• New medical facility to be launched in Gilgit-Baltistan soon
• Plans in place to treat 1.5 million patients next year, including 200,000 surgeries. Free treatment to 80%
• Generous contributions by Pak-US Philanthropists instrumental in supporting the cause
• Masood Khan lauds diaspora for their generosity, empathy and philanthropic spirit
President of Al-Shifa Trust Maj. Gen (R) Rehmat Khan met Ambassador Masood Khan today. President Al-Shifa Trust was accompanied by Chief of Medical Service of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Dr. Wajid Ali Khan and President Al-Shifa Trust Foundation of North America (AFNA) Tahir Zafar.
During the meeting, Maj. Gen (r) Rehmat Khan briefed Ambassador Masood Khan about Al-Shifa Trust’s work in Pakistan, stating that the Trust, since its inception was providing medical treatment to millions of patients. Nearly 75% of all patients were being treated free of charge, 20% subsidized and only 5% were private patients, stated President Al-Shifa Trust.
The Trust is determined for prevention and control of blindness by providing standard and sustainable eye care services which are accessible and affordable to all. The Trust has specialized pediatric treatment facilities.
In addition to Trust Complex in Rawalpindi, it has major, permanent facilities at eleven different locations in Pakistan, including 4 hospitals and three academic facilities. The Trust has recently opened a facility in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and another being launched soon in Gilgit-Baltistan region. He said they have planned to treat 1.5 million patients next year, including 200,000 surgeries and 80% of them would be treated free of cost. He also briefed the Ambassador about the objectives of his visit to the United States and his activities in Chicago.
President AFNA Tahir Zafar briefed the Ambassador about AFNA and said that it is working in the United States since 2000 and has managed to give generous grants to Al-Shifa Trust for supporting their highly successful projects including building of charity eye hospitals in the remote towns and cities of Pakistan.
Chief of Medical Service of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals Dr. Wajid Ali Khan said that Trust’s Eye Hospitals are providing the best treatment facilities and services. He mentioned that the medical procedures employed by Trust’s physicians at time are latest than being used in the United States.
Ambassador Masood Khan welcomed President Al-Shifa Trust and maintained that Trust’s charitable services are fully recognized and the whole nation pays tribute to Trust’s founders and its leadership for remarkable philanthropic work in health sectors. He said that he is aware of Trust’s world-class treatment facilities across Pakistan, in addition to its mobile eye camps, including in far flung areas of AJK. He said President Al-Shifa’s briefing has further broadened his horizon about Trust’s work in Pakistan, which should be widely disseminated.
Ambassador Masood Khan said that not only Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, but all Pakistan Foreign Missions around the globe and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, consider this their sacred, moral obligation to extend maximum facilitation to Trust and its leadership in support of their noble cause as their humble contribution.
Ambassador Masood Khan said that Pakistani-American is an affluent, philanthropic community that has historically contributed immensely in national development and charitable sector in Pakistan. He expressed confidence that Pakistani-American community would come forward to support Trust’s work.
The Ambassador appreciated Maj. Gen (r) Rehmat’s commitment to public service pro bono.
Established in 1985, Al-Shifa Trust is a non-governmental, non-political, charitable organization with President of Pakistan as the ex-officio Patron-In-Chief of the trust. The Trust has international chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Washington D.C, May 23, 2023
