According to an announcement in Paris, Abdul Sattar Edhi of Pakistan and Frantois Houtart of Belgium were awarded the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)-Madanjeet Singh Prize on the unanimous recommendation of an international jury to UNESCO Director-General Konchiro Matsuura.
They will receive the award on 16 November, the International Day for Tolerance, and prize money of $100,000 will be shared between them.
Dedicated to advancing tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communications, the prize was created in 1995 on the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatama Gandhi, with the help of Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
It is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for conspicuous contributions towards its goals.
According to UNESCO press release, Edhi, as he is commonly known as, one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan through his Edhi Foundation, a non-profit social welfare programme with over 300 centres, received the accolade for life-long efforts to improve the conditions of the most disadvantaged groups in Pakistan and South Asia, and promote human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance.
His foundation provides the needy with medical aid, family planning, emergency assistance and education, and sets up maternity homes, mental asylums, homes for the physically handicapped, blood banks and orphanages, among other services.
- Abdul Sattar Edhi, 81 years old veteran, still serving the needy.
Edhi, born on 1 January, 1928 in Indian Gujarat, has received many other international and national awards previously. Just a few to mention are;
- Ramon Magsaysay award (in 1986), for his courageous service to people.
- Lenin peace prize (in 1988), which was Soviet Union’s equivalent to Nobel Peace Prize.
- Nishan-e-Imtiaz (in 1989) by the Government of Pakistan.
- Balzan Prize (in 2000) for peace, humanity, and brotherhood.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records (1997 edition), Edhi Foundation’s ambulance service is the largest volunteer ambulance service in the world.
IBA (Institute of Business Administration) Karachi awarded him Honorary Doctorate degree in 2006.
A poll by Pakistan’s most comprehensive financial newspaper, The Financial Daily, listed Edhi as the favorite personality.
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