Light Returns to Gwadar: How Hope, Care, and Compassion Are Restoring Vision in Balochistan
As the sun rises over the shores of the Arabian Sea, life in Gwadar begins early. Fishermen prepare their nets, children walk long distances to school, and elders sit quietly outside their homes. For many years, poor eyesight and untreated eye diseases silently stole opportunities, dignity, and independence from thousands of people living in this remote district of Balochistan.
Today, that story is changing.
Through the Integrated People-Centered Eye Care (IPCEC) initiative, Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC), with the support of CBM, is bringing light, clarity, and renewed hope to the people of Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, and Jiwani. The program is not only about medical treatment;
it is about reaching people who were once forgotten and reminding them that their lives matter.
In villages scattered across mountains and along the coastline, mobile eye screening teams now arrive where no such services existed before. Last year, using modern screening technology, more than 58,000 men, women, and children have had their eyes examined in communities, schools, and madrasas. For many, it was the first eye check-up of their lives.
“I never thought doctors would come to our village,” shared an elderly fisherman in Gwadar after receiving his first pair of glasses. “Now I can see my nets clearly again.”
Fully functional eye care units have been established at Rural Health Centers and the MALC facility in Gwadar, equipped with advanced diagnostic equipment and supported by solar power systems. Last year, nearly 20,000 patients have received outpatient eye care services, including medicines and spectacles free of cost. Children who once struggled to read the blackboard can now follow their lessons, while elders regain independence they thought was lost forever.
One of the most life-changing achievements of the project has been the successful completion of 93 cataract surgeries, provided completely free of cost. For patients who had been living in darkness for years, these surgeries restored not only their sight but also their ability to work,
move independently, and reconnect with their families and communities.
Beyond treatment, the project has invested deeply in people. Dozens of Lady Health Workers, teachers, medical officers, and community leaders have been trained in basic eye health care, disability inclusion, safeguarding, and emergency preparedness. These trained individuals now serve as local champions, ensuring that help reaches even the most remote households.
Awareness sessions across the district have helped break myths and fears surrounding eye disease. Educational materials printed in both Urdu and Baluchi have empowered families with knowledge, encouraging early care-seeking and prevention.
Strong collaboration with the Balochistan Health Department has laid the groundwork for long- term sustainability. Government officials have demonstrated ownership of the initiative and committed to continuing eye care services by integrating trained staff into the public health system.
The journey has not been without challenges. Security concerns, vast distances, and scattered populations remain daily obstacles. Yet, despite these realities, teams continue their work with dedication, courage, and compassion.
This initiative has delivered far more than numbers. It has restored dignity to elders, confidence to children, and hope to families who once believed help would never reach them.
In Gwadar, vision is being restored — and with it, lives are being renewed.
Because when sight returns, life begins again.
BY : Monis Ali,Gwadar
Cell: 03218098130
