Angel of mercy: Remembering Pakistan’s Abdul Sattar Edhi, nine years on

Dubai: Nine years ago, on July 8, 2016, Pakistan bid farewell to one of its greatest sons Abdul Sattar Edhi. A man of unmatched humility, relentless compassion, and quiet courage, Edhi was not just a philanthropist; he was the very conscience of a nation.

Born on February 28, 1928, in Gujarat before the Partition, Edhi migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and witnessed first-hand the suffering of the poor and forgotten. What began in 1951 as a single clinic in a rundown part of Karachi grew into the Edhi Foundation with more than 300 centres, the largest and most trusted welfare organisation in Pakistan, and home to the world’s largest volunteer ambulance network, a Guinness World Record-holding fleet of over 1,500 ambulances.

Edhi's vision

But his vision did not stop at ambulances. From orphanages, old age homes, and shelters for the mentally ill to maternity wards, drug rehabilitation centres, and even animal shelters, Edhi’s foundation filled the vast gaps left by the state. His work extended beyond borders, reaching crisis zones in Africa and beyond.

Tribute

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also remembered him and paid tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi on his 9th death anniversary.

In his message, Sharif said: “Abdul Sattar Edhi set an unparalleled example of service to humanity.” He described Edhi as a priceless asset to the nation adding that he exemplified compassion not only for the people of Pakistan but for humanity around the world.

'Father' of 20,000 abandoned children

Edhi was the registered guardian of nearly 20,000 abandoned children, many of whom were rescued from the cradles placed at Edhi centres. He was more than a caretaker. He was a father figure to the unwanted and unloved. His organisation currently shelters over 5,700 people in 17 homes across the country. His motto was simple: “No religion is higher than humanity.”

Global acclaim

Despite global acclaim, Edhi lived with astounding simplicity. He owned just two sets of clothes, slept in a modest room next to his office, and famously refrained from using excess water for showers, a personal protest against waste. In his final days, he refused offers for treatment abroad, opting instead to receive care in the country he gave his life to serve.

Though he never won the Nobel Peace Prize despite multiple nominations, Edhi’s legacy surpasses any medal. He received dozens of international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Lenin Peace Prize, and the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize, among others. Still, no accolade ever defined him, only his service did.

State funeral

When he died in 2016, at age 88, Pakistan mourned as one. A state funeral, a 19-gun salute, and a national day of mourning were declared. In a rare moment of unity, people across all divisions stood together to honour the man who had always stood by them.

Edhi is not only survived by son Faisal Edhi who now runs the foundation, but millions of lives he touched, the orphaned child who found a home, the elderly woman given dignity, the accident victim who lived because an Edhi ambulance was the first to arrive.

No empty words

On this ninth death anniversary, let us not just remember Abdul Sattar Edhi, let us learn from him. From a man who came with nothing but gave everything. In his own words: “Empty words and long praises do not impress God. Show Him your faith by your deeds.”

Edhi showed us the power of what one person can do when moved by empathy and anchored in principle.