ISLAMABAD: Saudi aid agency King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) announced on Tuesday it has organized 12 relief camps in the rural and urban areas of Pakistan’s southern Sindh and Balochistan provinces where 5,000 surgeries would be conducted to combat eye diseases and blindness. 

KSrelief, with one of the largest humanitarian budgets for aid agencies across the world, has been undertaking humanitarian projects across 88 countries. Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of the organization’s aid and humanitarian operations. According to the KSrelief data, the agency has completed 170 projects in Pakistan in education, health care, water, sanitation, hygiene, emergency camps, and community support. These collectively have cost roughly $163 million in the last 17 years.

The camps were held in Sindh’s cities of Karachi, Matli, Kundairo and Shikarpur while in Balochistan, they were organized in Kharan and Kalat. Residents from these areas were able to benefit from specialized eye care services and regain their vision, KSrelief said. The program was started in July and is slated to continue till the end of August while the medical camps are being organized in collaboration with Al-Basar International Foundation with the help of Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi.

“The primary objective of this outreach program is to detect and address eye-related issues at an early stage, thereby combating blindness and improving the quality of life for thousands of individuals,” KSrelief said in a press release. “Under this program, more than 50,000 medical examinations, and over 5,000 surgeries will be provided, along with 12,000 glasses for vision correction, using the medications prescribed by doctors.”

KSrelief said the initiative ensures individuals not only receive essential treatment but also have access to necessary eyewear to enhance their visual capabilities. 

“This campaign represents the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to humanitarian causes and their dedication to improving the lives of individuals affected by blindness,” KSrelief said. “Through these medical camps, KSrelief have made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of patients, restoring their sight and providing hope for a brighter future.”