Editor’s Note:

This interview was previously published in 2015. It’s re highlighted to honor Mr Abdul Sattar Edhi after his death.

He has different colors. Sometimes he appears to be a “bagger” sitting in front of the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan seeking “alms” to carry on his welfare projects, sometimes he along with his fellows and family members hit the streets for peace, and some other times he is seen burying abandoned bodies.

Pakistanis love these all colors of his. He is Abdul Sattar Edhi, the founder of Edhi Foundation, one of the largest and organized charity organizations in Pakistan.

‘I do not have anything special in me. This is only the blessing of Almighty Allah that he has chosen me to serve his creatures”, an aging Edhi whose health is virtually going down told Aboutislam.net.

Attired in militia Shalwar (trouser) and Kameez (loose shirt) and wearing a triangular black cap, better known as “Jinnah cap” because of being part of the dress of founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Edhi said he has modified the famous phrase “ live and let live” as “ live and help others to live”.

Born in 1928 in Gujrat (India), and migrated to Karachi in 1947 following the partition of the sub-continent. Edhi started his career as a social worker by setting up a dispensary soon after his arrival in Pakistan, which could be deemed as the beginning of Edhi Trust, which later turned into Edhi Foundation.

“Our organization believes in no discrimination on the bases of color, race, religion, and politics. For us, human is a human. He or she is the creature of Allah, and we have no right to pursue any kind of discrimination on these bases”, he maintained.

“I am Muslim but I am a Humanitarian above all, because the basic principles of all religions are rooted in humanity”, he says.

The Foundation’s activities include a 24-hour emergency service across the country through 335 Edhi Centers with a fleet of 1800 ambulances which provide free shrouding and burial of unclaimed dead bodies, shelter for the destitute, orphans and handicapped persons, free hospitals and dispensaries, rehabilitation of drug addicts, provision of free wheel chairs, crutches and other services.

According to Mr. Edhi, if he is supposed to take credit for only one project that would be the Asia’s largest ambulance service which he has been running for last three decades.

The ambulance service is provided to citizens on very nominal charges. It costs merely Rs 200 (2 dollars) to Rs 300 ( 3 dollars) from citizens to shift their patients from or in the hospitals. The foundation also provides Inter-city and helicopter ambulance services in case of emergency at much cheaper rates compared to professional organizations.

However, in case of any accident, natural calamity, or terrorism related incidents, no charges are received from the victims or their families.

The Foundation is not only active within Pakistan, but it has carried out relief activities in various foreign countries to help the victims of natural calamities and civil wars. The first foreign relief mission carried out by the Foundation was in 1983 civil war in Lebanon. Besides Lebanon, the Foundation has also carried out its relief activities in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Somalia, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.

Edhi’s Missing Children Center located in Karachi, has been functioning for last several years. Foundation’s field workers pay regular visits to different shrines, parks, and other sites where homeless and runaway children take refuge for free food and shelter, and bring them to this center.

The pictures of these children are circulated through newspapers and TV channels in an effort to rejoin them with their parents or other family members.

Edhi said he could not have brought his organization to current status without help and guidance from his wife.

Bilquis Edhi, who joined Edhi as a life partner in 1965, runs a free maternity home in southern port city of Karachi, the headquarters of Edhi Foundation, and organizes adoption of abandoned and illegitimate babies.

Besides relief activities, The Foundation also provides educational and training opportunities to children living in “ Edhi home for abandoned children” with a view to enabling them to earn their own livelihood.

Shezad Amir is one of the several examples of children who do not know about their families as they have been raised in Edhi home. He is unable to hear and speak. He studied at Edhi organization and attained technical skills at the organization. Now, he is responsible for all the iron work at organization.

Badar too doesn’t know about his parents. He was only 2 years old when he was perverted on the way and somebody took him to Edhi Home some 25 years ago.

“I started my real life here (Edhi home). I am now 27, and married with one daughter. I am by the grace of Allah working as a technician and fully supporting my family”, Badar told Aboutislam.

He said the Foundation had worked a lot to search his parent but to no avail.

“I am thankful to Allah that he has given me a father like Abdul SattarEdhi. My whole life is spared for Edhi Foundation”, an emotional Badar said.