‘Mother of Pakistan’ Bilquis Bano Edhi passes away

One of Pakistan’s greatest female social workers, and wife of late Abdul Sattar Edhi, Bilquis Bano Edhi passed away in Karachi on Friday.

Edhi was suffering from heart disease and other ailments. According to Edhi’s spokesperson, she was undergoing multiple treatments in a private hospital in Karachi. The time, place and burial will be announced later.

Earlier this week, first lady Tehmina Durrani also visited her in the hospital. Sharing a picture with her in the hospital, she said that today Bilquis and I wept a river in her hospital room.

In her tweet, Durrani said, “She cried for Edhi Sahab and I cried for her.”

Durrani also said that when Edhi called her first lady, she squirmed. She added that she praised Bilquis Edhi and said that no first lady could match up to her greatness.

Bilquis was the wife of philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, and also a professional nurse. She was nicknamed the mother of Pakistan. After the death of her husband, she was named chairperson of the Edhi foundation.

Born in 1947 in Karachi, she helped her late husband and took care of thousands of orphanages.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Bilquis Edhi and appreciated her social services.