1. Annual Al-Shifa Day Celebrated

2.Light House inaugurated – USF support lauded

3.Help for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)

4.Muzaffarabad construction near completion

5.Board of Trustees approve record budget

6.Incentives for the employees

7.Al-Shifa Tower

8.Academic Excellence shown by PIO

9.Lions Clubs approves grant for Paramedic Training

10.Young Friends of Al-Shifa (YFA)

11.Patient Column

12. Progress Report

13.Upcoming events

14.Appeal

On 22 May 2009, the annual Al-Shifa Day was celebrated. It was aimed at evaluation of our annual performance and to plan for the future. It was also to acknowledge the contribution of its team members including doctors, paramedics, administration as well as donors. The function was well attended by participants from all over Pakistan as well as from abroad. Haji Ghulam Sabir of Agra Restaurants of UK and Mr. Ijaz Kashmiri from UAE specially joined us for this function.  Mr. Pervaiz Iftikhar from Universal Service Funds and Mr. Iqbal Majid DG Lions Clubs International were notable amongst the Al-Shifa friends from within the country.  Amongst the awardees that were given certificates of merit included Dr. Abbas, Dr. Farah Akhtar, Dr. Sultan Asif Kiani, Mr. Razi Khan, Mr. AHK Hameedi and Ms Sameela Kanwal.

. Farah Akhtar and Dr. M Abbas receiving awards from Chief Guest
Our donors Mr. Ijaz Kashmiri and Haji Sabir receiving certificates of appreciation
Prime Minister of Pakistan was the Chief Guest, but at the last moment due to his pressing international engagements, PM sent one of his senior Federal Ministers, Mr. Khurshid Shah to preside over the function.  Mr. Jahan Dad Khan, while welcoming the Chief Guest, presented the annual performance of the Trust. He informed the audience that Al-Shifa Trust was awarded as one of the Best Prevention of Blindness Projects and honoured with International AGFUND prize. This year’s highlights also included the establishment of Light House, the launching of Muzaffarabad Hospital and modern eye and general health care facilities for IDPs. He also outlined the future plans of the Trust which mainly emphasize on self-reliance measures the mainstay of which is construction of mega Al-Shifa Tower at the cost of over one billion PKR over a period of three years. The President of Al-Shifa specially thanked national and international partners of Al-Shifa including Universal Service Funds for their support to Light House, Lions Clubs International for their support to our Paramedics training program and philanthropists like Dr. Fazal ur Rahman and Syed Ijaz Ali for their outstanding support to Muzaffarabad and Sukkur Hospitals respectively.  Mr. Saeed Qureshi presented the financial picture of the Trust, while Prof. Wajid Ali Khan briefed on the progress of the hospitals. Top

Mr. Khurshid Shah also inaugurated the Light House.  Mr. Shah and President Al-Shifa specially thanked USF Chief Mr. Pervaiz Iftikhar for the great contribution made by Universal Service Funds in establishment of Light House. It may be recalled that USF provided Rs. 25 million for this purpose.

Being the first of its kind, Light House has now become a centre of attraction for people with low vision from all over Pakistan. It provides modern rehabilitation services for visual impaired of all ages including senior citizens, working age adults as well as children

Latest computerized low vision devices being used by people with partial or no vision
Mr. Pervaiz Iftikhar the CE of USF along with Chief Guest Mr. Khurshid Shah, Dr. Jamil Sawar (Trustee)

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Al-Shifa Trust (AST) has always contributed nationally in the hour of need, whether it was October 2005 earthquake or 2009 IDP health care. So far, Al-Shifa Trust has provided health care to around 5,000 IDPs. Medicines for general ailments as well as for eye diseases were provided in camps. Children who needed glasses were also provided the same at the spot.

AST has prepared a Two-Phase Plan for serving the IDPs. An amount of Rs. 10 million (125,000 US dollars) has been allocated in annual AST budget for this purpose. In the first phase, eye and general health care is being provided in IDP Camps. Once the IDPs are relocated to their original homes, they will constantly need the support of an essential health care system which has largely been compromised due to conflict. AST will transfer their IDP Eye Care Setup to district/tehsil hospitals of Swat and Dir region till such time when local health system can handle the patient load.

