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Edhi
Foundation is the largest and most organized social welfare
system in Pakistan. Foundation works round the clock,
without any discrimination on the basis of color, race,
language, religion or polictics. The Foundation modifies
the phrase "Live and let live" to "Live
and help live".
The
dynamic nature and the range of social services provided
by Edhi Foundation makes it different from other similar
organizations. The Foundation's activites include a
24 hour emergency service across the country through
250 Edhi Centers whick provide free shrouding and burial
of unclaimed dead bodies, shelter for the destitutes,
orphans and handicapped persons, free hospitals and
dispensaries, rehabilitaion of drug addicts, free wheel
chairs, crutches and other services for the handicapped,
family planning counselling and maternity services,
national and international relief efforts for the victims
of natural calamities.
Edhi
strongly adheres to the principle of self help. It is
hard to think of any welfare organization or a non-gevernmental
organization, sustaining its functions while refraining
from soliciting financial support from the government
and foreign aid-giving agencies. It is even harder to
understand the active rejection of the concept of such
a support. All donations for Edhi Foundation come from
individuals and a few business enterprizes.
With
examplary tenacity, Edhi has pursued his mission for
the last five decades. He has quietly brought about
a remarkable change in the social attitude in Pakistan
towards community welfare by instilling in ordinary
citizens a consistent desire to participate in public
welfare programs.
Mission
of service to humanity knows no barriers of religion,
caste, creed or national bondaries. Edhi Foundation's
network has now extended beyond its national boundaries
and aquired an international charter. With its international
operations, Edhi is also setting up good examples for
other countries to follow and provide better welfare
services to the people.
Edhi
emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the basic
human rights, regardless of religion, caste or creed.
"My religion is humanitarianism... which is the
basis of every religion in the world.", Says Edhi.
He has persisted upon his mission of humanitarianism
for the past 56 years, and is therefore popular among
followers of all the existing religious sects in Pakistan.
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