Abdul Sattar Edhi was a Pakistani humanitarian, philanthropist, and ascetic who founded the Edhi Foundation, which runs the world’s largest volunteer ambulance network, along with various homeless shelters, animal shelters, rehabilitation centers, and orphanages across Pakistan. Following his death, his son Faisal Edhi took over as head of the Edhi Foundation.
Edhi’s charitable activities expanded greatly in 1957 when an Asian flu epidemic (originating in China) swept through Pakistan and the rest of the world. Donations allowed him to buy his first ambulance the same year. He later expanded his charity network with the help of his wife Bilquis Edhi.
Over his lifetime, the Edhi Foundation expanded, backed entirely by private donations, which included establishing a network of 1,800 ambulances. By the time of his death, Edhi was registered as a parent or guardian of nearly 20,000 adopted children of whom he was an active caretaker. He is known amongst Pakistanis as the “Angel of Mercy” and is considered to be Pakistan’s most respected and legendary figure. In 2013, The Huffington Post claimed that he might be “the world’s greatest living humanitarian”.
Edhi maintained a hands-off management style and was often critical of the corruption commonly found within religious organizations, clergy, and politicians. He was a strong proponent of religious tolerance in Pakistan and extended his support to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the 1985 famine in Ethiopia. He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize, including by Malala Yousafzai. Edhi received several awards including the Gandhi Peace Award, Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize, and the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize.
Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away five years ago and is still remembered by people across the country. One such person to remember him is actor Ahsan Khan, who paid tribute to him on his death anniversary.
The Udaari star wrote a heartfelt verse on Instagram to remember Edhi’s generosity and how he contributed so much to society without asking for anything in return.
“There was only one such man among us,” recited Khan in a video. “There will never be another like you in years to come.”
He went on to say that he wished people could learn humanity from Edhi.
“To have access to millions of dollars, and still only own two changes of clothing, and the same cramped apartment in the same cramped part of the city. To start with a single van in which he carried corpses, no matter their level of degradation. And to build the world’s largest volunteer ambulance service purely on the weight of reputation alone,” he wrote, listing what was only a small part of the philanthropist’s great service to the nation.
“We love you Edhi sahab. Humanity first,” he added.
The founder of the Edhi Foundation passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 88 in Karachi. Even after his death, Edhi performed his last act of charity by donating his corneas. Five years after his death, Pakistan still mourns the loss of its “richest poor man.”
