Founder and Chairman The Edhi Foundation
Born: January 1, 1928
Profession: Social Worker, Humanitarian
Affiliation(s): The Edhi Foundation
Citizenship: Pakistani
Profile Abdul Sattar Edhi was born in 1928 in a small village of Bantva near Joonah Garh, Gujrat (India). The seeds of compassion for the suffering humanity were sown in his soul by his mother's infirmity. When Edhi was at the tender age of eleven, his mother became paralyzed and later got metally ill. Young Abdul Sattar devoted himself for looking after all her needs; cleaning, bathing, changing clothes and feeding. This proved to be a loosing battle against the disease, and her helplessness increased over the years. Her persistent woeful condition left a lasting impression on young Edhi. The course of his life took a different turn from other persons of his age. His studies were also seriously affected and he could not complete his high school level. For him the world of suffering became his tutor and source of wisdom. Personal experience 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. He thought that he had a call to help these people. Vision He had a vision of chains of welfare centers and hospitals that could be opened to alleviate the pain of those suffering from illness and neglect. He also thought of the in-human treatment meted out to the mentally ill, the insane and the disabled persons. Even at this early age, he felt personally responsible for taking on the challenge of developing a system of sevices to reduce human miseries. The task was huge; he had no resources. But it was something that he had to do even if he had to walk to the streets with a cap in hand to beg for this purpose. Migrated to Pakistan Edhi and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. In order to earn his living, Abdul Sattar Edhi initially started as a pedlar, later became a commission agent selling cloth in the wholesale market in Karachi. Free despensaryAfter a couple of years, he left this occupation and with the support of some members of his community decided to establish a free despensary. He became involved in this charity work. Edhi Trust However, soon his personal vision of a growing and developing system of multifarious services made him decide to establish a welfare trust of his own and named it "Edhi Trust". An appeal was made to the public for funds. The response was good, and Rs. 200,000 were raised. The range and scope of work of Edhi Trust expanded with remarkable speed under the driving spirit of the man behind it. A maternity home was established and emergency ambulance service was started. More donations were received as people's confidence in the activities of the trust grew. With the passage of time, masses gave him the title of the "Angel of mercy". Bilquis Edhi Abdul Sattat Edhi was married in 1965 to Bilquis, a nurse who worked at the Edhi dispensary. The couple have four children, two daughters and two sons. Bilquis runs the free maternity home at the headquarter in Karachi and organizes the adoption of illegitimate and abandoned babies. The husband-wife team has come to share the common vision of single minded devotion to the cause of alleviation of human sufferings and a sense of personal responsibiliy to respond to each call for help, regardless of race, creed or status. The Edhi Foundation Edhi established the Edhi Foundation with public donations he received after this immunisation initiative.The 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 battered women, schools, nursing courses, soup kitchens and a 25-bed cancer hospital. It is now the largest social welfare network in Pakistan, has offices in several countries and has undertaken relief operations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus region, eastern Europe and the US, where it helped provide aid following the New Orleans hurricane of 2005. Travel issues In January 2008, US immigration officials interrogated Edhi at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York for over eight hours, and seized his passport and other documents.In January 2009, Edhi was refused entry to Gaza by Egyptian authorities. International awards Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service (1986) Lenin Peace Prize (1988) Paul Harris Fellow from Rotatory International Foundation, (1993) Largest Voluntary Ambulance Organization of the World - Guinness Book of World Records (2000) Hamdan Award for volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services (2000) UAE International Balzan Prize (2000) for Humanity, Peace and Brotherhood, Italy Honorary Doctorate degree from the Institute of Business Administration Karachi (2006). National awards Silver Jubilee Shield by College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, (1962-1987) The Social Worker of Sub-Continent by Government of Sind, Pakistan, (1989) Nishan-e-Imtiaz, cival decoration from Government of Pakistan (1989) Recognition of meritorious services to oppressed humanity during eighties by Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Government of Pakistan, (1989) Pakistan Civic Award from the Pakistan Civic Society (1992) Shield of Honor by Pakistan Army (E & C) Khidmat Award by Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences Human Rights Award by Pakistan Human Rights Society
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