In Pakistan, hundreds of people go blind every day, often from preventable causes. Those most affected live in remote areas where they are unable to travel to cities for help. They simply can't afford the expense. Women, traditionally unable to travel alone, have particularly suffered.

While people in Western countries have ready access to cataract surgery, in Pakistan this is not the case. Most eye care services are only available in Pakistan's major cities, yet nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas without access to health services.

The rate of avoidable blindness is down from 1.8% of the population to 0.9% since The Foundation started work in Pakistan in 1998. The Foundation is continuing its work through existing health systems to build local capacity; training and equipping medical personnel to reduce avoidable blindness in Pakistan and bring sight restoring surgery to every corner of the country.

Find out more about the Pakistan program.

Through our program work in Pakistan, The Foundation:

• Screened 406,230 people in all four Provinces 
  
  
• Performed 31,964 cataract operations/sight restoring interventions
  
  
• Trained 140 eye health workers - including 15 surgeons
  
  
• Supported four Comprehensive Eye Care Cells in four Provinces to strengthen capacity
  
  
• Supported female counsellors in remote districts to facilitate female patients seeking eye treatment
  
  
• Successfully advocated for Lady Health Workers training to be incorporated into national programme
  
  
• Supported Dr Khabir Ahmad, first recipient of The Fred Hollows Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship
  
  
• The AusAID funded Pakistan-Australia Sub-specialty Eye Care (PASEC) Project was launched by Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith. This program will be managed by The Foundation.