In their acknowledgment, Chief ministers’ of Sindh and Balochistan are among the first ones to step up endorse the campaign.
“We welcome the initiative taken by the ARY for honouring services of our beloved Abdul Sattar Edhi,” said CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
Balochistan chief minister also opined akin to his Sindh counterpart and promised to stand by campaign set off by ARY.
Former Senator Lashkari Raisani is also actively taking part in the campaign to carry its message forward.
A formal signature campaign has also kicked off with keen interest being taken by the citizens. Hundreds of people have signed the petition urging the government to declare July 8 as National Charity Day.
Lawyers, civil society activists and showbiz figures are nowhere behind in endorsing the campaign.
Renowned humourist and music connoisseur Anwar Maqsood says it will be a great step to recognize the day of Edhi’s death as national charity day.
Popular TV actress Bushra Ansari has urged the nation to follow footsteps of the great Edhi and learn from his simplistic lifestyle.
“We need to keep Edhi’s services alive and working in the most dedicated way,” says Javed Sheikh.
Edhi’s son, Faisal Edhi and social activist Ramzan Chhipa have also endorsed this campaign. Faisal Edhi said he stood by ARY in the campaign to declare day of his father’s death as Charity Day. Ramzan Chhipa has also acknowledged Abdul Sattar Edhi as his teacher.
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq signed the petition to observe July 08 as National Charity Day.
“Edhi’s services for humanity could never be forgotten,” he said.
Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Shahbaz Senior signed the petition and said Edhi was torch-bearer for the youth. On this occasion, former Olympians Khawaja Junaid, Khalid Bashir, Naveed Alam and Punjab University students also signed the petition to endorse ARY campaign.
Senior Lollywood actor Mustafa Qureshi said we needed to adopt Abdul Sattar Edhi’s role and thought.
“We are going to celebrate July 08 next year as Charity Day,” said pop singer Shahzad Roy.
Another pop singer Fakhr-e-Alam while endorsing the ARY drive said July 08 should be observed as Charity Day.
Several sports players came forward to second this campaign to pay tribute to the legendary humanitarian.
Star cricketer Shahid Afridi termed ARY’s signature drive a gigantic mission. Spinner Saeed Ajmal also endorsed this campaign.
World Snooker Champion Muhammed Asif and former world squash champion Qamar Zaman gave their approval for this campaign terming it a good initiative.
Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Absar Alam has also joined ARY’s National Charity Day drive and signed the petition in this regard.
United States Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale said Abdul Sattar Edhi will be remembered for his unmatched social services. Hale said Edhi promoted Quaid-e-Azam Muhammed Ali Jinnah’s mission.
Apart from aforementioned stars, several other celebrities are also voicing their support for the campaign on social media.
Celebrated social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi who breathed his last on July 8, opened his first clinic in 1951 to begin his lifelong journey for the welfare of the downtrodden segments of the Pakistani society.
In his autobiography, “A Mirror To The Blind”, Edhi says, “Social welfare was my vocation, I had to free it.”
Motivated by a spiritual quest for justice, over the years Edhi and his team have created maternity wards, morgues, orphanages, shelters, and homes for the elderly aimed at helping those in society who cannot help themselves.
He was also mentioned in the Guinness Book of world records for the largest fleet of ambulances, offering help to poor sections of the society failed by inadequate public health and welfare services. These 1500 ambulances are the most prominent symbols of the foundation deployed to the scene in case of an emergency or extremist attack.
