The fifth death anniversary of prominent philanthropist and humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi is being observed on Thursday.
Abdul Sattar Edhi was born on February 28, 1928, in Gujarat (present-day Indian) before partition of the sub-continent. He started welfare services in Pakistan in 1951 which become the largest and best organised social welfare system in Pakistan.
He established world’s largest volunteer ambulance network along with shelters for homeless people and animals and orphanages across the country. He is known as the “Angel of Mercy” and is considered to be Pakistan’s most respected and legendary figure.
Many international and national awards, including Asian Noble, the Lenin Peace Prize and Nishan-e-Imtiaz were bestowed upon him in recognition of his services for humanity. He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Edhi’s foundation has provided relief in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Croatia, Indonesia and even the United States after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
He breathed his last on this day in 2016 at the age of 88 in Karachi. Following his death, his son Faisal Edhi took over as head of the Edhi Foundation.