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Muzaffarabad construction near completion

The construction of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Muzaffarabad is now almost near completion. The process of purchase of equipment for the hospital and training of staff – doctors and paramedics – is now under process. The estimated cost of essential equipment is about Rs. 50 million. Govt. of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is being persuaded to expedite its promised work for construction of road links and water supply.

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The spiraling inflation and whopping increase in the cost of everything on earth has adversely affected the expenditure of providing quality treatment at Al-Shifa.  This year a record Rs. 712 million budget was approved by Board of Trustees during its annual meeting. The projected deficit is around 290 million.

President Al-Shifa informed the Trustees that the coming year will be challenging and difficult in view of the diminishing trend of donations, government grants and Zakat collection. Despite all that there will never be any compromise on the quality of treatment which is the pride of Al-Shifa. Chairman of the Finance Committee while presenting the budget informed that the expenditure and especially the capital cost is on the increase mainly due to Muzaffarabad Hospital and Al-Shifa Tower.  In view of that, it was agreed that AST has to tap new sources of funds and donations and strive for maximum Zakat collection. In this regards, Mr. Aized Mir offered to tap corporate sector and help in organizing upcoming fund raising function in Islamabad. Mr. Junaid Iqbal Chaudhry offered to facilitate support from public sector. Mr. Jamil Sawar informed about the progress of new IT Package at Rawalpindi and told that this package will gradually be extended to Sukkur and Kohat Hospitals by the end of the year.At the end Board of Trustees urged the need for earliest possible completion of Al-Shifa Tower without any further delay.

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Incentives for the employees

Al-Shifa has always been keen to ensure the welfare of its employees. The employees were awarded with cash prizes and merit certificates on the basis of their performance. Major incentives were also announced for all the employees. The salaries of all the staff have been increased up to 15%. In addition, Al-Shifa also provides many other incentives and benefits like Employment Old age Benefit Insurance (EOBI), free medical facility for low paid employees. food and accommodation on subsidized rates, free pick and drop transport and gratuity loan facility. In near future, health insurance scheme will also be implemented for all.

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Progress of Al-Shifa Tower project

With Al-Shifa aiming to attain self-reliance by 2015, the work on the mega project of Al-Shifa to build a tower is making good progress. The multi-storied multi-purpose tower is going to be built at the cost of Rs. 1.5 billion.  After the selection of consultants, the process for short-listing of contractors is going on. The construction of the first Al-Shifa Tower will be started by early 2010. This is expected to complete within 3 years to be followed by construction of other towers.

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Academic excellence shown by Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology (PIO)

• Keeping up its tradition, PIO has shown excellent academic results this year. The pass percentage in Fellowship Exams has been 100%. The pass percentage in diploma exam has also been 80%. This truly speaks about the standard of training at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospitals.  We congratulate Drs. Ayesha Kausar, Sarah Zafar, Tehmina Nazir, Jaffar Feroze, M Ashraf and Mudassar Imran for their excellent performance.
• The induction of new residents for fellowship and diploma training in ophthalmology is currently underway. There is very high competition amongst applicants from all over the country.
• Review of PIO Development Plan to make it financially self-sustainable is currently being undertaken by a committee headed by Mr. Saeed Qureshi, Vice President of Al-Shifa Trust.

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Sight First Committee (SAC) of Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has approved to provide substantial support for one-year paramedic training programs run by Al-Shifa Lions National Academy of Paramedics. The SAC has also hinted at supporting in future as well. This is the fourth project of Al-Shifa Trust supported by LCIF. In this regards we are thankful to PDGs Lions Mr. Iqbal Majid and Dr. Zubair Hasan for their support. The pivotal role of Lion Senator Mrs. Nilofar Bakhtiar in this regards cannot be over-emphasized.

Mr. Iqbal Majid, District Governor LCIF receiving award from Chief Guest

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Activities of Young Friends of Al-Shifa

Once again the summer vacations saw an unusual number of leading city school students participating in the patient welfare activities at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi as part of Young Friends of Al-Shifa. Mr. Jahan Dad Khan specially spoke to the new batch of YFA and emphasized to them the need for voluntary humanitarian work and to inculcate amongst them a sense of empathy for poor and sick.

