Local Partners

The main local partner for the Pakistan-Australia District Eye Care Program is the Pakistan Institute for Community Ophthalmology which is the public health wing of the Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic and Medical Sciences, based in Peshawar.

Another program partner, Punjab Institute of Preventive Ophthalmology, is based in Lahore and has a national mandate for teaching and training ophthalmologists, ophthalmic technicians and nurses. It also initiates research, policy development and advocacy activities.

Funding for the program has been provided by AusAID, more recently through AusAID’s ANCP and also through embassy grants from Islamabad.

Support at a provincial level is necessary because the program aligns itself with existing policies and structures, which helps lead to positive acceptance and promotion of program activities.

The provincial level partners include the Secretary-General of Health and Director-General of Health for each of the four provinces.

On a district level, partners include district governments, executive district officers, Nazims (town mayors) and other political leaders.  

Sight Savers International (SSI) and Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM) are the two other major
international blindness prevention non-government organisations currently working in Pakistan. The Foundation works in close collaboration with both SSI and CBM in Pakistan and internationally. These partnerships help in sharing experiences, planning joint ventures and also in avoiding the overlap of project activities. There are also some local NGOs operating charitable hospitals throughout Pakistan.