RAWALPINDI: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital has formally commenced the construction of its new facility in Lahore, envisioned as the most modern eye hospital in South Asia. This development marks a significant expansion in the Trust's mission to deliver specialized eye care to millions across the region.
According to Al-Shifa Trust, President Maj. Gen. (Retd) Rehmat Khan has highlighted the project as a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts to broaden access to quality eye care and mitigate preventable blindness across Pakistan. The construction contract has been awarded to a Lahore-based firm, with the completion of the grey structure expected within 13 months under strict provisions to prevent delays.
A ceremony to mark the start of construction was held at the site, attended by Al-Shifa Trust officials, engineers, consultants, and construction staff, who gathered to express hopes for the hospital's successful completion. The facility is being constructed on 70 kanals of land provided by the Punjab government on the Ring Road, Raiwind. It is set to include 20 advanced operation theatres and will offer comprehensive treatment for various eye diseases.
The hospital will serve an estimated 20 million people, treating over 600,000 patients annually. In keeping with the Trust's commitment to equitable healthcare access, free treatment will be available for deserving and underprivileged patients.
This project comes in response to the pressing public health issue of vision impairment in Pakistan, where over 26 million people live with blindness or partial vision impairment. The country ranks sixth globally in terms of vision-loss burden, with cataract being the leading cause of blindness. Central Punjab, in particular, has the highest prevalence of blindness in the nation.
For more than 35 years, Al-Shifa Trust has expanded its operations from treating 25 patients daily to more than 5,000. It currently operates seven eye hospitals across various cities, including Rawalpindi, Sukkur, and Kohat, and has conducted over 15,000 free screening and surgical camps in underserved areas. Between 80 and 90 percent of patients receive free treatment. The new Lahore hospital is expected to enhance these efforts significantly.
To support the project, a fundraising event was organized by the Trust, featuring performances by artists Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Noor Buksh, raising one hundred million rupees through contributions from philanthropists.