Donations to back Trust’s nationwide eye care initiatives.
TARIQ KHATTAK
RAWALPINDI:
Donors contributed around Rs35 million to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital during a fundraising dinner titled “Noor Phir Sey” held at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, the trust said. The funds will support the Trust’s free and subsidised eye care services nationwide.
The event mixed fundraising appeals with cultural and Sufi music, featuring anchorperson Farah Saadia and musicians Sanam Marvi and Ustad Raees. Attendees included representatives from corporations, philanthropists, and civil society, some of whom pledged to donate eyes posthumously.
The trust paid tribute to Dr Shazia Asad, whose selfless 2011 pledge to donate her eyes stood as a beacon of generosity and compassion. Her recognition underscored the urgent and human need for corneal donations to address preventable blindness, giving hope to patients awaiting the precious gift of sight.
Leading corporations, foundations, and individuals opened their hearts alongside their wallets. President Maj Gen (retd) Rehmat Khan expressed heartfelt gratitude, reminding all that sustained compassion from donors can mean the difference between a world of darkness and the light of sight for thousands.
He recalled how the trust began with seeing only 25 patients daily, but through unwavering community support and hope, it now brightens the futures of nearly 5,000 individuals each day. Last year alone, over 1.6 million patients found care and renewed vision, 82 percent at no cost, thanks to the continued generosity of donors.
He added that the trust’s cross-subsidisation model allowed paying patients to finance free treatment for those unable to afford care. Hospitals operate in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Kohat, Sukkur, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit. Lahore Eye Hospital is expected to begin operations by 2027.
He stated that the Haveli Lakha facility has been completed and will be inaugurated during Ramadan. The total project cost is Rs162 million, with Rs122 million for construction and Rs40 million for medical equipment.
Notable donors included OGDCL, Askari Bank, Bank of Punjab, Rupani Foundation, Dr Tahira Idrees, and Group Capt Imtiaz Ali Khan.
Pakistan’s blindness rate has declined from 1.78 percent in 1990 to about 0.5 percent due to increased cataract surgeries and earlier diagnoses. Health experts note that much visual impairment remains avoidable, but rising costs and limited facilities strain rural households. Funds from “Noor Phir Sey” are intended to directly increase surgical capacity, extend outreach, and provide subsidised treatment in underserved regions.
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