In a nation where millions experience preventable blindness, Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has emerged as a beacon of hope. It transforms lives through sight restoration and enables individuals to become productive members of society.
Since its modest beginnings in 1991, AST has committed itself to a significant mission: to ensure that quality eye care is a right for everyone, not just a privilege for a select few, according to Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Rehmat Khan, President of AST.
He added that today, the institution proudly stands among Pakistan’s most impactful healthcare organizations, respected and trusted globally.
Speaking to the media, he stated that AST has treated 30 million people from the beginning and conducted over one million eye surgeries, with 80 percent of these procedures provided at no cost.
He added that approximately one hundred thousand people visit AST OPDs monthly, and we conduct nearly 10,000 surgeries monthly.
These statistics are not just numbers; they represent the stories of men, women, and children in remote areas who were once shrouded in darkness and can now see the world. For many, this is nothing short of a miracle, he remarked.
AST president noted that deserving patients previously had to submit Zakat forms for free treatment. However, these conditions have long been waived to preserve the dignity and self-respect of low-income people.
Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Rehmat Khan emphasized that AST has created a network of state-of-the-art hospitals and mobile eye clinics that reach even the country’s most isolated areas, driven by the goal of eradicating avoidable blindness.
Whether a child in a rural village struggles to see the blackboard or an elderly farmer loses sight of cataracts, we ensure that no one is left behind, he underlined.
He informed that our dedicated doctors, paramedics, and volunteers work tirelessly to provide compassionate care, often traveling miles to deliver life-changing services to those in need.
He stated that what sets AST apart is its firm commitment to accessibility and excellence. AST doesn’t merely treat symptoms; it builds sustainable solutions.
From advanced research initiatives to training the next generation of ophthalmologists, we invest in a future where blindness caused by preventable diseases becomes a thing of the past, he said.
“Our public awareness campaigns have also played a pivotal role in educating communities about eye health, early detection, and treatment options,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Rehmat Khan called upon overseas Pakistanis to get state-of-the-art eye treatment in Pakistan. AST services are as good as those provided by the leading US or EU hospitals, and there is no difference between the free, paid, and semi-paid services at AST-run hospitals.
He informed that nearly 80 percent of patients receive free treatment in all trust-run hospitals in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Kohat, Sukkur, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit while hospital in Lahore will start by 2027 and provide services to almost 20 million people.
