I have had the privilege of observing some of the social services provided by the Edhi Foundation in Karachi, particularly in their homes for abandoned and homeless individuals, the elderly, children, mental health patients, and a rehabilitation center for heroin addicts.
The Edhi Foundation is a large organization offering a wide range of social services in Pakistan, dedicated to guiding and supporting the most deprived through life’s hardships. What makes the Foundation unique among other social welfare providers is its commitment to offering free shelter and care for individuals in need, including mental health patients, destitute people, drug addicts, orphans, and abandoned children, especially in the highly neglected areas of Karachi.
Karachi, Pakistan’s economic and shipping hub, is home to several hundred thousand drug addicts. Despite the illegal status of heroin, it remains easily accessible, affordable, and often cheaper than a meal. The opium from which heroin is derived is grown in neighboring Afghanistan, near the border regions.
The Edhi Foundation provides free rehabilitation services for addicts at its center in Karachi. The treatment is basic, offering a drug-free environment along with sedative injections and paracetamol for pain relief. Methadone is rarely available due to its high cost. This approach, known as “Cold Turkey,” involves abruptly stopping the drug, which induces severe pain, anxiety, and mental distress. While the physical need for heroin typically subsides after 7-10 days, psychological dependence persists. Many patients return to the center later, and some develop severe mental illnesses as a result.
Despite operating with very limited resources, the Edhi Foundation does a remarkable job of providing support for the most vulnerable through its various homes. However, the immense need for mental health care and addiction rehabilitation requires broader, multidisciplinary involvement to truly address the scale of the issue.
Psychiatric unit for male patients, EDHI Foundation village north of Karachi, March 2018
Psychiatric wing at one of the largest mental health institution for women in Karachi, where 1700 patients are receiving care. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Mental Health patients, EDHI village, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for drug addicts run by EDHI Foundation in Karachi. It is estimated that several hundred thousand people of all age and gender suffer of heroine addiction in the city where a dosis of heroine costs the same as a meal. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for drug addicts run by EDHI Foundation in Karachi. It is estimated that several hundred thousand people of all age and gender suffer of heroine addiction in the city where a dosis of heroine costs the same as a meal. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for homeless elderly, abandonned by their families. EDHI Home in Karachi's southern suburbs, Pakistan, March 2018
Dispensary part of the shelter for drug addicts and elderly homeless. EDHI Home in Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Mental Health patients, EDHI village, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for homeless children from 5 to 12 years. EDHI Home Korangi, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Ward of a mental health institution for women in Karachi run by EDHI Foundation. Pakistan, March 2018
Psychiatric unit for male patients, EDHI Foundation village north of Karachi, March 2018
Dispensary part of the shelter for drug addicts and elderly homeless. EDHI Home in Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for drug addicts run by EDHI Foundation in Karachi. It is estimated that several hundred thousand people of all age and gender suffer of heroine addiction in the city where a dosis of heroine costs the same as a meal. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Desk of the duty doctor at the drug addict dispensary, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Clinic for drug addicts and elderly homeless. EDHI Home in Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Home for children under 5 years with special needs, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Ward of a mental health institution for women in Karachi run by EDHI Foundation. Pakistan, March 2018
Ward for patients in the psychiatric unit of EDHI village. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Psychiatric unit for male patients, EDHI Foundation village north of Karachi, March 2018
Shelter for homeless children from 5 to 12 years. EDHI Home Korangi, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Eight years old boy abandooned by his parents at the EDHI drug addict center. He will be transferred to one of the shelters for homeless children. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Mental Health patients, EDHI village, Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Children unit of one of the largest mental health institution for women in Karachi run by EDHI Foundation. Pakistan, March 2018
Psychiatric unit for male patients, EDHI Foundation village north of Karachi, March 2018
Shelter for drug addicts run by EDHI Foundation in Karachi. It is estimated that several hundred thousand people of all age and gender suffer of heroine addiction in the city where a dosis of heroine costs the same as a meal. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Children unit of one of the largest mental health institution for women in Karachi run by EDHI Foundation. Pakistan, March 2018
Ward of a mental health institution for women in Karachi run by EDHI Foundation. Pakistan, March 2018
One of the wards in EDHI village where care is provided for male children and adults with mild to severe mental health issues. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Shelter for drug addicts run by EDHI Foundation in Karachi. It is estimated that several hundred thousand people of all age and gender suffer of heroine addiction in the city where a dosis of heroine costs the same as a meal. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
Dispensary part of the shelter for drug addicts and elderly homeless. EDHI Home in Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
One of the wards in EDHI village where care is provided for male children and adults with mild to severe mental health issues. Karachi, Pakistan, March 2018
