, of which seven are located in Karachi.
The reach of Edhi Foundation grew internationally and in 2005 organization raised $100,000 in aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
A team of ‘Googlers’ decides who gets the doodle treatment; the tech giant says [Screenshot from Google]
In his honor, Google changed its logo in the United States; Iceland; Portugal; Australia; New Zealand; Japan; Estonia; the UK; Denmark; Ireland and Pakistan to a doodle, or illustration, of Edhi.
To Honour Abdul Sattar Edhi, Google changed the logo of its TLD’s including Pakistan, U.S, Portugal; Australia; New Zealand; Japan; Estonia; the UK; Denmark; Ireland and Pakistan to Abdul Sattar Edhi’s Doodle.
Abdul Sattar Edhi quotes that will leave you inspired for life
“My religion is humanitarianism, which is the basis of every religion in the world.”
“I do not have any formal education. What use is education when we do not become human beings? My school is the welfare of humanity.”
“Never take anyone’s death to heart Bilquis. Remember God by the equality with which He implements it. Nobody is different, the richest to the poorest, from here to the end of the globe face it equally. What an example of equality.”
“So, many years later there were many who still complained and questioned, ‘Why must you pick up Christians and Hindus in your ambulance?’ And I was saying, ‘Because the ambulance is more Muslim than you’.”
“Empty words and long praises do not impress God. Show Him your faith by your deeds.”
There is a lot more to write about Abdul Sattar Edhi, but I will sum up this article here. If you think I’ve missed something or there is some information which needed to be mention don’t forget to add it in the comment section below.
