Pakistan is the fifth most populated country in the world, with around 40 per cent of the population living in urban areas.

Despite being one of the first countries in South Asia to adopt a national eye care strategy, 21 million people in Pakistan are thought to have vision loss caused by common eye conditions such as cataracts, refractive error and glaucoma.

While educational attendance is improving, Pakistan still has one of the world’s highest rates of children not enrolled in school. Many students who attend primary school drop out of education when they reach secondary level, with girls and children with disabilities most at risk.

In 2020, the country’s first-ever disability rights act became law. The following year, the Government of Pakistan launched a braille version of the country’s constitution and adapted Parliament House using Sightsavers’ accessibility audit toolkit to make the building more accessible for people with disabilities. The government has also added 67 disability indicators to its national dashboard showing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact us: If you have any questions about our work in Pakistan, would like more details about our programmes or wish to discuss ways to donate or support us, email [email protected]