The prestigious award, which has been earlier presented to two Nobel laureates — Dalai Lama and Malala Yousufzai — has been instituted by the Harmony Foundation, Mumbai.
“In view of the noble and humanitarian act of sheltering our dear Geeta — a deaf-and-mute woman who had accidentally crossed into Pakistan, the Harmony Foundation Board has unanimously decided to honour Karachi-based Bilquis Bano of the Edhi Foundation,” the foundation’s chairman and activist Abraham Mathai said.
Bano looked after Geeta graciously for over a decade and even allowed her the freedom to practice her own religion until her return to her family last week.
“It is indeed remarkable to note Edhi’s empathic gesture of considering her religious beliefs and cultural sentiments through the years, despite Geeta’s disadvantaged situation to demand the same,” Mathai explained.
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