Under the auspices of King Edward Medical University (KEMU), in collaboration with the College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) and CBM International, a grand ceremony was held at Maqbool Ahmad Block to commemorate World Sight Day 2025.
On this occasion, the CBM Cataract Support Project was formally launched to eliminate avoidable blindness across the province.
The Chief Guests of the event were Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Punjab, Mr. Khawaja Imran Nazir, and Vice Chancellor KEMU, Prof. Dr. Mahmood Ayyaz, while Provincial Minister for Prisons Rana Abdul Manan, Special Secretary Health and Population Aon Abbas, and numerous national and international dignitaries were also present.
The ceremony was hosted by Principal COAVS, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Moin. Distinguished participants included Prof. Asghar Naqi, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Asad Aslam Khan, Prof. Abrar Ashraf, Prof. Javed Chaudhry, Prof. Saleem Akhtar, Prof. Khaleel Rana, Prof. Muhammad Yaqeen, Prof. Nasir Chaudhry, Prof. Faiza Bashir, Prof. Dr. Jaleel Dola, Dr. Zahid Awan (Program Manager Eye Care, CBM), Fehmida Mirza (Country Representative), Sabir Dar (Program Officer), Farooq Awan (Country Manager, The Fred Hollows Foundation), and Zeenat Kausar (Program Officer), along with faculty members, students, patients, and school children in large numbers.
During the ceremony, Minister for Health Khawaja Imran Nazir distributed Intraocular Lens (IOL) kits to selected government hospitals for free cataract surgeries, and free spectacles were also distributed among children diagnosed with visual impairments under the School Screening Program.
In his address, the Minister for Health stated: Under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab, Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif ‘Health for All’ the provincial government is committed to ensuring an equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare system.
This Cataract Support Project is not merely a medical initiative, but a historic step toward social and economic development by eliminating treatable blindness.
Through the Maryam Nawaz Clinic on Wheels Program, eye screening services will be extended to neighborhoods and schools, while eye care facilities are also being strengthened at RHC and BHU levels.
Vice Chancellor, KEMU Prof. Dr. Mahmood Ayyaz address the audience on World Sight Day: Eyesight is one of the greatest blessings of Allah Almighty, allowing us to perceive the beauty of life and the colors of the universe.
World Sight Day reminds us that protecting vision means protecting life itself.
In Pakistan, millions suffer from preventable eye diseases particularly Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, and childhood corneal diseases. The encouraging fact is that most of these conditions can be prevented through timely diagnosis, treatment, and awareness.
King Edward Medical University and Mayo Hospital Lahore’s Department of Ophthalmology are continuously striving to promote eye health awareness and ensure access to modern, quality eye care services for all.
I urge the public to get regular eye check-ups, control diabetes and blood pressure, prevent Vitamin A deficiency in children, and never ignore any changes in vision.
Principal COAVS and Pro Vice-Chancellor KEMU Prof. Dr. Muhammad Moin, remarked: With CBM International’s financial support, we are providing free cataract surgeries, IOLs, and other essential facilities across 42 hospitals in 29 districts of Punjab. This investment will not only restore vision for underprivileged patients but also contribute to overall economic stability.
Prof. Emeritus COAVS Prof. Dr. Asad Aslam Khan shared his views: This project is a remarkable example of international trust and local commitment. Such collaborations will strengthen the long-term sustainability of blindness prevention efforts in Punjab.
The project, with an estimated worth of around PKR 120 million, includes practical initiatives such as expansion of cataract surgeries, school screening programs, refraction services, health staff training, and free provision of spectacles.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister for Health and other distinguished guests formally inaugurated the Cataract Support Program and reaffirmed their collective commitment to promoting eye health, emphasizing that:
“Protecting vision is a shared responsibility of us all.”