KARACHI: The foundation set up by the Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi is in urgent need of funds.
After the death of Abdul Sattar Edhi at the age of 88 in 2016, commentators expressed a fear that the Edhi Foundation’s humanitarian service would suffer, and subsequently it did experience a significant drop in contributions.
“After the death of Edhi sahib, the foundation suffered a setback as its donations dropped by almost 30 percent,” said Faisal Edhi, the son of Abdul Sattar Edhi. “But things are turning again as during last Ramadan we saw a substantial (rise) in donations, but still we are in crisis,” he said.
The Edhi Foundation needs about 1.5 billion Pakistani rupees ($13 million) annually to run its operations, which includes a fleet of 1,800 ambulances.
“Our major fund-consuming department is transport, 40 percent of total funds go into that to run (ambulances), followed by salaries and the allowances of staff,” Edhi told Arab News.
He added that because of a drop in contributions many departments were suffering. One of the reasons for the decline in donations to the Edhi Foundation was the emergence of new charity organizations that took a share of the available funding.
Edhi said the foundation was still much needed to provide social services. “Just in Karachi, we need 2,000 ambulances to cater for the needs of a growing population,” he said.
Akhtar Baloch, an analyst and historian, told Arab News: “Edhi sahib was a great personality but he also left behind a strong organization that has roots not only in Pakistan but also abroad.”
Ahsan Abdullah, 40, a resident of Saddar, Karachi, told Arab News that his father used to give money to the organization and “I too donate to this foundation.”
“Edhi had a cause to serve humanity without any prejudice and left a huge network that needs our support,” he said.
The foundation also runs a shelter for children.
Humaira Faiz, a worker at a children’s home in the Kharadar area in Karachi, said: “Some of them were admitted by their relatives and parents who (had) a second marriage and could not bear their burden.” She pointed to a 12-year-old girl who was admitted by her aunt after the death of her parents.
The Edhi Foundation also began an air-ambulance service, which was grounded 23 years ago after the death of the pilot who ran the service.
Faisal has plans to revive it. “We have started test flights and soon it will be available,” he said. “It is a costly affair as it is around half a million rupees per month, even if it is grounded. Its flying cost per hour stands around Rs 100,000.”
Sindh’s provincial government has said that it might be able to share some of the funding burden.
“The air ambulance service (of the) Edhi Foundation has not approached the chief minister, but if they come up with a proposal the Sindh government will definitely provide assistance as it has previously supported the foundation,” Rasheed Channa, the spokesman for the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, said.
“The chief minister has taken notice; he has offered not only support but has offered to allot land for offices. In the case of Hyderabad, the government has offered a place in civil hospital premises for the offices,” Channa said.
From his base in Karachi’s inner city, Abdul Sattar Edhi started a social services network in 1951 that later expanded nationwide.
The Edhi Foundation provides a broad range of free social services, including ambulances, orphanages and support for the elderly and disabled as well as blood banks and homes for abandoned infants.
Edhi Foundation faces financial crisis
Edhi Foundation faces financial crisis
Pakistan police detain teen girl radicalized online in suspected suicide bombing plot
- The girl was targeted online by the Baloch Liberation Army, which was designated as a terrorist group by the US this year
- In 2022, a female suicide bomber affiliated with the BLA killed three Chinese teachers near a university campus in Karachi
KARACHI: Police in Pakistan detained a teenage girl who was radicalized and recruited online by an outlawed separatist group to carry out a “major suicide attack,” authorities said Monday.
No criminal charges will be filed and she will be placed under state protection as “a victim rather than a suspect,” Sindh provincial Home Minister Ziaul Hassan said at a news conference.
The girl was detained during a routine police check on buses as she traveled to Karachi, the Sindh province capital, from southwestern Balochistan province to meet a handler, Hassan said.
The girl was targeted online by the Baloch Liberation Army, which was designated as a terrorist group by the United States earlier this year. The group convinced the girl that carrying out an attack would bring her honor and recognition within the Baloch community, similar to other women who have carried out suicide bombings against security forces, Hassan said.
“The girl appeared confused when police officers asked her routine questions,” said Hassan, who added that she was taken to a police facility and disclosed months of contact with militants through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
The girl appeared with her mother at a news conference but her face was covered and her name and age were withheld. Police showed a video statement she made with details about her contacts with BLA and how she agreed to carry out a suicide attack.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned BLA and other separatist groups for luring people toward violence and said detaining the girl prevented a potential large loss of life.
Baloch separatists have waged an insurgency since the early 2000s seeking greater autonomy and in some cases independence from Pakistan while demanding a larger share of natural resources.
Authorities said the group has attempted to increase its use of female attackers in recent years. A female suicide bomber affiliated with BLA killed three Chinese teachers in 2022 near a university campus in Karachi.
