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LAHORE: Philanthropist and humanitarian Bilquis Edhi has been shortlisted by an international organisation ‘Impact Hallmarks’ among the “top 20 persons, objects and works, having far-extending impacts in diverse fields and extents of human accomplishments.”
According to a statement issued by the Edhi Foundation and SAARC-ASEAN Post-Doctoral Academia Directorate, an online opinion poll for global audience is being carried out currently to vote for the ‘Person of Decade’ based upon the impact value the person holds.
Bilquis Edhi is the most active philanthropist in Pakistan. She received the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. The charity has saved over 42,000 unwanted babies so far. She was awarded the prestigious ‘Hilal-e-Imtiaz’, and she is also the recipient of several other awards.
The finalist includes qualified contenders from well over 190 countries. The final results of the poll will be published on 25 January. Prof Yanghee Lee also appears to be another main contender for highlighting the issue of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
The top 20 finalists for the ‘Person of the Decade’ include former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and late UN chief Kofi Annan, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and teenager climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The nominations also include Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan of ‘Dirilis: Ertugrul’ fame, François Englert, Fritjof Capra, Graca Machel, Muang Zarni, Nitesh Jangir, Peter Higgs, Professor Yanghee Lee, Rayvon Stewart, Solar Influence Data Analysis Centre (SIDC), Stephen Soldz, Steve Brachmann, Oxfam International, and Tzu Chi Foundation.
