Contents
Abdul Sattar Edhi
Building Pakistan’s Edhi network of ambulances, shelters and humanitarian services.
Ambulance service · Shelters and care
- Born
- 28 February 1928
- Birthplace
- Bantva, Gujarat, British India
- Died
- 8 July 2016
More people
Abdul Sattar Edhi
A Pakistani humanitarian who developed a large charitable organisation from modest beginnings in Karachi. His work emphasised assistance across religious and social divisions.
Early life
Gujarat childhood
Grew up in Bantva and helped care for his mother during illness.
Migration
Moved to Pakistan after Partition and settled in Karachi.
Career
- 1951
Karachi dispensary
Established a small welfare service supported by public donations.
- 1950s
Emergency care
Expanded relief work and ambulance services.
- 1960s onward
Edhi Foundation
Developed shelters, children’s services and a wider rescue network.
- Later decades
National reach
The organisation grew across Pakistan while retaining a donation-based model.
Services & contributions
Ambulance service
Built a widely used emergency and transport network.
Shelters and care
Provided services for abandoned children and people without support.
Magsaysay recognition
Shared the Public Service award with Bilquis Edhi.
Beyond work
Partnership
His wife Bilquis played a central role in children’s care and the foundation’s work.
Personal example
Was known for living simply and rejecting distinctions of religion in deciding who deserved help.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Hussain. CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
