Legendary Pakistani social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi dies at 88

Celebrated Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who had dedicated his life to humanity and serving the poor, has died from renal failure at the age of 92. “He passed away few hours ago due to kidney failure. He had been facing respiratory problems during dialysis due to his frail health,” Edhi’s son Faisal said yesterday.

Edhi’s funeral prayers will be offered today, after which he will be laid to rest at the Edhi village he founded 25 years ago.

“He had confirmed burial space 25-years ago near Edhi village and will be buried there as per his wishes,” he said.

The philanthropist had dedicated his life to humanity and serving the poor.

He established the Edhi village with an aim to provide home to the homeless, destitute, and the elderly and was the Chairman of Edhi Foundation known for its humanitarian work.

“Before his death, he donated his coronaries and body organs,” Faisal said. “We can assure you that Edhi foundation and village will continue his legacy in humanitarian work.”

Earlier in the day, Faisal said his father was admitted to Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation and put on ventilator after he complained of breathing problems.

Faisal said Edhi’s kidneys failed in 2013 and he was on dialysis but he couldn’t get a transplant because of his frail health.

In June, former president Asif Ali Zardari had offered to send Edhi abroad for treatment but the philanthropist refused saying he prefers to be treated at a government hospital in Pakistan.

Nominated several times for the Nobel peace prize, including this year, Edhi won a host of international awards in recognition of his work.

“My father’s dream was to turn Pakistan into a welfare state and he single-handedly started the Edhi Foundation which carries on its operations through private donations,” Faisal said.

“My father didn’t own a house and the pair of shoes he died in were bought 20-years ago,” he said.

Belonging to a family of traders, Edhi settled in Karachi in 1947. He was born in Gujarat and started welfare work in 1951 with the first home for homeless and sick in Karachi.

Soon after the news of his death last night, hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital.