Abdul Sattar Edhi is not an unfamiliar name. Edhi was a philanthropist who built a nationwide empire of humanity, offering life-saving services to the people of Pakistan. Edhi began his timeless contributions to Pakistan not long after partition. With a menial sum to his name, he set out to establish an NGO that would save and restore the lives of many.
Through his journey, he was able to rehabilitate more than 50,000 orphans. He initiated almost 2000 ambulances throughout the country to immediately cater to the needs of the injured. He bought 2 planes and 28 boats to help rescue and provided sustenance to those who need it.
Alas, like all people have an expiration date, Edhi breathed his last on July 8th, 2016.
Today marks his 2nd death anniversary.
Abdul Sattar Edhi was one in a million. He dedicated his youth and his life to the destitute and penurious. His services were not limited to a national level. Edhi went so far as to raise more than $100k for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He epitomized the belief that there good and selfless people are what make Pakistan a true philanthropic nation. Despite struggling with his health up until his death, he refused treatment from any place that wasn’t in his country.
Despite going down in history as the largest volunteer ambulance organization, Edhi was and is so much more to the people of Pakistan. He has fathered countless orphans, given new life to several dejected, employed the destitute and welcomed the homeless with arms wide open.
In a country where a lot is lost amidst the chaotic quarrels of politics and religion, Edhi believed in one true way of life – humanity. It was this mortality and kindness that motivated him to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves up until his very last breath. Despite his demise, the empire Edhi built continues to function and serve the greater good without fault.
Not only did he live a life with integrity, but died with the same kind of veracity too.
The people of Pakistan are forever indebted to Abdul Sattar Edhi’s countless contributions towards the betterment of a society several gave up on. Edhi is and will forever be alive in the hearts and souls of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
“My religion is humanitarianism, which is the basis of every religion in the world”
Abdul Sattar Edhi