The Punjab Welfare Trust for Disables and the Turk NGO-Kimse Yok Mu on Wednesday inked a memorandum of understanding to tackle glaucoma in the country. Punjab Welfare Trust for Disables Programme Director Dr Izhar ul Haq Qureshi and country representative of Kimse Yok Mu, Azjohn Anan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.
Director Doctor Amjad Saqib, Social Welfare Secretary Haroon Rafiq and Health and Special education Secretaries Jawad Rafiq Malik and Ambreen Raza were also present. Country representative of the Turk NGO - Kimse Yok Mu, Azjohn Anan said his organisation was working in over 50 countries for the eradication of glaucoma and that they would make sincere efforts in this regard.
Dr Saqib said around 1.6 million people in Pakistan were suffering from glaucoma and that those residing in rural areas had to face difficulties in treatment. He also said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was focusing on the welfare of disables and annual grant of PWTD had been enhanced to Rs 100 million. Health Advisor Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government was devotedly channelising resources to improve health facilities, adding facilities in BHUs and RHCs were being upgraded.