Speaking at the launch of the project, Umair Tabani, business head of Sania Maskatiya stores, said his company was proud to be doing something for LRBT as the Sania Maskatiya brand truly believed in the LRBT cause.

He said the brand scarves had been designed keeping the theme in view and displayed colours that end darkness in the lives of poor people with impaired vision. The sale of each scarf, he said, will help fund a poor person in getting his sight restored through surgery.

Both LRBT projects are being launched before the auspicious month of Ramzan so that the sight of affected people is restored and they are able to see on this Eid.

LRBT is the largest free eye care trust in the country.  This year LRBT aims to raise over Rs1 billion to fund the treatment of millions of eye patients who flock to the vast LRBT network of free eye services, comprising 77 facilities covering around 70 percent of Pakistan’s poor population.

From its inception in 1985, LRBT has established 19 free eye care hospitals and 58 eye clinics. These have treated over 41 million patients and performed 4 million surgeries absolutely free.

On a daily basis, over 9500 patients visit LRBT facilities and 1,500 surgeries are performed.

In the coming year, about 3.1 million patients are expected to visit LRBT facilities, of which 300,000 will require surgery.

The sale of LRBT Sight Saviour bands will help bring colour to sightless eyes.

Hotels and airlines are encouraged to buy Sania Maskatiya scarves in bulk to support the LRBT cause.