Edhi revolutionised concept of social work: speakers

The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) arranged a memorial reference in memory of Abdul Sattar Edhi at their premises the other day which was largely attended by people from various walks of life.

The speakers who spoke included prominent intellectual and social activist IA Rehman, Hameed Haroon, Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Zohra Yousuf, leading media personality and member of Sindh Assembly Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, prominent physicians including Dr Haroon Ahmed and Professor Almani, former commissioner of Karachi Shafiq-ur-Rehman Piracha and representatives of minatory committee including artist Jimmy Engineer, Mazhar Jameel, Prof Nagharparkar and Zahid Farood.

The speakers paid rich tribute to the most revered person of the country. They said Abdul Sattar Edhi’s name was synonyms with dedicated service to the mankind. They said Edhi revolutionised the concept of social work and charitable activists not only in Pakistan but in many parts of the world.

The speakers said Edhi led a life for serving others and he extended services regardless of any nationality, ethnicity or class which was a sharp rebuke to those who divided the society thorough violence and fear. They recounted the multifarious social work of Edhi under the umbrella of Edhi Foundation which included free hospital and dispensaries, orphanages, nursing home, shelter for shelter-less and old people and fleet of ambulances services, graveyard and morgues.

They also highlighted the most remarkable humanitarian service rendered by Edhi Foundation rendered – rehabilitation of abandoned children.

SIUT Director Prof Adib Rizvi in welcome address said that Edhi had long association with the SIUT and he was the first among the 2,000 persons who pledged to donate their organs after death. He said the great humanist and social worker was a hummable man who spent the entire life for the services of mankind without any personal gain or benefit.