The Foundation

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.