Article

Title: "The Richest Poor Man of Pakistan: Abdul-Sattar Edhi"

Date: July 8, 2016

My first encounter with the name Abdul-Sattar Edhi left me intrigued.

The nation mourned his passing, and I couldn't help but wonder why.

Turning to my father, I asked, "Who was Edhi?"

Father: "Why do you want to know about him?"

Me: "I've heard so much about him. I want to understand why everyone

is talking about him."

Father: "Alright. He was an entrepreneur and a humanitarian."

Me: "Wait... what? I never heard this. Everyone says he was a

philanthropist, but no one told me he was an entrepreneur."

Father: "Okay... let me tell you from the very beginning. But first, tell

me... what is an entrepreneur?"

Son: "Someone who has an idea and works to create a product or an

organization to support their effort."

Father: "Yes, you're right. But let me add something... they pursue their

own idea and transform it into a viable business by bearing risks."

Me: "Okay, I understand."

Father: "Good. So, Abdul-Sattar Edhi was born in 1928 in a small

village called Bantva near Joonagarh, Gujrat..."

[Continuation of the story...]

Abdul-Sattar Edhi was profoundly influenced by his mother's

unwavering devotion to helping the less fortunate. Even though

resources were scarce, she instilled in him a love for humanity. When

she fell ill and was left paralyzed, young Abdul took on the

responsibility of caring for her. This experience not only shaped his

character but also impacted his education.

Upon her passing when he was 19, Edhi's resolve to help those suffering

like his mother grew stronger. He envisioned a network of welfare

centers and hospitals to alleviate the pain of the neglected and diseased.

However, resources were scarce in the beginning.

In 1947, he migrated to Karachi and began his journey as a peddler, but

his compassion for the needy never waned. He established a free

dispensary with the help of like-minded individuals, hiring a doctor to

further his cause. He even slept in front of the dispensary to ensure

timely assistance to the poor.

The great flood of 1957 in Karachi spurred Edhi into action. He set up

camps throughout the city, providing essential medicines to those in

need. The generous response from the community enabled him to

purchase an entire building for the dispensary.

Edhi's vision of a comprehensive system of services led him to establish

the 'Edhi Trust'. He also initiated an emergency ambulance service in

Karachi, starting with just one van that he drove himself. With growing

confidence in the trust, donations poured in, allowing him to expand his

services.

After establishing a strong foundation in Pakistan, Edhi aspired to serve

humanity on an international level. However, he faced numerous

challenges in doing so. In 1985, he was detained by troops while

attempting to enter Lebanon, only to be released after verification of his

credentials.

Edhi aspired to help humanity on a global scale after laying a solid

foundation in Pakistan. But he had to overcome several obstacles to do

so. He was stopped by soldiers in 1985 when he tried to enter Lebanon,

but he was later released once his credentials were confirmed.

Bilquis, Edhi's wife, was instrumental in running the maternity home

and adoption centre at the headquarters. As a committed husband-and

wife partnership, they achieved their joint goal of reducing suffering in

people.

Success, however, wasn't without its difficulties. The foundation was

robbed in 2004, suffering a loss of about Rs. 500,000, and came under

right-wing criticism. The public's outpouring of support enabled the

foundation to survive these challenges financially.

He also faced many travelling issues. In 2006, US immigration official

investigated him for 8 hours after seizing his passport and documents.

He died in 2016 at the age of 88 due to complete kidney failure. But he

was able to fulfill his dream before his death. Now Edhi has become a

synonym of love and selflessness.

Me : Now I understand that he was an entrepreneur…because he took

his own idea and after bearing all the risks established his trust.