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Abdul Sattar Edhi. Photo Sourced from

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Abdul Sattar Edhi

Abdul Sattar Edhi was born on 28 February 1928. His birthplace was Batwa, India. He was a Pakistani humanitarian, philanthropist and ascetic. He was the founder of the Edhi Foundation.

The foundation has the world鈥檚 largest volunteer ambulance network. It also has various homeless shelters, animal shelters, rehabilitation centres and orphanages across Pakistan.

Let’s learn more interesting facts about Abdul Sattar Edhi as highlighted below.

1. The Seeds of Kindness for the Suffering Humanity were Sown in his Soul by his Mother鈥檚 Infirmity

At the age of 11 years, his mother got paralysed. She later got mentally ill. Young Abdul Sattar Committed himself to take care of her. He used to do the cleaning, bathing her, changing clothes and feeding his mother.

Abdul鈥檚 mother鈥檚 health deteriorated over the years and her helplessness increased. The course of his life was different from other persons of his age. His studies were affected and couldn鈥檛 continue with his education.

However, his mother died when he was 19 years. This left a lasting impression on young Edhi. He developed an interest in helping the less privileged. For him, the world of suffering was the source of wisdom and a lifetime tutor.

2. He did Odd Jobs to Meet his Daily Needs

After the death of his mother, Edhi and his family migrated to Pakistan in 1947. To earn living, he initially started as a peddler.

He later became a commission agent selling clothes. He sold the clothes at a wholesale price. His small business was at the Karachi market.

3. He founded the Edhi Foundation which Runs the World鈥檚 Largest Volunteer Ambulance Network

Edhi left his job of selling clothes to work on his vision of helping the less privileged and sick people. With the support of some members of his community, he started a free dispensary.
His vision of a growing and developing system of multifarious service made him establish a welfare trust, Edhi Trust.

He made a request to the public for funds. The Edhi Trust was started with an initial sum of Rs.5000. The trust was later named after his wife the Bilquis Edhi Trust.

He subsequently founded the Edhi Foundation. It expanded by private donations. This included establishing a network of 1,800 ambulances.
It offers 24 hours emergency services. The foundation operates free nursing homes, clinics, orphanages, women鈥檚 shelters, and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and the mentally ill.

Ethi foundation has also run relief operations in Africa, the Caucasus religion, Eastern Europe, the middle East and the United States. It donated US$100,000 after Hurricane Katrina.

The foundation has various offices in different countries. It has Head offices present in the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Japan

4. Edhi was Well Known for his Minimalist Lifestyle

He had only two pairs of Shalwar Kameez. This is the billowy set of clothing that is commonly worn by men in Pakistan.

Despite his enormous fame and the sum of money, he received through his hands. Edhi and his family lived in a two-room apartment. The apartment was near the premises of Edhi foundation鈥檚 headquarters.

Neither Edhi nor his wife received any salary. They lived on income from government securities. He had bought them to take care of their personal needs for the rest of their lives.

5. Edhi Strongly Supported the Notion of Working Women

Although Edhi had a traditional Islamic background. He had an open and progressive mind on sensitive social issues. Abdul strongly supported the idea of working women.

In his foundation, out of the 2,000 paid workers around 500 are women. They work in different various capacities in charge of Edhi centres. Some were heads of maternity homes and dispensaries and office workers.

Additionally, several women volunteered to help in fundraising for the foundation. He encouraged and supported women in all kinds of work without choosing.

6. Abdul Edhi Exclusively Reserved his Time for the Service to Humanity

Abdul used to drive his first ambulance by himself. He would make rounds in his city regularly. On finding an injured person anywhere on the way. He would take him to the relief centre and immediate attention is given to the needy.

Edhi created enough time to spend with the orphanages in his foundation. He was fond of playing and laughing with children.

Abdul refused many requests to participate in the social gathering. During an interview, he requested people not to invite him to social ceremonies as it wasted his time helping the needy.

7. Edhi鈥檚 Wife Organized Adoption of Abandoned Babies

He married a nurse, Bilquis, who worked at his foundation. They had four kids. His wife was responsible for establishing a free maternity home at the foundation鈥檚 headquarters in Karachi.

She also organised the adoption of Abandoned Babies. She also rescued those who were at risk of being killed due to the consequence of being born out of wedlock or rape.

8. Edhi had Travel Issues to Various Countries that Resulted in His Arrest

In the 1980s, Edhi was arrested by Israeli troops while entering Lebanon. He had travelled to Deliver aid to Palestinian refugees whose camps were attacked by the Israeli jets.

In 2006, he was detained by authorities in Toronto, Canada for more than 6 hours. In January 2008, U.S. immigration officials at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City investigated him for over eight hours after seizing his passport and other documents.

When asked by media officials about his travel issues, Edhi said: 鈥淭he only explanation I can think of is my beard and my dress.鈥� His appearance in traditional Pakistani clothing and a long beard made him appear visibly Muslim. This prompted U.S. and Canadian travel authorities to keep him for additional questioning.

9. Edhi was Recommended for a Nomination for The Nobel Peace Prize by the Prime Minister of Pakistan

The then prime minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gilani. Recommended Edhi for a Nomination for the Nobel prize.

Additionally, in early 2016, a petition signed by 30,000 for a Nobel Peace Prize for Edhi was moved by Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of Malala Yousafza.

However, Edhi was awarded many awards for his passion and help to the needy. Such as the international and national awards.

In 1986, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for public service. Jinnah Award for Outstanding Services to Pakistan was conferred in April 1998 by The Jinnah Society. This was the first Jinnah Award conferred on any person in Pakistan. He also won many other awards.

10. He Died in July 2016 and was Buried With Full State Honours

The grave of Abdul Sattar Edhi. Photo Sourced from

Edhi was diagnosed with kidney failure and hospitalised in 25Junee 2013. The doctors said that he would be on dialysis for the rest of his unless he gets a kidney donor.

However, he could not get a transplant due to his frail health. The former president Asif Ali Zardari offered an offer to get further treatment abroad, Nevertheless, he declined. Abdul insisted on getting treatment in Pakistan, a government hospital.

He died on 8 July 206 at the age of 81. His last wish was for his organs to be donated for use by the needy. However, only corneas were donated due to his poor health.

Edhi left behind a legacy that no one else ever did in Pakistan. He is known amongst Pakistanis as the 鈥淎ngel of Mercy鈥� and is considered to be Pakistan鈥檚 most respected and legendary figure.