Rawalpindi: Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital is expanding its international outreach by pursuing a partnership with Qatar Charity to provide free eye care for Somali patients and support a planned eye care and research center in Lahore. The initiative also aims to enhance medical training opportunities.

According to Al-Shifa Trust, the effort was initiated during a four-day networking visit to Doha by Al-Shifa Trust President Maj. Gen. (Retd) Rehmat Khan and his delegation. They also discussed reviving the Trust's Gulf Chapter in Qatar to bolster fundraising and engagement with overseas Pakistanis.

During a meeting with Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al-Sumaiti, Qatar Charity's general supervisor for Pakistan, potential cooperation in healthcare, human resource development, and professional training was explored. Al-Sumaiti expressed interest in supporting the Trust's work across multiple areas, including financing the treatment costs for Somali patients. The Trust also proposed a 50-50 cost-sharing model to facilitate patients from Qatar.

Discussions extended to support for the Trust's planned eye care and research center in Lahore, training for doctors, and a possible nurse exchange program. Qatar Charity representatives may visit Pakistan in November, ahead of Ramadan, while the Trust focuses on follow-up discussions with the charity's Islamabad office.

The collaboration could improve access to specialist eye care for Somali patients and aid Pakistani medical professionals in acquiring specialized skills through international training and exchange opportunities. The delegation also met with representatives from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and other organizations to explore opportunities for institutional cooperation and fundraising.

Members of the Pakistan Welfare Forum emphasized the need for stronger outreach to the diaspora, noting limited awareness of Al-Shifa Trust among Pakistanis. Attendees appreciated the Trust's humanitarian work and explored ideas to advance its mission through networking with like-minded individuals. The community expressed support for propagating Al-Shifa Trust's message in Qatar and beyond.

The proposed international support could alleviate financial pressures on the Trust, as inflation and rupee depreciation have increased the cost of imported medical equipment and hospital operations.