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Patient Column
Afghan Parliamentarian gets sophisticated eye treatment at Al-Shifa

Accompanied by Dr. Ghairat Baheer, Ex Afghan Ambassador, an Afghan parliamentarian, Mr. Atta Ullah specially flew in to get treatment for his eyes. Prof. Nadeem Qureshi, head of department of retina examined and treated Mr. Atta Ullah.  “We have investigated his eye problem through latest Optical Coherence Topography and hopefully, his vision will improve considerably. This sort of treatment is not available at many places” informed Prof. Qureshi.

Lots of patients from Afghanistan have been regularly visiting Al-Shifa to get advanced treatment for their eye diseases. Last year about 3,000 such patients were provided with modern eye care. 

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Bomb blast victim gets free treatment at Al-Shifa

Mr. TR, a victim of recent bomb blast in the city was admitted after being referred from a leading hospital of the country. Coincidently, this patient was also managed by Department of Retina under supervision of Prof. Qureshi. The blast had seriously damaged his one eye. Multiple operations by different specialists at Al-Shifa were performed to restore his vision. “We used heavy liquids and special VR technique to re-attach his retina (the vision membrane at the back of the eye). We are quite confident that the patient will regain useful vision” said Associate Prof. Dr. Nadeem Ishaq.

Every year, thousands of patients with advanced retinal disease due to trauma or diabetes, visit Al-Shifa and get international standard treatment at a very low cost. To Al-Shifa, one such VR operation as conducted for Mr. TR, costs about 50,000 Rs.

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Quarterly Progress Report

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APPEAL

APPEAL
Al-Shifa Needs Your Support
Al-Shifa is a Not-for-Profit and a non-political organization. It is committed to providing eye care and treatment mainly to the under privileged and poor. Almost 75% of all patients attending Al-Shifa Eye Hospital are treated free. The Trust is able to meet only 30-40% of its expenses from its own sources while the remaining expenses are met through Zakat, donations and support from philanthropists. 
 Your contribution means the gift of sight for someone in need!

Ramadan showers special blessings on those who contribute for the suffering humanity. Kindly donate generously.

Kindly note that your Zakat donations go separately to the accounts which are dedicated for treatment of Zakat patients only.
Kindly send your donations or Zakat to following Account Numbers: -

1. In UK
2. Habib Bank AG Zurich 5/7 High Street Southall, Middlesex UB 1 3HA, UK

Account Number = 7-2-7-20311-402-109356 (Pound Sterling Account)
Account Number = 7-2-7-20311-333-109356 (US dollar Account)

1. HSBC Bank AuchinLeck House, Birmingham:  Account Number = 40-1108 (sort code)-41311565 (Account number)
2. In USA
3. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), 100 Wall Street, 21st Floor New York, NY 10005:            Account Number = 52152578
4. Al-Shifa Foundation of North America: 475 Wall Street, Princeton, NJ 08540.                       Tel: (609) 279-1400, Email : [email protected] , website: www.afnausa.org
5. In Pakistan, donations can be sent directly to Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi or to: -
   1. Askari Commercial Bank Limited: Account No.780101017153
   2. Habib Bank Ltd. Account No. 1236-00355425-01
   3. United Bank Ltd. Account No. 011-0228-4
   4. Allied Bank Ltd. Account No. 01-200-3589-7

All donations in Pakistan are exempted from Income Tax vide Regional Commissioner Income Tax, Islamabad, letter number SO-III-26 (9)97-98/5422 dated 23rd May 1998.

For donors outside the country especially in UK and USA provision for online donations through Paypal are also now available

Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tel: 0092 51 5487820-25, Fax: 0092 51 5487827
Email: [email protected]
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Railway Road, Sukkur, Pakistan
Tel: 0092 71 5612766, 0092 71 5615466 Fax: 0092 71 5613453
Email: [email protected]
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, KDA, Kohat, Pakistan
Tel: 0092 922 515686, 0092 922 515710:  Fax: 0092 922 515668
Email: [email protected]

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