Pakistan has carried out its first successful corneal transplant from a female donor, restoring sight to two soldiers who had lost their vision during counter-terrorism operations.
According to the Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology (AFIO), the corneas were donated in line with the will of the late wife of Major General (Retd) Zafar Mehdi Askari. Specialist surgeons from the Pakistan Army performed the delicate procedures, giving 30-year-old soldier Aliullah and 26-year-old soldier Falak Sher the gift of restored vision.
Medical experts described the achievement as a historic milestone in Pakistan’s healthcare sector and a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of organ donation.
The donor’s daughter, Zehra Mehdi, expressed pride in her mother’s contribution, saying, “The greatest honor is that my mother’s eyes were donated to two brave soldiers.” She called the donation “a source of eternal charity (sadaqah-e-jariyah).”
The AFIO’s success has reignited discussions about the critical shortage of organ donors in Pakistan, where experts say 10 to 15 people die daily due to the lack of available organs. Medical professionals have urged greater awareness, reforms, and research into emerging fields such as xenotransplantation to address the growing demand.
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